Which is the most popular engine in the BMW 1 Series?

The older 118d diesel powertrain has been among the most popular, but it isn't available in the newer models. This diesel engine had a good balance of value and power, rated at 148bhp. The most popular petrol engine is the 118i, likely because it's the entry level in the lineup, making it the most affordable to buy.

Which are the most popular trim levels?

The new 1 Series comes in five trims: SE, Sport, 128ti, M Sport and M135i. The M Sport is among the most popular in the used market because of its upgraded performance and styling features, including upgraded suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and special 'M' trim detailing.

Is the BMW 1 Series a good family car?

Even though it's a compact hatchback, the BMW 1 Series is a good car for families. While it can be tight for adults in the rear seat, there's plenty of room for children, and ISOFIX points are included for child seats.

Is there a hybrid version of the BMW 1 Series?

BMW hasn't fitted a hybrid powertrain to the 1 Series yet. It has only been offered with traditional petrol and diesel engines.

Is the BMW 1 Series available as an automatic?

The 1 Series has been available as an automatic and with a manual gearbox. Both of these are popular among the used models, so it should be easy for customers to find the example that suits their needs.

Is there a four-wheel drive version available?

The BMW 1 Series started as a rear-wheel drive car. It was later reconfigured to have front-wheel drive as standard. The top specification M135i is equipped with all-wheel drive, as are some variants of the 120d. Look out for cars badged as xDrive - this is the name of BMW's all-wheel drive system.

2,597 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2012 - 116i M Sport 5dr

Reduced

£5,800

Finance available £107 pm

1.6L
46.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Oldbury Car Sales

01216474046 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£5,695

1.5L
121.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

North West Trade Centre

01772285821 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,650

Finance available £283 pm

1.5L
51.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118D SPORT 5d 147 BHP 5-Door

Reduced

£6,895

Finance available £132 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Evoque Motors

01254445630 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£17,899

Finance available £366 pm

1.5L
50.9K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch

01182078522 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - M140i Shadow Edition 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£19,357

3L
58.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Durham

01918146639 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Reduced

£10,595

Finance available £219 pm

1.5L
51.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

T Wall Garages Citroen - Kingswinford

01384319487 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£8,600

Finance available £170 pm

1.5L
58.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

MIDLANDS AUTOHAUS LIMITED

01164646024 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 116d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£5,200

Finance available £94 pm

2L
95.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SMS Motors

01144786434 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - iX xDrive50 M Sport Edition 5-Door

£62,000

15.0K
Miles
Electric
Automatic
Estate

Stephen James Ruxley BMW

02038895479 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 120d Sport 5dr Step Auto

£5,750

Finance available £106 pm

2L
118.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

J Hair Motors

02890023607 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 118i SPORT [NAV/SERVOTRONIC] 3-Door

£8,595

Finance available £170 pm

1.5L
110.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

MM AUTO CAR SALES

01382238685 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£22,150

1.5L
12.6K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - M140i Shadow Edition 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£18,450

Finance available £358 pm

3L
56.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Revitupukcom

01244268811 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£5,895

Finance available £109 pm

2L
73.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

One Stop Motors Dewsbury

01924665170 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Auto 5dr

£14,210

Finance available £295 pm

1.5L
54.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Best Car Ltd

01580232496 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] SE 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£17,998

1.5L
15.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Edinburgh Sighthill Motorstore/Fiat/Abarth/Leap

01316036582 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

£2,600

2L
125.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Max Bradley Cars

01621734802 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£22,400

Finance available £392 pm

1.5L
24.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2006 - 116i M Sport 5dr [6]

Reduced

£1,595

1.6L
122.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

Why buy a used BMW 1 Series?

If you're in the market for a car that's practical, fun to drive and stylish, then a used BMW 1 Series is a fantastic choice. With BMW build quality, a used 1 Series provides luxury motoring at an affordable price. The interior offers supportive seating, high-tech features and upscale materials that provide a refined driving experience.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros

Economical diesels
Fun to drive
Excellent build quality

Cons

Lack of hybrid/electric model
Limited cabin and boot space
Firm ride

Read our BMW 1 Series review

BMW 1 Series video review

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Used BMW 1 Series buying guide

Engines and transmissions

The BMW 1 Series has been available with petrol and diesel engines, a manual or an automatic gearbox, and rear, front or four-wheel drive.

Petrol

1.5-litre 118i produces 134bhp for a 0-60mph time of 8.6 seconds and an efficiency rating of up to 49.6mpg. This is the most popular engine.
2.0-litre 128ti boosts the output to 261bhp, giving it a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds and an efficiency rating of 40.9mpg.
3.0-litre M135i tops the range with 315bhp and a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds, but the efficiency drops to 35mpg.

Diesel

1.5-litre 116d makes 114bhp for a 10-second 0-60mph time and a rating of up to 62.8mpg.
2.0-litre 120d outputs 187bhp to reduce the 0-62mph time to 7.3 seconds, while still maintaining efficiency of up to 57.6mpg.
Older 118d creates 147bhp and was one of the most popular options.

Practicality

Despite being a compact car, the 1 Series hatchback provides a surprising amount of room, making it practical for everyday driving.

Interior space

Front seats are supportive and offer a lot of room.
Rear seats can be tight for adults on long drives.
ISOFIX mounting points for child seats are easy to access.

Boot space

380-litre boot compares with the Audi A3.
Folding the rear seats down opens up 1,200 litres of room.
Available 40:20:40 split folding seats allow for the middle seat to be folded independently.

Bodystyles

Five-door hatchback has been the main body style since its introduction.
Three-door hatchback was discontinued after the second generation.
Two-door coupé was available for part of the first generation, later joining the 2 Series lineup.
Two-door convertible was only available during the first generation, but later became part of the 2 Series lineup.

Safety

Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating given in 2019.
87% rating for child occupant and an 83% adult occupant rating.
Standard safety kit includes parking sensors (front and rear), cruise control and LED headlights.

Technology

10.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional driver display matches the 3 Series.
Larger 10.3-inch infotainment system display replaced the smaller 8.8-inch model.
Available wireless device charging.

Buying a used car checklist: what to look for

Buying a used car can be a daunting task, but with our checklist, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

View guides

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros