BMW released the 1 Series hatchback in 2004 to compete against the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. It replaced the 3 Series Compact with multiple bodystyles, such as a three-door hatchback, two-door coupé, two-door convertible and five-door hatch. Now in its third generation, BMW continues to keep the 1 Series updated and relevant.
Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale
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.
Latest used BMW 1 Series
BMW, 1 Series
2023 - BMW 1 Series
42Low Mileage
£22,799
Finance available £458 pm
*Representative example
- 1.5L
- Miles
5.2K
- Petrol
- Manual
- Hatchback
Motorpoint Swansea
BMW, 1 Series
2012 (12) - BMW 1 Series
53Reduced
£6,800
Finance available £129 pm
*Representative example
- 1.6L
- Miles
80.0K
- Petrol
- Manual
- Hatchback
ALPINE AUTO GROUP
BMW, 1 Series
2023 - BMW 1 Series
28£22,699
Finance available £455 pm
*Representative example
- 1.5L
- Miles
9.4K
- Petrol
- Automatic
- Hatchback
Motorpoint Manchester
BMW, 1 Series
2023 - BMW 1 Series
36£21,899
Finance available £439 pm
*Representative example
- 1.5L
- Miles
12.0K
- Petrol
- Manual
- Hatchback
Motorpoint Newport
BMW, 1 Series
2019 (AH) - BMW 1 Series
8Low Mileage
£17,999
- 2L
- Miles
30.0K
- Diesel
- Automatic
- Hatchback
HPL Motors Oldham
BMW, 1 Series
2023 - BMW 1 Series
39£23,699
Finance available £476 pm
*Representative example
- 1.5L
- Miles
8.3K
- Petrol
- Automatic
- Hatchback
Motorpoint Burnley
BMW, 1 Series
2013 - BMW 1 Series
7£5,950
Finance available £110 pm
*Representative example
- 2L
- Miles
99.0K
- Diesel
- Manual
- Hatchback
Town & Country
BMW, 1 Series
2012 (62) - BMW 1 Series
24Low Mileage
£5,495
Finance available £100 pm
*Representative example
- 2L
- Miles
73.9K
- Diesel
- Manual
- Convertible
BMW, 1 Series
2012 (62) - BMW 1 Series
15Reduced
£5,995
Finance available £111 pm
*Representative example
- 1.6L
- Miles
77.0K
- Petrol
- Manual
- Hatchback
NJH Car Sales
BMW, 1 Series
2020 - BMW 1 Series
42Low Mileage
£19,599
Finance available £390 pm
*Representative example
- 1.5L
- Miles
23.6K
- Petrol
- Automatic
- Hatchback
Motorpoint Glasgow
BMW, 1 Series
2012 - BMW 1 Series
11Reduced
£3,495
Finance available £55 pm
*Representative example
- 1.6L
- Miles
110.0K
- Diesel
- Manual
- Hatchback
Stockwood Village Automotive
BMW, 1 Series
2018 (68) - BMW 1 Series
23£11,450
Finance available £233 pm
*Representative example
- 2L
- Miles
89.0K
- Diesel
- Automatic
- Hatchback
Cars To Go Ltd
BMW, 1 Series
2015 - BMW 1 Series
10£5,995
Finance available £111 pm
*Representative example
- 1.5L
- Miles
100.0K
- Diesel
- Manual
- Hatchback
BMW, 1 Series
2016 (16) - BMW 1 Series
32£10,947
Finance available £234 pm
*Representative example
- 1.5L
- Miles
77.8K
- Petrol
- Semi Auto
- Hatchback
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
BMW 1 Series by type
Used BMW 1 Series information
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
BMW 1 Series generations
Third Generation (2019 to Present)
At the start of the third-generation 1 Series, BMW dropped the three-door hatchback models, leaving only the five-door on sale. The company also got rid of the rear-wheel drive and switched models to a standard front-wheel drive platform, making the vehicle shorter, andtaller. While this alteration changed the handling characteristics of the 1 Series, it was still fun to drive and provided far better interior room.
Inside the cabin, some modern technology was added, including gesture control and some connectivity features to create more versatility.
- Fuel type:
- Diesel / Petrol
- Engine Size:
- 1.5 - 2
- MPG:
- 41 - 74
- Acceleration:
- 4.8 - 10.3 seconds
- Boot space:
- 380 L capacity
- NCAP Safety rating:
- 5 / 5 stars
Greenest
118i SE 5dr Step Auto
Cheapest
118i SE 5dr
Fastest
M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto
Second Generation (2011 to 2019)
With the second generation, BMW took the two-door coupé and convertible and included them in a new lineup, known as the 2 Series. The hatchback was slightly more spacious, which added to its comfort. BMW also upgraded the suspension, ensuring that it created sporty handling with soft driving dynamics.
A 2015 facelift added some new interior materials and features. Two years later, BMW updated the iDrive infotainment system to make it more responsive and user-friendly.
- Fuel type:
- Diesel / Petrol
- Engine Size:
- 1.5 - 3
- MPG:
- 35 - 83
- Acceleration:
- 4.6 - 12.2 seconds
- Boot space:
- 360 L capacity
- NCAP Safety rating:
- 5 / 5 stars
Greenest
118i [1.5] SE 3dr Step Auto
Cheapest
114i ES 3dr
Fastest
M140i 3dr [Nav] Step Auto
First Generation (2004 to 2013)
While the 1 Series was released to compete against some of its top rivals, the premium segment had a completely different look. The lower roofline and longer nose helped it to stand out, and because it was on a rear-wheel drive platform, the rear seat also sat higher.
While it was only available as a five-door hatchback when it was first launched, the three-door model joined in 2007, followed by the two-door convertible and coupé models. There was also an available 1 Series M Coupe that offered sportier upgrades.
- Fuel type:
- Diesel / Petrol
- Engine Size:
- 1.6 - 3
- MPG:
- 29 - 64
- Acceleration:
- 4.9 - 11.2 seconds
- Boot space:
- 305 - 370 L capacity
- NCAP Safety rating:
- stars
Greenest
116i [2.0] 5dr
Cheapest
116i 5dr
Fastest
M 2dr
Used BMW 1 Series information
Used BMW 1 Series FAQ's
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.
Find a specific BMW 1 Series
Trim
BMW 1 Series 128tiBMW 1 Series ESBMW 1 Series Edition ESBMW 1 Series EfficientDynamicsBMW 1 Series EfficientDynamics PlusBMW 1 Series Exclusive EditionBMW 1 Series M PerformanceBMW 1 Series M SportBMW 1 Series M Sport Shadow EditionBMW 1 Series M135iBMW 1 Series M140iBMW 1 Series M140i Shadow EditionBMW 1 Series SEBMW 1 Series SE BusinessBMW 1 Series SportBMW 1 Series Sport Plus EditionBMW 1 Series Urban
Transmission
Colour
Registration Year
BMW 1 Series 2004BMW 1 Series 2005BMW 1 Series 2006BMW 1 Series 2007BMW 1 Series 2008BMW 1 Series 2009BMW 1 Series 2010BMW 1 Series 2011BMW 1 Series 2012BMW 1 Series 2013BMW 1 Series 2014BMW 1 Series 2015BMW 1 Series 2016BMW 1 Series 2017BMW 1 Series 2018BMW 1 Series 2019BMW 1 Series 2020BMW 1 Series 2021BMW 1 Series 2022BMW 1 Series 2023BMW 1 Series 2024
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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