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.

2,870 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£20,495

Finance available £453 pm

1.5L
43.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Manchester

01618048254 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr

Reduced

£15,999

Finance available £335 pm

1.5L
58.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

David Hayton Ltd (Mazda Carlisle)

01228273596 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (1

£10,200

Finance available £206 pm

1.5L
81.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Catalina Of Stanningley

01134675328 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 116i [2.0] SE 3dr

Reduced

£2,950

2L
80.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Griffin Vehicle Solutions

01296254880 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Reduced

£12,495

Finance available £257 pm

1.5L
98.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Daci Autos Bristol LTD

01172331343 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£12,600

Finance available £259 pm

1.5L
70.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Westbrook Car Sales

01733794312 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 120d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£20,980

Finance available £410 pm

2L
66.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hippo Motor Group Peterborough

01733666887 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 118i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,500

Finance available £190 pm

1.6L
52.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

London Car Market

02037637051 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - M140i Shadow Edition 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£21,295

Finance available £417 pm

3L
45.1K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ashford Orbital Kia

01233223702 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£22,650

Finance available £484 pm

1.5L
6.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Barnet

02039577301 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 116d SE Business 5dr ++ SAT NAV / ULEZ / DAB / BLUETOOTH / CRUISE ++

Low Mileage

£8,670

Finance available £171 pm

1.5L
59.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£27,450

Finance available £543 pm

1.5L
8.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JKC Approved Used BMW

02870441623 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£22,995

Finance available £452 pm

2L
49.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Top Cars Telford Limited

01743291623 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£22,199

Finance available £464 pm

2L
51.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sandles Car Supermarket

01553601835 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

£20,895

Finance available £462 pm

1.5L
25.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Manchester

01618048254 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 2.0 120d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£11,988

Finance available £246 pm

2L
63.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

UP PRESTIGE LTD

01746331186 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 120D SPORT PLUS EDITION 2-Door

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
126.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Purewell Motor Company

01202076204 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£19,498

1.5L
37.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Peugeot/SEAT/Cupra/Skoda (Edinburgh)

01312025128 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

£16,649

Finance available £339 pm

1.5L
33.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

cinch

01452227360 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav]

Low Mileage

£10,998

1.5L
29.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Aberdeen MG

01224907730 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

* Telephone numbers starting with 084X or 087X will cost you up to 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge. Calls to other telephone numbers will only cost your phone company's access charge.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros