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.

2,800 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£20,888

1.5L
19.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Yeovil

01935311780 *

0/5 Stars

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

£16,885

Finance available £362 pm

1.5L
59.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

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

£24,495

Finance available £483 pm

1.5L
43.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Pat Kirk Ford Omagh

02882440439 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118i Sport 5dr ++ SAT NAV / ULEZ / DAB / BLUETOOTH / CLIMATE ++

Low Mileage

£10,975

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
35.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 2.0 M135I XDRIVE 5d 302 BHP 5-Door

Reduced

£25,495

Finance available £514 pm

2L
21.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Eclipse Car Sales Limited

02392006073 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
95.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carselect1.com

01563593226 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 120d Sport 5dr Step Auto

£18,495

Finance available £359 pm

2L
50.2K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

McGillions

02881440369 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 118i M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,795

1.5L
33.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Hinckley

01455244504 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,499

Finance available £168 pm

1.5L
65.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Wise Auto Ltd

02038737355 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 2.0L 116D Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (114 bhp)

£4,495

2L
97.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

One Cars

01259230762 *

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

£23,049

Finance available £483 pm

1.5L
29.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Newport

01633493027 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 2.0 118d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (1

£11,999

Finance available £246 pm

2L
80.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Empressive Motor Company

01865591236 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£11,250

Finance available £229 pm

2L
62.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Cambridgeshire Motor House LTD

01733666971 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 3.0 M140I Shadow Edition Auto 5dr

£17,695

Finance available £343 pm

3L
70.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars Of Essex Ltd

01992367296 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

1.5L
29.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

King Street Motor Company

01782917189 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 116d SE Business 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

£8,750

Finance available £173 pm

1.5L
73.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] SE Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro] 5-Door

£24,297

Finance available £499 pm

1.5L
31.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Scunthorpe

01724514202 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

£12,498

1.5L
63.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Edinburgh Seafield Motorstore / Vanstore

01316034404 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,400

Finance available £313 pm

1.5L
15.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Camberley

01276983839 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£28,966

2L
17.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW York

01904237114 *

0/5 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

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros