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.

2,688 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,000

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
92.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Hounslow Cars Ltd

02039537374 *

2.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 118i [1.5] SE 5dr [Nav]

Reduced

£6,250

Finance available £117 pm

1.5L
45.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

L4C Oldbury

01215166136 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 116d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£11,750

Finance available £240 pm

1.5L
44.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Lichfield Road Motors Ltd

01543220813 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 116d Sport 3dr £35 Road Tax

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

2L
118.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Maximum Car Supermarket

02392002264 *

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

Reduced

£19,650

Finance available £383 pm

1.5L
41.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

JKC Approved Used BMW

02870441623 *

BMW 1 Series2011 - 2.0 116i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (122 ps)

Low Mileage

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
68.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Moore Vehicle Solutions LTD

01138875306 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 3.0 M135i Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (326 ps)

£13,495

Finance available £279 pm

3L
79.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Hudson Autos

01621734609 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,299

Finance available £319 pm

1.5L
32.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Trafford

01616969155 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

£20,795

1.5L
37.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Tunbridge Wells

01892571854 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (11) - 1.6 116i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 4 (115 ps)

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

1.6L
86.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Leeds Motor Company (Burley place)

01134675316 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 116d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
64.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

BSS CAR SALES LTD

01362700947 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 118i SE Business Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£12,187

1.5L
55.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stellantis &You Sale

01614139897 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£25,999

Finance available £514 pm

2L
28.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

TDC Collection LTD

02038928005 *

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

£13,999

Finance available £290 pm

3L
70.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

EN AUTOMOTIVE

01384881208 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 120d M Sport 5-Door

£19,840

2L
36.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Prestige Cars Kent

01689669471 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 118i SE 3dr

Low Mileage

£2,275

2L
86.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Staines Motors LTD

01784779334 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£10,999

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
86.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vantage Auto House Ltd

01633742374 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£24,699

Finance available £519 pm

2L
10.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Glasgow

01412601249 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 2.0 120D xDrive M Sport Auto 4WD 5dr

Low Mileage

£11,975

Finance available £245 pm

2L
69.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

NATIONAL CAR HUB

01922665543 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118I M SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

1.5L
28.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dennis Maltby LTD

01754800944 *

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