BMW 1-Series Hatchback (2011 - 2019) running costs and reliability
Miles per pound (mpp)
Petrol engines | 3.8 - 4.5 mpp |
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Diesel engines | 5.0 - 6.1 mpp |
Fuel economy
Petrol engines | 32.1 - 38.2 mpg |
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Diesel engines | 43.5 - 53.3 mpg |
- Efficient turbocharged petrols and diesels
- No plug-in hybrid version of the 1 Series
- 116d EfficientDynamics leads the way
It’s a premium three- and five-door hatch so it might come as a pleasant surprise to learn that the BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch can be relatively inexpensive to run, for both private and business users – this goes some way to explaining why there’re so many on Britain’s roads.
As there’s no plug-in hybrid version, the cheapest to run is the 116d EfficientDynamics with an official consumption claim of 83.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 89g/km.
No surprise that the high-performance M140i is the bookend of the range: stick with the standard manual gearbox and you’ll be trying to justify on-paper figures of 36.2mpg and 179g/km of CO2.
Other 1 Series running costs can be quite high, as servicing can prove expensive at a BMW dealer – but when you’re buying new a transferable fixed-price arrangement is available.
Wider tyres and other BMW-specific consumables can add to the overall cost of ownership as you go on, though.
If having the lowest-possible emissions for your BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch is the primary factor in your buying decision, then at just 89g/km of CO2 your pick has to be the 116d EfficientDynamics.
The one to avoid? At 179g/km of CO2 you’ll want to steering clear of the M140i with a manual gearbox.
- Disappointing number of 1 Series recalls
- Work should now have been completed
- New cars shouldn’t be blighted the same way
Never judge a book by its cover. For all the BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch feels well-made and employs many premium-feeling materials, one look at its recall history with the DVSA vehicle inspectorate is eye-widening.
So far there have been 12 official recalls, with two potential fire risks, four steering maladies and six related to engine issues such as stalling or tripping into limp-home mode.
On the positive side, these issues should now have all been fixed if you’re considering a used one, with current owners taking their cars to dealerships for the remedial work to be undertaken. It’s something you should check out with a BMW dealer for peace of mind.
Ongoing running costs
Road tax (12 months) |
£0 - £520
See tax rates for all versions |
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Insurance group |
12 - 41
How much is it to insure? |