Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 401,033 currently licensed in the UK, the BMW 1 Series is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the 1 Series 5 stars in 2019, with 97% adult occupant and 87% child protection scores.
It has a 80.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,730 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £227/month or 34p/mile.
Theft risk is rated moderate at 6 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
80.2%
280,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£227
est. annual total
New From
£31,000
Euro NCAP tested the 1 Series in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
97%
Child Occupant
87%
Pedestrian
70%
Safety Assist
76%
There are 69 known DVSA recalls affecting the BMW 1 Series. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2006-11-17 to 2011-12-15
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2007-08-29 to 2013-10-08
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2006-01-07 to 2011-06-30
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2007-09-26 to 2013-10-04
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2007-09-26 to 2013-09-14
+ 64 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 280,000 MOT tests, the 1 Series has a first-time pass rate of 80.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The 1 Series is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old BMW 1 Series are estimated at around £2,730 per year, or £227 per month.
Fuel
£1,028
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,252
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The 1 Series achieves a combined fuel economy of around 51.3 mpg (37.1 mpg urban, 51.3 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 SERIES | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 51.3 mpg | 1.5L |
| 1 SERIES | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 44.8 mpg | 2.0L |
| 1 SERIES | PETROL | 34 mpg | 2.0L |
| 1 SERIES 3-DOOR F21, FROM JULY 2016 | PETROL | 48.7 mpg | 2.0L |
| 1 SERIES 3-DOOR F21, FROM JULY 2016 | PETROL | 39.8 mpg | 3.0L |
| 1 SERIES 3-DOOR F21, FROM JULY 2017 | DIESEL | 78.5 mpg | 1.5L |
| 1 SERIES 3-DOOR F21, FROM JULY 2017 | PETROL | 56.5 mpg | 1.5L |
| 1 SERIES 3-DOOR F21, FROM JULY 2017 | DIESEL | 70.6 mpg | 2.0L |
Starting from £31,000 new, a BMW 1 Series typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £23,250 | −£7,750 |
| 2 years | 64% | £19,750 | −£11,250 |
| 3 years | 56% | £17,400 | −£13,600 |
| 4 years | 50% | £15,650 | −£15,350 |
| 5 years | 46% | £14,400 | −£16,600 |
| 6 years | 43% | £13,400 | −£17,600 |
| 7 years | 41% | £12,600 | −£18,400 |
| 8 years | 39% | £11,950 | −£19,050 |
| 9 years | 37% | £11,350 | −£19,650 |
| 10 years | 35% | £10,800 | −£20,200 |
The 1 Series has a theft rate of 6 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 401,033 licensed and 22,424 SORN 1 Seriess in the UK (423,457 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The 1 Series has a 80.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 280,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the 1 Series 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 97% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 70% for vulnerable road users, and 76% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old 1 Series are estimated at around £2,730 per year (£227/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 69 known safety recalls affecting the 1 Series. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The 1 Series has a theft rate of 6 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new 1 Series starts from around £31,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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