Munich BMW Plant

socabmw · 04-02-2008, 09:27 PM

Two weeks ago I visited the BMW headquarters in Munich Germany, not to take delivery of a car but just for a tour the since I was vacationing in Europe. To say I was impressed with what I saw would be an understatement.

The tour lasts about 1 ½ hours and they show you most of the steps in the production of the 3 series. I can not provide pictures because they don’t let you take any. The precise engineering and attention to detail is unbelievable. Every car component is meticulously planned (i.e., when installing the windshield, a robot grabs the glass and stops 2 cm from the intended mark, several lasers measured the distance and location and then pressed the glass in the intended spot). By the way, a huge portion of the build process is done with robotics that resembles a scene from an Alien movie!

On a different thread a fellow member shows picture of his car ripped apart and being worked on. I’m convinced that given the build process, and multilevel painting process, there is no way that a restored car will ever be even close to the original specs.

I highly recommend you visit the plant if you are ever in the area. I have so much more appreciation for BMW and it was nice to see where my 2007 328I was born

Saintor · 04-02-2008, 09:30 PM

I will be there in 5 weeks! Mercedes, Ingolstad, Alps... can't wait.

demosthenes · 04-02-2008, 10:23 PM

Thanks for the tip socabmw.

We stop in Munich on our way to Greece and I'll try to schedule an overnight in Munich. I'd love to see how they built my car.

Year's_End · 04-02-2008, 10:32 PM

I'm gonna say that I could care less if a car was handmade. Like you detailed, robots do a meticulous job that is hard to replicate. I'd rather have a car in tip top shape than say it was "hand crafted".

nolesontop · 04-02-2008, 11:34 PM

You were probably watching my car being built.

The_Blob · 04-02-2008, 11:47 PM

Here's video of the Munich plant assembling E90s.

ska///235i · 04-06-2008, 01:17 PM

was there in 2005.....a must see

Chunga · 04-06-2008, 01:32 PM

I am going there next month. course - i live almost next door - but you have to go their homepage and sign in if you are going for a guided tour if you come from far away.

Davinhci · 04-06-2008, 08:06 PM

cool stuff, I wish I could visit there

04-02-2008, 09:27 PM	#1
socabmw New Member 5 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: OC iTrader: (0)	Munich BMW Plant Two weeks ago I visited the BMW headquarters in Munich Germany, not to take delivery of a car but just for a tour the since I was vacationing in Europe. To say I was impressed with what I saw would be an understatement. The tour lasts about 1 ½ hours and they show you most of the steps in the production of the 3 series. I can not provide pictures because they don’t let you take any. The precise engineering and attention to detail is unbelievable. Every car component is meticulously planned (i.e., when installing the windshield, a robot grabs the glass and stops 2 cm from the intended mark, several lasers measured the distance and location and then pressed the glass in the intended spot). By the way, a huge portion of the build process is done with robotics that resembles a scene from an Alien movie! On a different thread a fellow member shows picture of his car ripped apart and being worked on. I’m convinced that given the build process, and multilevel painting process, there is no way that a restored car will ever be even close to the original specs. I highly recommend you visit the plant if you are ever in the area. I have so much more appreciation for BMW and it was nice to see where my 2007 328I was born
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04-02-2008, 09:30 PM	#2
Saintor Banned 90 Rep 2,446 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MTL, Canada iTrader: (1)	I will be there in 5 weeks! Mercedes, Ingolstad, Alps... can't wait.
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04-02-2008, 10:23 PM	#3
demosthenes Major 50 Rep 1,162 Posts Drives: E90 328i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i sedan [0.00]	Thanks for the tip socabmw. We stop in Munich on our way to Greece and I'll try to schedule an overnight in Munich. I'd love to see how they built my car.
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04-02-2008, 10:32 PM	#4
Year's_End Lieutenant General 1246 Rep 12,446 Posts Drives: 2020 Shelby GT350 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	I'm gonna say that I could care less if a car was handmade. Like you detailed, robots do a meticulous job that is hard to replicate. I'd rather have a car in tip top shape than say it was "hand crafted". __________________ Past: '08 E92 335i\|ZPP\|ZSP\|6AT Past: '15 Mustang GT\|401A\|PP\|6MT Current: '20 Shelby GT350\|6MT
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04-02-2008, 11:34 PM	#5
nolesontop New Member 0 Rep 17 Posts Drives: Alpine White E90 335i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Washington, D.C. iTrader: (0)	You were probably watching my car being built. __________________ On Order: 2008 335i Sedan Alpine White with Black Dakota Leather and Brushed Aluminum Trim, Sports Package, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Navigation, iPod, HD Radio, Satellite Radio, Comfort Access
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04-02-2008, 11:47 PM	#6
The_Blob Second Lieutenant 510 Rep 298 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Here's video of the Munich plant assembling E90s.
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04-06-2008, 01:17 PM	#7
ska///235i ***** noob 1439 Rep 10,477 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	was there in 2005.....a must see __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
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04-06-2008, 01:32 PM	#8
Chunga Captain 37 Rep 903 Posts Drives: E90 black saphire 2008 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Denmark, sealand iTrader: (0)	I am going there next month. course - i live almost next door - but you have to go their homepage and sign in if you are going for a guided tour if you come from far away. __________________
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04-06-2008, 08:06 PM	#9
Davinhci Colonel 56 Rep 2,481 Posts Drives: 08 M3 E92 & 08 E70 X5 4.8 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (6) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00]	cool stuff, I wish I could visit there __________________ 08 E92 AW M3 \| HRE P40 19" \| APE Air Filter \| BMW Performance Grills \| White Side Gills \| CF Mirror Covers \| BMW Performance Pedals \| F1 Pinnacle Tint \| V1 Hardwire \| Dinan Performance Software \| Gintani Exhaust \| H&R Sports Springs \| RPI Scoops \| BMW CF Spoiler \| Challenge Diffuser \| Lux H8 V3 \| LCI Tail Lights \|
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