Likes
- All the Euro image for not too much money
- 6-cylinder models offer great performance ad driving dynamics
- Interiors are shoeing good wear and tear
Used BMW 1 Series review
2004 - 2013
Dislikes
- A worrying list of potential issues
- Parts and labour cost more than other brands
- 4-cyl models definitely lack performance appeal
Stuff you should know
The BMW 1 Series, produced from 2004 to 2013, is a compact luxury car that was designed to provide a smaller and more affordable entry point into BMW’s lineup. It served as the successor to the BMW 3 Series Compact and offered a range of body styles including a three-door hatchback (E81/E82), a five-door hatchback (E87), and a two-door convertible (E88).
The 1 Series featured a sleek and sporty design, incorporating BMW’s signature kidney grille, distinctive headlights, and a low, aggressive stance. It offered a premium interior with high-quality materials and a driver-focused layout, ensuring a comfortable and engaging driving experience.
Three years after its launch, the 1 Series received several improvements. The 5-door hatchback underwent a facelift including revised headlights, redesigned front and rear bumpers, and a restyled interior. The hydraulic power steering was also replaced by electric power steering.
Under the bonnet, the 1 Series offered a variety of engine options, including petrol and diesel variants (see below for full details). The engine lineup ranged from small four-cylinder engines to powerful six-cylinder options. BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology was also incorporated to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
The 1 Series showcased BMW’s commitment to delivering a thrilling driving experience. It featured rear-wheel drive, which provided excellent handling dynamics and balanced weight distribution. Additionally, it offered precise steering and a well-tuned suspension, ensuring agile and responsive driving characteristics.
In terms of technology and features, the 1 Series offered a range of options, including advanced safety systems, infotainment systems, and connectivity features. Depending on the trim level and optional packages, buyers could enjoy amenities such as leather upholstery, navigation systems, premium sound systems, and automatic climate control.
Overall, the BMW 1 Series from 2004 to 2013 served as an entry point into BMW’s luxury and performance-oriented lineup, providing a compact and sporty driving experience combined with the brand’s distinctive design and high-quality craftsmanship.
What goes wrong
Exterior:
- There are reports of the fuel filler caps coming off.
- The windows have a habit of sticking shut.
- The electronics in the mirrors are known to fail.
- On hatch models, the rear windscreen wiper water jets can get blocked, which can fill up and freak out the mechanism and can lead to water buildup and corrosion in the boot.
Interior:
- If your car has a Parking Distance Control unit in the boot and it becomes wet, the result may play havoc with your dash, knocking every instrument out.
- Moisture can come up through seat belt bolts. And sometimes it’s down to someone at BMW fitting a part in the wheel arches upside down.
- Warning lights being illuminated for the airbags and ESC are pretty common, but airbag/seatbelt lights could just be the plug under the seat having come adrift.
- If you have a Bluetooth-equipped 1 Series, don’t leave it unlocked as it can continue to actively search for any linked mobile phones while you’re gone, which drains the battery.
- If the clock or mileage indicator reset without your permission, it could be a flattening AGM battery.
- you may notice a noise coming from just above the air vents but the good news is that could be nothing more serious than air pollen filter cover not being replaced properly after a service.
Mechanically:
- At around 150,000kms you should expect to replace most of the suspension and engine/transmission bushings, as well as the dampers for good measure.
- 1 Series are known to use their brakes harder than the average family hatchback and there are reports that the stock wheels can be surprisingly bend-prone.
- There are reports of oil leaks from valve cover gaskets and the oil filter housing. There are plenty of reports of water pump and thermostat failures. We also see the occasional ignition misfire.
- Expansion tanks splitting, and feeble engine bay plastics tend to be a problem. Far less common four-cylinder petrol and diesel versions have a similar type of problem.
Exterior:
- There are reports of the fuel filler caps coming off.
- The windows have a habit of sticking shut.
- The electronics in the mirrors are known to fail.
- On hatch models, the rear windscreen wiper water jets can get blocked, which can fill up and freak out the mechanism and can lead to water buildup and corrosion in the boot.
Interior:
- If your car has a Parking Distance Control unit in the boot and it becomes wet, the result may play havoc with your dash, knocking every instrument out.
- Moisture can come up through seat belt bolts. And sometimes it’s down to someone at BMW fitting a part in the wheel arches upside down.
- Warning lights being illuminated for the airbags and ESC are pretty common, but airbag/seatbelt lights could just be the plug under the seat having come adrift.
- If you have a Bluetooth-equipped 1 Series, don’t leave it unlocked as it can continue to actively search for any linked mobile phones while you’re gone, which drains the battery.
- If the clock or mileage indicator reset without your permission, it could be a flattening AGM battery.
- you may notice a noise coming from just above the air vents but the good news is that could be nothing more serious than air pollen filter cover not being replaced properly after a service.
Mechanically:
- At around 150,000kms you should expect to replace most of the suspension and engine/transmission bushings, as well as the dampers for good measure.
- 1 Series are known to use their brakes harder than the average family hatchback and there are reports that the stock wheels can be surprisingly bend-prone.
- There are reports of oil leaks from valve cover gaskets and the oil filter housing. There are plenty of reports of water pump and thermostat failures. We also see the occasional ignition misfire.
- Expansion tanks splitting, and feeble engine bay plastics tend to be a problem. Far less common four-cylinder petrol and diesel versions have a similar type of problem.
Exterior:
- There are reports of the fuel filler caps coming off.
- The windows have a habit of sticking shut.
- The electronics in the mirrors are known to fail.
- On hatch models, the rear windscreen wiper water jets can get blocked, which can fill up and freak out the mechanism and can lead to water buildup and corrosion in the boot.
Interior:
- If your car has a Parking Distance Control unit in the boot and it becomes wet, the result may play havoc with your dash, knocking every instrument out.
- Moisture can come up through seat belt bolts. And sometimes it’s down to someone at BMW fitting a part in the wheel arches upside down.
- Warning lights being illuminated for the airbags and ESC are pretty common, but airbag/seatbelt lights could just be the plug under the seat having come adrift.
- If you have a Bluetooth-equipped 1 Series, don’t leave it unlocked as it can continue to actively search for any linked mobile phones while you’re gone, which drains the battery.
- If the clock or mileage indicator reset without your permission, it could be a flattening AGM battery.
- you may notice a noise coming from just above the air vents but the good news is that could be nothing more serious than air pollen filter cover not being replaced properly after a service.
Mechanically:
- At around 150,000kms you should expect to replace most of the suspension and engine/transmission bushings, as well as the dampers for good measure.
- 1 Series are known to use their brakes harder than the average family hatchback and there are reports that the stock wheels can be surprisingly bend-prone.
- There are reports of oil leaks from valve cover gaskets and the oil filter housing. There are plenty of reports of water pump and thermostat failures. We also see the occasional ignition misfire.
- Expansion tanks splitting, and feeble engine bay plastics tend to be a problem. Far less common four-cylinder petrol and diesel versions have a similar type of problem.
Should you buy it?
Ok, it depends on your intentions and needs. If you’re on a really tight budget and want a BMW 1 series because for less than 10 or 15 thousand dollars you can have a “BMW”, no, you should not buy one of these.
The potential mechanical issues are extensive, especially on cheaper and lower-spec 4-cylinder 1 series and the cost to repair these issues can verge on the ridiculous.
For 10 or 15,000 dollars, there are so many more financially intelligent alternatives, like say a Mazda 3, ok it hasn’t got that European image but they still look great, they’re arguably more fun to drive than lower spec 1 series and when you’re on a budget, they’re just a smarter decision.
But, what about when it comes to any of the 6-cylinder 1 series. Well, that’s a different story.
As long as you’re aware that even the 6-cylinder variants aren’t without their gremlins, and if you’re genuinely financially, mentally, and emotionally prepared for what may be some very expensive repair bills, the 6 cylinders 1 series, especially the 135i, offers a hell of a driving experience. Plus with a few intelligent modifications, these things can be genuine giant killers.
So it’s a tentative yes. If you’re in the market, try to find the lowest mileage, most fastidiously cared for example, and it’s absolutely critical that it has a full and thorough service history, and make sure you have it inspected by a mechanic before you hand over your cash.
Ok, it depends on your intentions and needs. If you’re on a really tight budget and want a BMW 1 series because for less than 10 or 15 thousand dollars you can have a “BMW”, no, you should not buy one of these.
The potential mechanical issues are extensive, especially on cheaper and lower-spec 4-cylinder 1 series and the cost to repair these issues can verge on the ridiculous.
For 10 or 15,000 dollars, there are so many more financially intelligent alternatives, like say a Mazda 3, ok it hasn’t got that European image but they still look great, they’re arguably more fun to drive than lower spec 1 series and when you’re on a budget, they’re just a smarter decision.
But, what about when it comes to any of the 6-cylinder 1 series. Well, that’s a different story.
As long as you’re aware that even the 6-cylinder variants aren’t without their gremlins, and if you’re genuinely financially, mentally, and emotionally prepared for what may be some very expensive repair bills, the 6 cylinders 1 series, especially the 135i, offers a hell of a driving experience. Plus with a few intelligent modifications, these things can be genuine giant killers.
So it’s a tentative yes. If you’re in the market, try to find the lowest mileage, most fastidiously cared for example, and it’s absolutely critical that it has a full and thorough service history, and make sure you have it inspected by a mechanic before you hand over your cash.
Should you buy it?
Ok, it depends on your intentions and needs. If you’re on a really tight budget and want a BMW 1 series because for less than 10 or 15 thousand dollars you can have a “BMW”, no, you should not buy one of these.
The potential mechanical issues are extensive, especially on cheaper and lower-spec 4-cylinder 1 series and the cost to repair these issues can verge on the ridiculous.
For 10 or 15,000 dollars, there are so many more financially intelligent alternatives, like say a Mazda 3, ok it hasn’t got that European image but they still look great, they’re arguably more fun to drive than lower spec 1 series and when you’re on a budget, they’re just a smarter decision.
But, what about when it comes to any of the 6-cylinder 1 series. Well, that’s a different story.
As long as you’re aware that even the 6-cylinder variants aren’t without their gremlins, and if you’re genuinely financially, mentally, and emotionally prepared for what may be some very expensive repair bills, the 6 cylinders 1 series, especially the 135i, offers a hell of a driving experience. Plus with a few intelligent modifications, these things can be genuine giant killers.
So it’s a tentative yes. If you’re in the market, try to find the lowest mileage, most fastidiously cared for example, and it’s absolutely critical that it has a full and thorough service history, and make sure you have it inspected by a mechanic before you hand over your cash.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of October 29, 2021.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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