Complete guide to buying, owning and selling your BMW 1 Series  

5 key facts you should know about the BMW 1 Series

Since starting out as a much cheaper replacement for the 3-door 3 Series Compact (the E46 “ti” range), the BMW 1 Series has grown into its market segment as the most enthusiast-biased offering in its class. 

1. In its current guise, the BMW 1 Series can be had with 4 engine choices (three petrol and one diesel), with a choice between 2 gearboxes (a 7-speed automatic or an 8-speed automatic).

2. There’s only one body style available, but various styling add-ons can make it look more elegant or more sporty – that’s all for the buyer to decide.

3. Even though it started out as an entry-level model, the 1 Series could be ordered with most of the current BMW options.

4. Petrol engines come in 3- or 4-cylinder flavours and the only diesel is a single-turbo 4-cylinder. 

5. The current generation 1 Series moved away from the rear-wheel drive configuration and instead switched to the BMW Group’s front-wheel-drive platform, as found underneath MINIs.

Summary

It first arrived back in 2004, bearing all the hallmarks of Chris Bangle’s “flame surfacing” styling language. To put it mildly, the first-generation 1 Series wasn’t exactly a pretty car, combining the odd Bangled-up styling with stubby proportions into a less than harmonious whole. But, once the coupé and convertible variants appeared (along with some 6-cylinder engines), the 1 Series gained a loyal following among those BMW enthusiasts who found the then-current 3 Series to be too expensive or simply too big.

Fast forward to 2011 and the arrival of the second-generation 1 Series. Even though the pretty coupé and soft-top variants moved over to the 2 Series nameplate, the 1 Series had enough appeal of its own to draw in hordes of customers. And after a few facelifts (all of which dramatically improved its appearance) and with new engines under its bonnet, the 1 Series has earned its reputation as the smallest driver’s car in the BMW stable. 

The third-generation BMW 1 Series arrived in 2020 and saw a drastic shift from the rear-wheel-drive configuration and now instead features a front-wheel-drive architecture. Furthermore, the German automaker has omitted a 6-cylinder engine option, at least until now, and as a result, customers can only choose between 3- and 4-cylinder powertrains. The latest 1 Series also come with a brand new design language, incorporating much larger kidney grilles, sharper curves in the body and new lamp designs at the front and rear.

Pros & cons

Pros

• In an era of downsized engines, BMW still manages to provide enthusiasts with 225 kW and 450 Nm of torque in the flagship M135i xDrive variant.
• With an updated chassis and improved suspension system, the latest generation of the BMW 1 Series retains its dynamic and sporty character in spirited driving conditions.
• Even though it’s BMW’s entry-level model, the 1 Series can be had with most of this company’s premium features – provided you tick the appropriate option boxes.
• As can be expected from a premium vehicle manufacturer such as BMW, the 1 Series still offer customers a very safe platform with a 5-star Euro-NCAP crash test rating, stability control and 6 airbags standard across the range.
• Customers can expect very frugal claimed average fuel consumption figures with the 118d claiming a figure of 4.7 L / 100 km and the 118i, 5.9 L / 100 km.

Cons

• The M135i xDrive is a real stormer and makes lovely noises, but it can quickly become rather thirsty when driven with enthusiasm. 
• Even with its new design language, the 1 Series has a polarising appearance. It’s quite attractive in its current form, but the proportions are still unusual for its class.

 

Similar cars to the BMW 1 Series

• Audi A3 Sportback:

The premium hatchback segment has many appealing alternatives to a 1 Series, and the Audi A3 is one of the very best. It's the combination of refinement, efficiency and quality that still keeps it at the top of its class. 

• Mercedes-Benz A-Class:

Completely redesigned in 2018, the A-Class is the youngest contender in this segment. With vastly improved ride quality and a much nicer cabin, the latest A-Class matches the A3 in most areas, and it also features the most modern in-cabin technology and available driver aids. The judges in the 2019 AutoTrader SA Car of the Year contest agreed and bestowed this title on Mercedes’s newest shining star

• Volkswagen Golf:

Don’t laugh at the inclusion of a lowly Golf on this list, because the Golf has all of the A3’s goodness under its conservative skin – they’re built on the same platform, after all. It’s nice inside the cabin, and matches (or betters) the ageing 1 Series on build- and material quality as well. It’s a premium hatchback without the premium badge.

