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.

2,554 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£18,600

Finance available £401 pm

1.5L
46.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Reduced

£11,750

Finance available £240 pm

1.5L
36.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

JDC Vehicle sales

01529400406 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (68) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£8,495

Finance available £167 pm

1.5L
92.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Flintshire Car Sales Ltd

01352871748 *

2.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£19,800

Finance available £344 pm

1.5L
27.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

BMW 1 Series(62) - 1.6 116i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,249

Finance available £184 pm

39.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

M Cars Surrey Ltd

01342649540 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 120d M Sport 5dr [Nav]

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

2L
86.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Knightsbridge Cars NI

02890023756 *

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

£19,390

Finance available £386 pm

1.5L
32.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

The Car Co

01616945324 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (68) - 2.0 120i GPF M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£8,989

Finance available £178 pm

2L
99.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorhub

01535281058 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 2.0 120i M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (184

Low Mileage

£15,945

2L
43.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 120d Sport Plus Edition Auto Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£8,495

Finance available £167 pm

2L
65.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Convertible

Fab Cars Ltd

01702904181 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - M135i xDrive Step Auto [Tech/Pro Pack] 5-Door

£28,197

Finance available £583 pm

2L
21.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Preston

01772285529 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£21,190

Finance available £415 pm

2L
36.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Wigan Hyundai

01942559221 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 3.0 M140i Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£17,490

Finance available £339 pm

3L
57.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Gurus

01144780031 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 120d M Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£14,995

Finance available £313 pm

2L
40.5K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Empire Autos NI

02890023547 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£18,922

1.5L
36.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu Ford Worcester

01905678572 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 118i Urban 3dr

Reduced

£5,099

Finance available £92 pm

1.6L
84.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

WHEELS 4 LESS NORFOLK LTD

01603937331 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£19,250

Finance available £375 pm

1.5L
39.9K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto Diesel Hatchback

Low Mileage

£21,421

2L
29.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu Ford Cheltenham

01452227297 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 1.5 116D ED PLUS 5d 114 BHP 5-Door

£10,990

1.5L
72.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Formula 1 Car Supermarket

01324464853 *

2.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (4Y) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£16,495

Finance available £346 pm

3L
63.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars4You Edinburgh West

01313226854 *

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