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.

2,704 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2016 (W) - 116d SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£6,500

Finance available £123 pm

1.5L
52.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Oldbury Car Sales

01216474046 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 1.6 116i Sport 5-door

Low Mileage

£5,990

Finance available £111 pm

1.6L
78.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

SJ Poulton Car Sales

01279967338 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 3.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (326 ps)

Low Mileage

£17,995

3L
40.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Parkside Motors Ltd

02039475180 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 3.0 M140i GPF Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps

Low Mileage

£22,995

Finance available £452 pm

3L
43.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FIDA MOTORS LIMITED

01279215830 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 118i Sport 3dr Sat Nav ONLY 19k Miles Years MOT Warranty

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
19.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ashford Panelcraft

01233221737 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

3L
67.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SKY AUTOMOTIVE

01566701222 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,795

2L
84.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Northwest Trade Centre Lancaster

01524938637 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [LCP/Pro/Tech pk]

Low Mileage

£19,295

Finance available £425 pm

1.5L
16.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 2.0 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
78.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

M J Motors staffs ltd

01782432853 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

Reduced

£6,150

Finance available £115 pm

1.5L
75.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Oldbury Car Sales

01216474046 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 118I SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£7,600

1.6L
73.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

THE CAR SOURCE

01416118631 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 116i SPORT 3-Door

Reduced

£6,690

Finance available £127 pm

1.6L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i M Sport 5dr

£16,599

Finance available £341 pm

1.5L
41.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorpoint Birtley

01913387241 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 118d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150

£11,495

Finance available £234 pm

2L
86.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motoring Way LTD

01633742355 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£23,500

Finance available £430 pm

2L
27.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Sheffield

01145510576 *

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

£18,599

Finance available £393 pm

1.5L
31.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 120d M Sport xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

2L
65.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Harpers of Essex Ltd

01279598863 *

3.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£24,698

1.5L
18.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Thurrock

01416118466 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 120d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£4,495

Finance available £78 pm

2L
162.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

HM Cars

01143996752 *

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

£23,373

Finance available £470 pm

1.5L
19.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Gloucester

01452227227 *

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