 

New vs used BMW 1 Series

Because the current 1 Series has been around for a few years, there are plenty of examples to be found on the used-car market. And, seeing as its appearance hasn’t changed too much over the years, an example from 2018 can easily pass for a much newer car at first glance. 

However, because the 2018 facelift was quite extensive, pre-facelift cars do look their age by now, especially with those odd boat-shaped headlights and Polo-esque tail light clusters. Those older examples will also be outside the cover period of their standard maintenance plan, which makes facelifted cars an even more-appealing proposition – especially low-mileage, late-model ones, which still have some of their Motorplan (BMW’s maintenance plan) left over.

However, apart from the refreshed looks and updated engines, older models offered most of the1 Series good attributes, right down to a 3.0-litre turbo 6-cylinder engine variant. And, because of the rather steep depreciation curve of these cars as they near the end of their maintenance plan, there will be some good buys to be had in the pre-owned bin. Just be aware that service and maintenance of BMWs are quite expensive at dealerships, so private (non-OEM) servicing becomes a much more enticing alternative.

However, late-model 1 Series cars should still have their warranties and maintenance plans intact, the balance of which should be transferable to new owners after sorting out the appropriate paperwork with the BMW dealership. In this way, buyers can get most of the goodness and aftersales backup of a new 1 Series, but at relative bargain prices. These cars should only be serviced and repaired at BMW dealerships, because the servicing is already paid for, and to ensure that the warranty and maintenance plan remains active.

But, once the warranty has expired, there’s only one reason to keep servicing the car at the dealership: the service history. A dealership service record may stand you in good stead when it’s time to sell your 1 Series, because such a full-service record could add a few thousand Rands to your trade-in value. You will however have to pay dealership labour rates, which are generally much higher than those of non-OEM (private) service centres. 

Additionally, BMW parts prices are historically rather costly when buying at the agents, so going the non-OEM route makes a lot of sense. Aftermarket backup for these cars is quite extensive through outlets such as Goldwagen, with most service- and maintenance items available from second-tier (OEM-standard but non-OEM prices and branding) suppliers. There are also a host of BMW specialists around, most of whom will have some experience with the 1 Series.

 

Car finance options explained

Leasing

This will be the preferred option for fleet managers, because it’s a pay-to-use deal, but can also be used by private buyers. The buyer pays a certain amount every month for the privilege of using the car, and simply returns the car at the end of the lease period. These cars generally end up on pre-owned floors or at fleet sales outlets. Lease agreements generally run for a fixed term, and most of them have an upper yearly mileage limit, so make sure that such an arrangement will fit your usage needs.

The upside of leasing is that the burden of getting rid of the used car is removed from the buyer and that there will be no further outstanding balance to settle, such as the buyer would find in a hire-purchase deal with a residual value. The downside is that the buyer will end up paying for a car for a number of years but have no tangible asset to show afterwards.

Hire purchase and balloon payments 

Some dealerships and finance houses also offer different financing options, with hire-purchase transactions being the most common. In such a transaction, the buyer will put down a deposit on the car, and then proceed to pay monthly instalments until the car, along with interest and finance charges, are fully paid. 

So far, so good. But hire-purchase deals have a nastier sibling, which works in mostly the same way, but with an outstanding value at the end of the payment period. Many financing deals are structured in this way, to make the monthly instalments seem more affordable, but in the longer term, these deals end up costing a lot more than they do at first glance.

This outstanding value is known as a residual value or a balloon payment and is usually due along with the final “normal” instalment. Most banks and finance houses will allow the buyer to finance this residual value, provided the car’s value is still higher than the outstanding amount. This might prove problematic for older BMWs, due to their steep depreciation curve in the pre-owned market.

