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.

2,727 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 118d M Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
80.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Beechwood Van Sales Ltd

01515417902 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£6,530

Finance available £124 pm

1.6L
70.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Catalina Of Stanningley

01134675328 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£23,998

1.5L
13.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark York Motorstore / Vanstore

01904803322 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr

£6,250

Finance available £117 pm

1.5L
95.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Castle Motors Bedfordshire Ltd

01582344590 *

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

£16,495

Finance available £346 pm

1.5L
67.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Crawford Clarke Cars

02890022258 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£24,395

1.5L
10.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Teesside

01642630363 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118i M Sport Shadow Edition 5-Door

Low Mileage

£13,750

Finance available £285 pm

1.5L
52.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

MARLING CAR SALES LTD

01952953911 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 120d M Sport 3dr

£2,995

2L
140.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Kaseys Cars

01926357464 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 2.0 120i GPF Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£13,600

Finance available £287 pm

2L
43.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Peterborough

01733971423 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 116i Sport 5dr

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.6L
86.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Graham Mitchell Automotive

01202037612 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 1.6 116i Sport ULEZ Petrol Manual 3 Door

£6,495

1.6L
94.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Bristol Auto Hub

01172331341 *

3.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 120D SE 5DR

Reduced

£3,681

2L
115.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Daniel Maxwell Car Sales

01614139879 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - M135i M Performance 5dr Step Auto

£9,650

Finance available £193 pm

3L
94.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Simple Car Sales Ltd

01539769118 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 2.0 125d M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£12,490

Finance available £257 pm

2L
80.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars Direct Peterborough Limited

01733971397 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport 3dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£13,299

Finance available £275 pm

1.5L
31.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£26,399

Finance available £556 pm

2L
14.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Swansea

01792001617 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,900

Finance available £349 pm

2L
30.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Enfield

02037634741 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 118i M Sport 5dr ++ SAT NAV / HARMON KARDON / DAB / ULEZ ++

£9,975

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
70.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£16,100

Finance available £344 pm

1.5L
55.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 116d Sport 5dr

Reduced

£3,295

Finance available £51 pm

2L
101.0K
Miles
Diesel
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