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.

2,630 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2011 - 3.0 M Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£60,000

Finance available £1,212 pm

68.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Farlan Automotives Limited

02038730401 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£7,435

Finance available £144 pm

1.5L
100.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Bedfordshire Car Sales

01234987567 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

2L
38.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cars Of Conwy

01492525999 *

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

Reduced

£8,995

2L
83.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace German Car Centre

01616969152 *

4.8/5 Stars

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

£20,450

Finance available £400 pm

1.5L
25.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Shelbourne AutoSelect Newry

02830441493 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£4,750

Finance available £84 pm

2L
103.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

High Street Motor Group Ltd

01924793492 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (64) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

2L
69.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cars4You Ltd

01312027981 *

0/5 Stars

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

£17,995

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
40.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Tangelo Used Cars Exeter

01394331922 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 1.5 118i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,550

Finance available £258 pm

1.5L
26.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 116D SPORT 5d 114 BHP 5-Door

Low Mileage

£9,977

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
57.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Liverpool Car Centre

01515417928 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£16,200

Finance available £346 pm

1.5L
41.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Norwich

01603567768 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 2.0 125d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,250

Finance available £184 pm

2L
73.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

NYA AUTO SALES LTD

01215166160 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 116d M Sport 5dr

£3,600

Finance available £58 pm

2L
161.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autosales NI Ltd

02890023688 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

2L
106.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars4You Ltd

01312027981 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 120d Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£5,925

Finance available £110 pm

2L
86.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

CH Car Sales

02890023206 *

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 Series2019 - 116d M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

Low Mileage

£13,695

1.5L
45.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Range Manchester

01618048254 *

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

Low Mileage

£19,068

Finance available £379 pm

1.5L
28.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Mountsorrel

01162165589 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - 120 M Sport 5-Door

£30,912

1.5L
8.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Hatchback

Stephen James BMW Woolwich

02038928053 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,750

Finance available £128 pm

1.5L
105.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Anthonys Autos

01722447811 *

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