How to Draw a BMW

Learn how to draw a BMW, a luxury sedan from the German manufacturer of high-quality automobiles and motorcycles.

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 explain the design fundamentals of this brand, giving you the most important skills in sketching these cars.

Here we will draw a BMW using the seventh series as an example, but by adjusting some details and parts, it is possible to create a fifth, third, or any other model.

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

Step 1 – Sketch the foundation of the body shape

Sketch the outline of your BMW using very rough and light lines. The bottom is a rectangle, and the top is a long, curved line. At this stage, you need to convey the businesslike proportions of a BMW sedan. The base should appear wide, and the roofline should be smooth and sloping, but not too low.

Step 2 – Sketch the key BMW design elements

Make the shape more BMW-like. Draw key elements like windows, mirror, headlight, and taillight. Also, mark the wheels with two circles. BMW models are known for their Hofmeister kink at the rear window, so include this subtle detail to make the car look more recognizable. Sketch the wheels proportionally larger.

Step 3 – Shape the bumper, grille, and hood

The main elements are ready, now let’s move on to the smaller details. Let’s start by drawing the bumper and headlight. Don’t forget to draw the hood of your BMW and erase any unnecessary lines from the front. This is where precision becomes especially important.

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

Now carefully trace the windshield, roof, and rear window of your car. In the fourth step, we should also detail the BMW’s windows and mirrors. The windshield should be gracefully sloped. The roof should flow smoothly into the rear window. Automotive designers consider the glass area ratio critical, as it can convey the class of the car.

Step 5 – Outline the trunk and rear bumper

Detailing the details of this luxury sedan rear end is very simple. We only need to outline the contours of the trunk, taillight, and bumper. Remember that the BMW rear design philosophy is based on horizontal lines and details, which make the car appear wider and more stable on the road.

Step 6 – Draw the BMW doors and handles

Now let’s erase the auxiliary lines from the sides of the body – we won’t need them later. Next, draw the doors and handles of your premium car. Outline these details with long strokes, aligning them with the greenhouse. Position the handles at a natural, ergonomic height.

Step 7 – Trace the wheels and draw the BMW rims

Now trace perfectly round tires and rim outlines. Use tools or carefully darken these details to ensure the rims are perfectly round. Then detail the rim spokes, as shown in the illustration below. Add the symmetrical rim hubs, then sketch evenly spaced spokes. BMW wheels often have a multi-spoke or split design.

Step 8 – Apply light and shadow to the German car

Our BMW is almost finished, and now we need to give it a cooler look. To do this, add some shadows, as in the example below. Hatching will make the sketch more realistic. Add darker tones under the car and in the wheel arches. Lightly shade the windows to reflect the light. Add smooth gradients to the body panels.

BMW and luxury sedan drawing principles

This luxury sedan manufacturer, like perhaps any other brand, has its own unique design. This is what allows us to immediately recognize that it was created by BMW designers when we get into one.

Car designs may change from year to year, but there are elements that either remain unchanged or adapt to new trends, harking back to the brand’s established traditions.

These include the double kidney grille, which, despite numerous restylings, remains a staple of this German brand.

Besides these obvious design features, cars also have less obvious design cues that still allow us to recognize a car from another brand, such as the overall appearance, the shape of decorative lines, and so on.

This BMW drawing tutorial introduced you to these fundamentals. Using them, you can understand how BMW designers created their cars and be able to replicate their work in many ways in your own work.

You can sketch this luxury car directly from our website or print out the guide. You can also paint this sedan in your favorite color.

Alongside BMW, other German manufacturers also set the standard for luxury sedans. To better understand the design and drawing of German cars, it would be useful to learn how to sketch other luxury sedans.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class drawing tutorial shows the benchmark of German luxury sedans. This car emphasize elegance and pure luxury. The details of this car demonstrate how Mercedes has been able to create truly luxurious designs for generations.

The Audi A4 drawing tutorial focuses on a more compact sedan that still carries the Audi’s signature design. Studying the A4 helps to practice drawing everyday premium cars, and learn more about different approaches in designing luxury sedans.

While BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi sedans show how design principles adapt to different brands, the foundation of drawing any car remains the same.

Proportions, perspective, and basic body construction are universal, and all of them are explained step by step in our fundamental car drawing tutorial.

That guide provides the core knowledge you need before moving on to more detailed work with luxury or sports models.