Average costs of running a BMW 1 Series

While it’s impossible to accurately predict how much any car will cost to run in the short- or long term, it’s worth noting a few points:

• All new 1 Series cars come standard with a warranty for 2 years and unlimited mileage, along with a maintenance plan for 5 years or 100 000 km. This can be extended before the standard plan runs out, but not afterwards. It can also be transferred to the next owner, provided certain conditions are met. Enquire at your BMW dealership for more details.
• The BMW 1 Series is unfortunately considered to be a high-risk vehicle by the insurance industry because it’s surprisingly popular among the long-fingered set. In addition, high-performance derivatives (M135i) pose a higher risk for insurers, which will drive up premiums on those variants. 
• There are fortunately no inherent security flaws in the 1 Series, and its standard anti-theft system is quite effective. However, remember that an insurance risk profile is extremely dependent on the car’s storage security arrangements, areas in which it travels, and even total mileage accumulated in business use.
• BMW claims some excellent average consumption figures for the petrol-fueled 1 Series variants but real-world testing has shown higher figures than what is claimed and should be taken into account. If frugality is a key factor in your purchasing decision, we recommend the 118d derivatives.
• Low-spec 1 Series cars use 16-inch wheels, growing to optional 19-inch units for the higher tier variants. This means that the 1 Series in basic trim will be notably less expensive on rubber than the flashier ones. It must also be considered that high-performance variants tend to overpower their tyres when driven with verve, which will have a detrimental effect on tyre life as well. 

Where to buy a car

Seeing as the 1 Series has been around for many years, you’ll be able to find a multitude of them at BMW dealerships on both their new and Certified Pre-Owned floors, as well as on general used-car showroom floors. Cars will be advertised by individual dealerships, which may be part of larger dealership groups, or operate as independent dealers. Either way, each dealership is responsible for its own operations, and it may be a good idea to compare different deals from the various dealers to find the most beneficial terms for your needs. 

How to get the best car deal

You might be surprised to learn that buying a car often has some opportunity for haggling. Don’t imagine that you’ll get 50% off the purchase price, but you might be able to score a few thousand here or there, under certain conditions:

• If the car has been standing at a dealership for a few weeks, chances are that the dealer will be willing to drop his asking price, just to get rid of old stock. This is because old (slow-selling) stock costs them money to keep around, and they might be willing to even accept a smaller profit margin, just to get rid of that specific car. This will become even more prevalent as the next update model nears its local release.
• If it’s close to a manufacturer’s year-end, there’s added pressure on dealers to sell their allocated quotas of vehicles. This means that the manufacturer might incentivise new vehicle transactions, just to meet yearly sales figures. Keep an eye open for such offers, often advertised as “cash back” or “trade assistance”, and you may just score a great deal.
• Close to the end of the calendar year, or when a model update is imminent, new cars can sometimes be bought with remarkable discounts, to clear dealer inventory of older-specification cars and make room for fresh stock. 
• Be aware that “On The Road” fees have been deemed illegal to finance, so insist that the dealer itemise those items on your invoice. Once you have that information, you will be able to negotiate a reduction in those fees.

 

Maintaining your BMW 1 Series

If you buy a used 1 Series with an expired warranty, you can choose to have it serviced and maintained at either the BMW dealership, or at a private service centre. OEM BMW parts are generally rather expensive, and dealership workshop labour rates are quite high as well. If your 1 Series has an active maintenance plan, you’ll have no reason to take it anywhere else, though, as it’s all included in that perk.

Private (or non-OEM) service centres have much lower labour rates than the agents, and they will have access to second-tier (non-OEM branded, but still produced according to OEM specifications) parts supplies as well. Aftermarket support for BMW body- and mechanical components is fairly strong, so you may find that most components can be found at either the agents or from non-OEM parts shops. However, going the non-OEM route may adversely affect your car’s resale value, as this also means that the car won’t have a full dealership service record.

The BMW 1 Series has been on the market long enough for any flaws and failings to be fairly well-known. They are generally well-regarded, although electronic issues may rear their heads, especially on many pre-facelift examples and first-generation cars.

