How to Draw a BMW

Here our artists will show how to draw a BMW – a high-quality German manufacturer of cars, motorcycles and even bicycles.

This brand has been producing cars of various classes for many years, from compact models to sports cars.

This tutorial is basic and fundamental in the BMW theme, and here we will tell you the basics of the design of this brand and give you the most important skills in the image of these cars.

Here we will draw a BMW using the example of the seventh series, but adjusting some parts and derails, you can create the fifth or third model.

How to draw a BMW: step-by-step tutorial

Step 1 – Sketch the foundation of the body shape

With the help of very rough and light lines, sketch the contours of your BMW. The lower part is a rectangle, and the upper part is sketched with a long curved line. At this stage, you need to convey businesslike proportions of a BMW sedan. The base should look wide, while the roofline is arched but not overly low.

Step 2 – Sketch the key BMW design elements

Make the shape more similar to a BMW. Sketch the integral parts, such as the windows, mirror, headlights, and taillights. Also depict the wheels using two circles. BMW models are known for their Hofmeister kink in the rear window line, so include this subtle detail to make the car instantly identifiable. Sketch the wheels proportionally large.

Step 3 – Shape the bumper, grille, and hood

The main elements are ready, let’s grove to the smaller details. Let’s start by tracing the bumper and headlight. Do not forget to draw the hood of your BMW and remove unwanted lines. Here, accuracy becomes more important.

Step 4 – Draw the BMW’s greenhouse and side windows

Now gently trace the windshield, roof, and rear window of your car. In the fourth step, we should also detail the windows and mirrors of the BMW. The windshield should slope gracefully. The roof must flow seamlessly into the rear window for continuity. Car designers view the greenhouse ratio as critical, this part can convey the class of the car.

Step 5 – Outline the trunk and rear bumper

It is very easy to draw the details of the back part of the BMW. Here we will only need to trace the contours of the trunk, rear light, and rear bumper. Remember, BMW’s rear design philosophy is about horizontal lines and detail, making the car look broader and more planted on the road.

Step 6 – Draw the BMW doors and handles

Now let’s erase the auxiliary lines from the side of the body – we will not need them in the future steps. Next, draw out the doors and handles of your cool premium car. Outline these parts with long strokes, aligning them with the greenhouse above. Place the handles at a natural ergonomic height.

Step 7 – Trace the wheels and draw the BMW rims

Now draw the perfectly round tires and outlines of the rims. Use tools or carefully sketch these parts to keep the wheels perfectly circular. Next, draw the spokes of the rims, as shown in the example below this text. Add rims with symmetry, then sketch evenly spaced spokes. BMW rims often feature multi-spoke or split-spoke designs.

Step 8 – Apply light and shadow to the German car

Our BMW is almost done, and now we need to give it a more cool look. For this purpose, we will add shadows as in the example below. Shading transforms the sketch into something believable. Add darker tones under the car and inside wheel wells. Lightly shade the windows, making them reflective. On the body panels, introduce soft gradients.

A BMW car, like perhaps any other brand, has its own unique design. This is exactly what allows us to enter this car on the street to immediately understand that this car was designed by BMW designers.

The design of the car can change from year to year, but there are elements that either remain unchanged or adapt to new trends, referring us to the established tradition formed in the brand.

These include the double radiator grille, which, despite many restylings, is still used by this German brand.

In addition to such obvious design solutions, cars have less obvious design moves that still allow us to understand that this is a car of a different brand, for example, the overall appearance, the shape of the decorative lines, and so on.

This BMW drawing tutorial introduced you to these basics, using them you will understand how the designers of this brand created their cars, and will be able to largely repeat their work in your works.

You can draw this car either directly from our website or print the steps of this guide. You can also paint this BMW in your favorite color.

Also, you can draw a Mercedes-Benz S Class, to see how the competitors of the BMW brand create their cars, or visit our Audi A7 drawing tutorial to create a complete the German Big Thee set of sketches.