Launched in 2004 the BMW 1 Series is the smallest car in the prestigious German company’s range.
It’s aimed at those who enjoy their driving, rather than simply seeing it as a way at getting from one place to another.
It has excellent engines that drive the rear wheels.
A downside is that rear-wheel drive takes some cabin and boot space because the engine and transmission are mounted longitudinally rather than sideways, so it encroaches on the passenger area.
There’s good legroom in the front seats, though foot-width is restricted by the gearbox housing.
The back seats are fine for kids, but if you carry adults back there may have to be some juggling with front seat placement. Try before you buy.
The second generation 1 Series arrived in January, 2011. It is slightly larger than the earlier ones.
We’ll begin this report starting with these models.
In 2014, BMW renamed the sporty coupe and convertible 1 Series models as the 2 Series.
They have a quite different history to the 1 Series, so we will cover them in a separate feature.
Note that while some BMW 2 Series are revised 1 Series, others share their underpinnings with the BMW Mini – yes, the British Mini as that company was taken over by BMW in the year 2000.
BMW 1 Series comes with a huge choice of powertrains.
There are three-, four- and six- cylinder units ranging in capacity from 1.5 to 3.0 litres. All engines in the second series are turbocharged.
BMW 1 Series M Coupe has even more power from its twin-turbo six than the standard turbo-petrol models, provides stunning acceleration.
From the 2011 models the turbo-diesels were noticeably better than the earlier units.
But take one on a road test before you buy it as you may not like the relatively slow response to the accelerator.
Then again you may like the fuel savings due to its low consumption.
Manual gearboxes are six-speed units.
BMW manuals are a joy to use, with slick changes through well-chosen ratios.
This is another benefit of the use of rear-wheel drive as the gearbox is close to the gear lever.
A six-speed automatic was fitted in the 1 Series prior to October, 2011 when an eight-speed auto was introduced in most models.
Some diesels still had the old six-speed automatic.
The BMW 1 series had a facelift in mid-2015, with a re-design of the front and rear bumpers as well as the head- and tail-lights.
It received a major upgrade in October, 2016 which included the engine and technology departments, with a further emphasis on improving fuel efficiency of their already very good drivetrains.
A third generation of the BMW 1 Series arrived here in October, 2019 and was no longer rear- but front-wheel drive as standard.
Some sporty models offer the extra grip afforded by all-wheel drive.
They are powered by BMW TwinPower Turbo engines, including the most powerful four-cylinder engine ever in a road car from BMW — the M135i xDrive.
Safety features fitted as standard included head-up display, lane change warning and reversing assistant.
The gen-three 1 Series has 33mm more knee room, 19mm more rear headroom and 67mm more width in the luggage compartment than the previous model.
Clever design means it’s 30kg lighter than outgoing model due to use of lightweight materials.
Fourth generation 1 Series arrived in July, 2024 and is a a heavily refreshed version of the previous model rather than a complete redesign.
It too is front-wheel drive and available only as a hatch.
BMW is long established in Australia and there are dealers in all metropolitan areas and in major country centres.
In remote areas you may have trouble finding a dealer or a mechanic.
Ideally a BMW should be serviced and repaired by authorised dealer as these are complex machines with hi-tech electronic components.
The dealer will connect the car to a computer which, believe it or not is in Germany. That way the car gets early diagnosis of problems, as well as the latest updates.
A BMW 1 Series with a full service record from day one will often sell for more on the used market.
It’s smart to keep up this record after you have bought one.
There are quite a few Aussie mechanics who had formal BMW training when working with a BMW dealership, but are now working as independent specialists.
They probably, though not certainly, have access to factory updates.
Insurance charges are high for a small car, but not too bad when you consider the complexity and the quality materials used in the BMW.
As we always say shop around – but make sure you do accurate comparisons in all aspects of the insurance coverage.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Hard driving can result in a heavy buildup of brake dust on the wheels.
Smart sellers will clean this, not so bright ones may forget to get rid of the dust inside the backs of the wheels.
Uneven front tyre wear is another sign of one that has been fanged, as are signs of wear part way down the sides of the tyres.
The latter may even be caused by track work.
Signs of crash repairs such as mismatched paint, paint overspray and ripples in the panels could mean the little Bimmer’s come into contact with something nasty.
Pearl and metallic paints can be difficult to match after crash repairs, or just door dings.
Check each panel matches its neighbour in strong, direct sunlight.
The engine should start within moments. Arrange to do this with the engine cold after an overnight stop.
During your test drive feel for any hesitation under acceleration and look for oily smoke from the exhaust when the engine is worked hard.
Make sure manual gear changes are quiet and slick. Fast changes from third to second gears are usually the first to show problems.
Automatic transmission changes should be all but unnoticed unless you’re driving pretty hard. Check the manual override systems work correctly.
HOW MUCH?
Expect to spend from $5650 – $10,350 for a 2011 118i hatch; $8400 – $13,550 for a 2013 120i coupe; $12,250 – $18,650 for a 2013 135i M Sport convertible; $7900 – $12,700 for a 2015 116i hatch; $11,800 – $17,550 for a 2016 120i Urban Line hatch; $16,800 – $23,850 for 2017 125i M Sport hatch; $24,950 – $33,050 for a 2021 118i Sport hatch; and $38,300 – $48,800 for a 2024 128ti hatch.
CAR BUYING TIPS
Take a friend with you when shopping for a used car.
That way they can keep the chattering sales person at bay while you check out the car without interruptions.
Used car prices have generally increased during the period of new car stock shortages.
Start looking at adverts for used vehicles several months before you intend buying.
That way you can get a feel for the price being asked and whether they are rising and falling, as dealers need to clear stock due to overcrowding.
Keep an eye on adverts for new cars that say there are specials on particular models.
This can lead to a lot of traded-ins taking up too much space in yards and they will be discounted to get rid of them.
Keep an eye open for ads of unpopular cars, as there can vary greatly in price.
Owners struggling to find a buyers may be forced to grit their teeth and drop their asking price.
If checking a used car at a dealership look at other cars on the lot.
This can provide an insight into the quality of the vehicles in which the dealer specialises.
If buying privately ask for proof of ownership and make sure the insurance covers you for taking a test drive.
Take a slow walk around any car you’re considering, looking for obvious defects.
It amuses us how many people dive into tiny details, only to discover later a major ding somewhere on the other side of the car.
Ideally any road test of a car you’re getting serious about should be done with the engine stone cold. Early morning is best.
If you’re serious about buying a vehicle, tell the seller you would like to take it for a good long test drive.
If they insist on coming that’s understandable, but try to avoid them “selling” the car to you.
Put bluntly, ask them to shut up,
In their later years, cars with a reputation for being long lived and trouble free sometimes attract buyers who have no intention of ever servicing them.
The next owner may suffer as a result.
RECALLS
To browse recalls on all vehicles go to the ACCC at: www.productsafety.gov.au/products/transport/cars/