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 Series2008 (08) - 116i SE 5dr UKK ULEZ FREE.LEATHER HEATED SEATS PK SENSORS

Reduced

£1,695

1.6L
91.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Economic Cars LTD

01494415169 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£19,409

1.5L
43.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 118i M Sport 5dr Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£18,980

1.5L
28.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW York

01904237114 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£13,195

1.5L
89.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 120d SE 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,195

2L
101.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Aster Cars

01733971204 *

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

£18,499

Finance available £383 pm

1.5L
43.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Birmingham

01217525223 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£23,632

1.5L
12.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu Ford West Bromwich

01217288853 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

2L
102.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Garrowhill Car Sales Ltd

01412601241 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

2L
69.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

BMW Bavarian

02895908116 *

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

Reduced

£16,985

Finance available £357 pm

1.5L
79.8K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Roxforde Cars

02890023134 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 2.0 128ti (LCP) Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£23,500

Finance available £462 pm

2L
34.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Edward Johnson Otley Ltd

01943660538 *

BMW 1 Series(61) - 2.0 120d SE Steptronic Euro 5 3dr

Low Mileage

£3,999

Finance available £67 pm

92.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Not Supplied

CG MOTORLAND LIMITED

01162165595 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 120d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (177 ps)

Low Mileage

£3,795

Finance available £62 pm

2L
87.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Ivybridge Trade Centre

01752982776 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 2.0 118d ES Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

£2,291

2L
145.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Top1Cars LTD

01245678443 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116d Sport 5dr

Reduced

£2,895

2L
137.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2006 (06) - 116i ES 5dr [6]

Low Mileage

£995

1.6L
125.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 118I SPORT 5-Door

£10,999

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
71.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Bexhill Motors Eastbourne

01323403942 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 2.0 118d Edition ES Euro 4 3dr

Low Mileage

£1,399

2L
120.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Z a motors

01785336152 *

BMW 1 Series2010 - 2.0 120i M Sport Coupe 2-Door

Low Mileage

£6,000

Finance available £112 pm

2L
77.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Coupe

Cavectra Centre

01375801182 *

0/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£14,370

Finance available £305 pm

1.5L
27.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.8/5 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