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 Series2011 - 2.0 116d ES 5 door

£1,988

2L
118.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Fine Car Sales

01733942778 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 118d Sport 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£8,695

Finance available £172 pm

2L
54.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

RISHTON AUTO CARE LIMITED

01254919190 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,999

Finance available £390 pm

1.5L
13.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorplus Car Supermarket

01633742350 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 120i [2.0] M Sport Shadow Ed 3dr Step Auto

Reduced

£10,995

Finance available £223 pm

2L
84.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

D C Cars

01143086551 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£7,735

Finance available £154 pm

1.5L
91.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 (25) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto [Pro Pack] Petrol Hatchback

£42,564

2L
2.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Durham

01918146639 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - 2.0 Sport Plus Edition Coupe 2dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (143 ps)

Reduced

£6,995

2L
74.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Hodgson Specialist Cars Ltd

01942365192 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 116d SE Business 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£10,575

Finance available £214 pm

1.5L
57.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 1.5 116d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116

£13,250

Finance available £274 pm

1.5L
66.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Earls Autos

01733977929 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£22,000

Finance available £382 pm

1.5L
25.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Enfield

02037634741 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (61) - 118d M Sport 2dr

£3,295

Finance available £51 pm

2L
121.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Elite Motor Group LTD

01782389098 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 116d SE Business Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£10,000

Finance available £205 pm

1.5L
52.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Ponko

01223857211 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£11,490

1.5L
43.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

AutoUnit Ltd

01633741698 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Tech/Pro Pack]

Low Mileage

£19,249

Finance available £395 pm

1.5L
18.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118d M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

£14,099

Finance available £293 pm

2L
47.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Trafford

01616969155 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 116d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£23,920

Finance available £471 pm

1.5L
24.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Buy and Go Cars

02920108594 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (09) - 116i [2.0] SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£2,995

2L
43.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 116D Sport Auto 3dr

Low Mileage

£11,400

Finance available £232 pm

1.5L
45.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

S.M.T Automotive Ltd

01296326349 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps) 1 OWNER

£14,495

1.5L
79.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Lancaster

01524938891 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£21,599

Finance available £451 pm

1.5L
21.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorpoint Glasgow

01412601249 *

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