The biggest cause for concern relates to the pre-facelift second-generation model’s 116i variant, which uses a variant of the “Prince” engine, which is known to suffer from premature failure of the camshaft timing chain system, as well as injector- and high-pressure fuel pump issues in its direct-injection system. If you’re considering buying a 116i equipped with this engine, have it thoroughly checked out by an expert, because failures in this department will be extremely costly.

Intake system maladies afflict other 1 Series derivatives, which may present as copious quantities of soot in the intake system. This affects both petrol- and diesel derivatives (although with different causes), and can only be remedied by partially disassembling the intake system and cleaning it chemically. Fortunately, 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre second-generation 1 Series cars don’t suffer from the same injection system nightmares as the earlier twin-turbo (N54) engines do.

Other known issues relate to the pre-facelift 120i, which may suffer from crankshaft bearing damage if improperly serviced. Although the 1 Series models all use a Condition Based Servicing (CBS) system, whereby the car will inform the driver when it needs to be serviced rather than relying on fixed intervals, it has been known to be rather optimistic in its estimation of the remaining life left in the engine oil. Best to change the oil and oil filter every 15 000 km, regardless of whether the car’s on-board computer deems it necessary or not.

Finally, early 1 Series cars (both first-generation and pre-facelift second-generation) can easily buckle a rim when hitting a pothole – especially when fitted with wheels larger than 16-inches in size. This event may also cause some distortion in the front suspension turrets (first-generation 1 Series) and bent control arms (all generations), leading to erratic handling and excessive tyre wear. Front suspension control arm bushes are also know to wear prematurely, and can only be replaced as complete units (at a fairly serious cost). If the 1 Series you’re looking at buying makes any funny clonking noises when going over a speed bump, you may be in for a nasty surprise soon.

Selling your car

You most likely won’t be able to get your money back when you sell your 1 Series, even if you’ve only had it only for a short while, due to the rather steep depreciation of this model. Putting it simply, almost all cars lose value on a continuous basis from the moment they’re first sold. Depreciation does allow you to find good-condition, low-mileage BMW 1 Series cars at relative bargain prices, though, so you could save a neat bundle by going for a lightly-used new car.

There are however some things you could do to get the best price for your car when you decide to sell it. 

• The first is simply trading it in on something newer or different. Taking this route will net you a lower value (trade price or thereabouts), but it simplifies the transaction and will be a quicker process. 
• Any outstanding balance on your finance agreement will have to be settled first before the proceeds from the sale could go towards a down payment on your next car. For this reason, you should ensure that your trade-in offer (or selling price) is more than the amount you still owe on the car, or you’ll end up deeper in debt than necessary.
• Selling your 1 Series privately will definitely fetch a higher resale value than simply trading it in, albeit with some extra effort on your part. This is mainly due to the fact that many pre-owned dealerships under-value these cars upon trade-in because they’re aware that some expensive repairs may be due before the car can be re-sold.
• Do your research: Your expectation of your car’s worth may not necessarily align with the dictates of market forces. Knowing beforehand how much a car like yours is worth in the used market will give you a better idea of the real value of your car, giving you a target for which to aim.
• Presentation is key: If you arrive at a dealership (or want to show your car to a private buyer), but your car looks like it just drove 100 kilometres on a dirt road or through a ploughed field, it will appear as though the poor thing has had a hard life. This will make for a lower offer from the buyer. The same applies to minor dings and scratches, where a little bit of pre-sale repair work can give the car’s value a useful boost.
• Keep records: This pertains to service records, as well as any maintenance- or repair work that’s been performed on the car. If you can prove that your car was well-maintained and regularly serviced, the buyer will be less concerned about unknown flaws hiding below the surface. This should lead to a better offer when you want to sell it.

 

Related Reading:

Looking for the best deals on used 1 Series cars? We found them for you!

We elaborated on the 1 Series' history, updates, and current range in this tell-all article.

Watch our video review of the facelifted 118i (3-cylinder).

Find out more about different car finance options in this comprehensive guide.

Curious about those "On the Road" fees? We explain it all here.

We explain the different types of dealerships in this guide.