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.

2,648 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2013 - 1.6 116i SE Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,902

Finance available £110 pm

1.6L
64.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Joseph Sutton Motor Company ltd

01892489305 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£26,477

1.5L
10.9K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Salisbury

01722445824 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116I SPORT 5d 135 BHP 5-Door

Low Mileage

£4,500

Finance available £78 pm

1.6L
72.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Central

01217287201 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£23,539

1.5L
26.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Yeovil

01935311780 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 116d SE Business 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£10,995

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
52.6K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Garrowhill Car Sales Ltd

01412601241 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series(64) - 1.6 116i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

31.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

Ben Kemp Ltd

01603937008 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (Z5) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£15,600

Finance available £306 pm

1.5L
52.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Birchwood Motor Centre

01708932573 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 116d Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£19,399

Finance available £411 pm

1.5L
29.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - Bmw Diesel Hatchback 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£26,926

1.5L
5.1K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Scunthorpe

01724707996 *

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

£18,690

Finance available £363 pm

1.5L
31.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

UK WHEELS LIMTIED

01279212123 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 2.0 118d Sport 5-Door

£5,250

Finance available £95 pm

2L
130.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

ELITE SERVICING & VEHICLE SALES LTD

01473356712 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 116i M Sport 3dr

£4,495

Finance available £78 pm

1.6L
107.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

C Fierro Garages

01889440699 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s

Low Mileage

£14,195

1.5L
41.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motortrust UK Garstang

01942365158 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

£21,970

2L
73.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 116i Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£3,995

1.6L
87.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Northwest Trade Centre Lancaster

01524938637 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£31,350

Finance available £624 pm

2L
9.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

drivedirect Darlington

01325521614 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - M140i Shadow Edition 5dr Step Auto

£18,000

Finance available £349 pm

3L
68.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carzooo Limited

01616720266 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i SE 5dr Step Auto

£16,149

Finance available £328 pm

1.5L
37.9K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch

01733309722 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [LCP/Pro/Tech pk]

Low Mileage

£19,295

Finance available £425 pm

1.5L
16.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£5,150

Finance available £93 pm

2L
75.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Blackline Motors Ltd

01618042356 *

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