BMW’s New Logo: How to Compare It with the Previous Design

Define the alternatives

Start by identifying exactly which designs you are comparing. The recent BMW roundel moved away from the traditional black outer ring toward a transparent, flat presentation, while retaining the familiar blue-and-white quartered center. The previous badge used a black ring, three-dimensional shading, and a more conventional metallic look. Clarify whether you are comparing the communication logo, the badge on a vehicle, or a digital asset such as an app icon, because the same design can appear different across those uses.

Compare meaningful differences

Put the two versions side by side at the same size and on the same background. Check the outer ring first: the previous design used a black surround, while the newer version relies on transparency or a lighter border. Next, examine the center roundel for changes in color intensity, edge treatment, and shadowing. The newer mark is generally flatter, with less simulated depth. If you are working with image files, inspect the source format before editing. A raster PNG will behave differently from a vector SVG when you resize the badge or export it for print and screens.

Typography may also differ between versions, but version-specific details such as the exact typeface, spacing, or wordmark usage must be checked against official brand materials for the model year or application you are studying. Do not assume that a badge shown in a video or photo has the same geometry as a press-kit file.

Practical trade-offs

A transparent outer ring can blend into busy photography or light interfaces, so the newer badge may need a contrast check before it is placed on a webpage, slideshow, or camera overlay. The previous black-ring version is more forgiving on light and midtone backgrounds, but it can look heavier in dark interfaces or small video-call thumbnails. Flat design usually scales more cleanly at small sizes because there is less fine shading to become noisy, but this is a general visual tendency rather than a measured result for a specific export.

Privacy and file handling should be considered separately from appearance. If you download or receive a logo file, treat it as a brand asset with unknown licensing terms. Store the original separately, keep your edited copy clearly named, and do not share extracted files in screenshots or screen recordings without confirming that your use is permitted.

Choose for the use case

For a bright website header or a video overlay with a changing background, compare both versions against the actual frame. If the newer badge disappears into light clouds or white UI, a dark backdrop or a contrasting container may be enough; if not, the older black-ring asset may be the more readable choice for that scene. For small favicons, profile icons, or camera-view labels, favor the version that remains legible when reduced, and test it in both light and dark layouts. For print or large signage, verify that you have a vector original or a raster file with enough resolution for the final size instead of enlarging a low-resolution screenshot.

Make the decision conditional on where the asset will appear. There is no universal winner between the new and previous BMW logos: the better file depends on background, reproduction size, available source format, and whether the surrounding layout provides enough separation.