This car has been superseded by a newer model, click here to go to the latest BMW 1-Series Hatchback review.

BMW 1-Series Hatchback (2011 - 2019) running costs and reliability

06 June 2019 by Keith Adams

Parkers overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 4.5

Miles per pound (mpp)

Petrol engines	3.8 - 4.5 mpp
Diesel engines	5.0 - 6.1 mpp

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only, and typical current fuel or electricity costs.

Fuel economy

Petrol engines	32.1 - 38.2 mpg
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.