Powertrain families
N13/B38/B48 petrol · N47/B37/B47 diesel · N55/B58 inline-six
1 Series (F20/F21) — 3-door Hatchback
2011–2019
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- F21
- Production
- 2011–2019
- Body style
- 3-door hatchback
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
1 Series → F20/F21 → 3-door Hatchback
1 Series F20/F21: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected 3-door hatchback fits into the family.
F20/F21 retained the longitudinal, rear-wheel-drive concept for the second 1 Series hatchback generation. F20 is the five-door body and F21 the later three-door; coupe and cabriolet successors were deliberately removed from this node and launched as the F22/F23 2 Series.
The 2011 launch range used turbocharged engines throughout. During the lifecycle BMW added xDrive derivatives and, after the extensive 2015 update, introduced modular three- and four-cylinder B-series engines alongside a substantially revised front and rear design.
The M135i and later M140i are M Performance derivatives of F20/F21, not full BMW M cars. Their six-cylinder engines, cooling, brakes and driven-wheel configurations need exact market and production-date rows rather than a single global ‘M140i’ specification.
2011–2019generation lifecycle
2body branches
3engine/drive families
12range designations
F20/F21factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
3-door Hatchback: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,324 mm
Width1,765 mm
Height1,421 mm
Wheelbase2,690 mm
Luggage360–1,200 L
Fuel tank52 L
Seats4–5
Doors3-door hatchback
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-door Hatchback | F20 | 2011–2019 | 5-door hatchback / 5 | 4,324 mm | 360–1,200 L |
| 3-door Hatchback | F21 | 2011–2019 | 3-door hatchback / 4–5 | 4,324 mm | 360–1,200 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented 3-door hatchback applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114i | 2012–2015 | N13B16 turbo inline-four | 102 PS | 6MT | RWD | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series |
| 116i | 2011–2019 | N13B16 / B38B15 turbo petrol | 109–136 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
| 118i | 2011–2019 | N13B16 / B38B15 turbo petrol | 136–170 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
| 120i | 2011–2019 | N13B16 / B48B20 turbo petrol | 177–184 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
| 125i | 2012–2019 | N20B20 / B48B20 turbo inline-four | 218–224 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
| M135i | 2012–2016 | N55B30 turbo inline-six | 320–326 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series |
| M140i | 2016–2019 | B58B30 turbo inline-six | 340 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
| 114d / 116d | 2012–2019 | N47D16 / B37D15 diesel | 95–116 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
| 118d | 2011–2019 | N47D20 / B47D20 diesel inline-four | 143–150 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
| 120d | 2011–2019 | N47D20 / B47D20 diesel inline-four | 184–190 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
| 125d | 2012–2019 | N47D20 / B47D20 twin-turbo diesel | 218–224 PS | 8AT | RWD | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series model range |
Factory designations
114i · 116i · 118i · 120i · 125i · M135i · M140i · 114d · 116d · 118d · 120d · 125d
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- F20: 4,324 mm × 1,765 mm × 1,421 mm
- F21: 4,324 mm × 1,765 mm × 1,421 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
F20 five-door
The second generation launched with turbocharged engines and a 30 mm longer wheelbase.
F21 and M135i
The three-door body and six-cylinder M Performance flagship broadened the hatch range.
Major model update
Reworked styling and the modular engine family marked the main lifecycle break.
Rear-drive hatch era ends
Production ended in May before the transverse-platform F40 replaced the range.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
5-door Hatchback
F201 Series F20 is a distinct F20/F21 body branch. A compact five-door body designed around everyday access, a folding rear seat and a short overall footprint. Engines/drive: N13/B38/B48 petrol, N47/B37/B47 diesel, N55/B58 inline-six.
3-door Hatchback
F211 Series F21 is a distinct F20/F21 body branch. A compact hatchback body with two passenger doors and a full-height rear hatch. Engines/drive: N13/B38/B48 petrol, N47/B37/B47 diesel, N55/B58 inline-six.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- F20 — 5-door Hatchback; F21 — 3-door Hatchback
- Range designations
- 114i, 116i, 118i, 120i, 125i, M135i, M140i, 114d, 116d, 118d, 120d, 125d
- Powertrain families
- N13/B38/B48 petrol, N47/B37/B47 diesel, N55/B58 inline-six
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW 1 Series (F20)Wikipedia contributors
Secondary body, powertrain, production and lifecycle overview for F20/F21.
- 02The new BMW 1 SeriesBMW Group PressClub
Factory 2011 launch material for dimensions, architecture and initial model range.
- 03The new BMW 1 Series model rangeBMW Group PressClub
Factory documentation for the 2015 model update and new modular engines.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- F20 and F21 have separate body start dates. Facelift and engine-family changes must be tied to production month, not registration year.
- The catalog must separate M Sport equipment from M135i/M140i M Performance derivatives.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026