BMW 1 Series - Reliability and safety

The current, F70-generation 1 Series that arrived in 2024 was so heavily revised over the F40-generation which launched in 2019 that despite sharing the same basic body and underpinnings, a new Euro NCAP test is required. The organisation hasn’t yet tested the latest version, but judging from previous results, it should perform well. 

Safety technology on the 1 Series is pretty comprehensive as standard. There’s BMW’s ‘Active Guard’, which incorporates forward collision avoidance and lane keep assist, plus ‘Driving Assistant’, a radar-based driver assistance system consisting of rear crossing traffic warning and speed limit information. 

A ‘Park Assistant’ can provide automatic parking in parallel and bay parking spaces, plus helps with rear parking thanks to a reversing camera, and can automatically leave parallel parking spots. 

As part of the £2,750 Technology Plus Pack, the 1 Series can have ‘Parking Assistant Plus’. This adds a panoramic view for the rear camera, a 360-degree exterior view, an anti-theft recorder and monitoring during parking manoeuvres.

BMW managed to secure three places in the top 25 of our Driver Power car ownership survey in 2024. The new 1 Series wasn’t among them, as it’s too new, but the previous 1 Series came in at number 25.

Warranty

The BMW 1 Series receives a fairly standard three-year, unlimited warranty across the range. 

Servicing

For £1,002, BMW will provide your 1 Series with its own service plan, which comprises a vehicle health check, servicing engine oil, air filter, microfilter, spark plugs (for petrol engines) and brake fluid. The plan sits over the first four years of the 1 Series’ life.