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.

3,027 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

Low Mileage

£9,384

Finance available £187 pm

2L
69.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

New Street Car Centre

01952967003 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£21,300

Finance available £394 pm

1.5L
33.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Sheffield

01145510576 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 116i SE 5dr

Reduced

£3,295

1.6L
107.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Clean Cars Connection LTD

01524237312 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118d M Sport 5dr

£18,900

Finance available £368 pm

2L
66.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Car Sales NI Ltd

02882440438 *

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

£17,750

Finance available £344 pm

3L
74.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

gaston gate garage

01483917782 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 2.0 120D xDrive M Sport Auto 4WD 5dr

£19,990

2L
58.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Phantom Motor Company

01942365271 *

BMW 1 Series2007 (07) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 4 5dr

Low Mileage

£1,495

2L
121.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Renown Motors

01613887637 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 118i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£8,970

1.6L
50.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vision Motors Direct - Leeds

01138875266 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 118i SE 5-Door

£5,998

Finance available £112 pm

1.5L
105.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Gem Cars Ltd

01522440039 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 2.0 125d M Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (224 ps)

£9,850

Finance available £198 pm

2L
107.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

X AUTOHAUS

01566701222 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 116d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£17,899

1.5L
41.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Affordable Cars Prestige Car Supermarket

01904238447 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d SE 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£20,798

1.5L
21.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Swansea

01414839956 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 116d SE Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£4,444

1.5L
128.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Mountbatten Car Sales

01454800277 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£18,999

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
31.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorplus Car Supermarket

01633742350 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 2.0 116d Sport 5-door

Reduced

£2,995

2L
175.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

NATIONAL VEHICLE SUPPLIERS LTD

01182270649 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - M SPORT

Reduced

£10,990

1.6L
27.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 120i SE COUPE 2 DOOR. (ULEZ COMPLIANT)

Low Mileage

£4,495

2L
104.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Blackrock Motors

01923927525 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i GPF Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£13,799

Finance available £286 pm

1.5L
29.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

RCS Car Sales

01905953512 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro] Petrol Hatchback

£18,718

1.5L
40.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i SE Business Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£11,290

1.5L
79.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

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

Author: Jack Evans

View profile

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.

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