[trifona]

I wasn't aware that there was any US bound 3-series production was made outside of Germany until I saw some 328i's that were assembled in South Africa sitting on the dealer lot.

Should I be concerned by a car that was produced in the Rosslyn facility instead of Germany? Are all 328 types produced in Rosslyn? I ordered a 328xi yesterday which will be produced from one of the dealer's March allocation cars (week 11 or 12 IIRC). Does the dealer know or can find out which cars will be produced where, and if so have customers requested their cars to come from German as opposed to South African allocation?

Sorry is this is sounding a bit pretentious.

[rem]

I dunno, but I'd sure steer clear of those e60's assembled in China.

[jmonier]

Only the 328i sedan is made in South Africa (at least for the North American market). It's got a separate model code so the dealer knows when he orders if it's a South Africa car. Since it takes a lot longer for a SA car to get here (shipped via Bremerhaven) it's generally not used for sold customer orders. Rosslyn gets quality awards and there has never been any indication that SA cars are inferior to German ones.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by rem

I dunno, but I'd sure steer clear of those e60's assembled in China.

Cars made in China are only for the domestic China market.

[edgarj]

That's funny, I noticed a variety of SA/German assemblage on the e46 3'ers I had as loaners over the alst 6 years.
So, some or all 328's are asembled in SA? Any 335i's?

I wouldn't worry about it at all. China's perhaps another story, but some fine cars are sourced from SA...... Noble & Superformance off the top of my head. I'd kill for either a Noble or the Superformance Shelby Coupe/GT40. South Carolina scares me more than Capetown.

[rem]

Originally Posted by jmonier

Cars made in China are only for the domestic China market.

I doubt BMW is going to allow quality to slip just because it's not produced in Deutschland.

here's a list of their worldwide manufacturing facilities. Apparently you can't get an X5 or Z4 unless it's been made in the USA.

http://www.bmwusfactory.com/media_ce..._of_plants.asp

[shragon]

my 325i is made in south africa. no issues so far after 14 months of ownership.

also as said, the south african plant has actually won bmw's internal quality awards.

at the present time, it should only be 328i's. 335i's will come out of germany.

[AlexM]

335's are made only in Germany. I wouldn't worry about the production plant in South Africa, i'm sure the Germans made it damn sure it's up to their standards. Also i have read somewhere SA plant got various quality awards.

[noidea]

what's wrong with those African ? We enjoy watching Lion from there.

[Chris.G]

Originally Posted by noidea

what's wrong with those African ? We enjoy watching Lion from there.

We also enjoy beating them in RUGBY

[LEDZEP]

When you get your VIN you'll know where it's being made. Most are made in Munich.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

When you get your VIN you'll know where it's being made. Most are made in Munich.

4-7 of the VIN is VA37 for South Africa. VA33 (for 328 sedans) is for Germany. For the plant within Germany, go to the 11th digit. P is Regensberg (which I believe is the biggest producer of 3-series - and ALL coupes and convertibles). Leipzig and Munich are the other two that produce sedans. I don't know the current codes for those.

[Bulldog 6]

Originally Posted by jmonier

4-7 of the VIN is VA37 for South Africa. VA33 (for 328 sedans) is for Germany. For the plant within Germany, go to the 11th digit. P is Regensberg (which I believe is the biggest producer of 3-series - and ALL coupes and convertibles). Leipzig and Munich are the other two that produce sedans. I don't know the current codes for those.

This is some of the most informative information that I have seen on the forums. It really helped. Not that y'all care but mine was produced in the Regensberg plant.

[montreal_bimmer]

im gonna check mine out tonight, just out of curiosity

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by jmonier

4-7 of the VIN is VA37 for South Africa. VA33 (for 328 sedans) is for Germany. For the plant within Germany, go to the 11th digit. P is Regensberg (which I believe is the biggest producer of 3-series - and ALL coupes and convertibles). Leipzig and Munich are the other two that produce sedans. I don't know the current codes for those.

To make it even easier, if the VIN starts with W it's made in Germany. If not, it's SA.

[new2the3]

My sisters 325 was from SA and the ride is perfect without a single creak.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by Jaws

To make it even easier, if the VIN starts with W it's made in Germany. If not, it's SA.

Although it used to be this way it's no longer true. South Africa Cars are now WBA just like German cars.

And note that US cars begin with 4 or 5.

Other Plant codes:

V - Leipzig????
K, F - Munich (it appears that most (if not all) SULEV's are built in Munich.

B, C, D - Dingolfing (5,6,7 series)

EDIT: I believe that K is also Munich rather than Leipzig. I'm not sure about the V for Leipzig, it's just that I found 1 car with that code that I couldn't identify otherwise. It may be just another code for one of the other plants.

[trifona]

Originally Posted by Jaws

To make it even easier, if the VIN starts with W it's made in Germany. If not, it's SA.

Nope, I specifically saw cars produced in South Africa with the initial W code in the VIN.

[trifona]

http://www.e90post.com/goodiesforyou/2007orderguide.pdf

Looking at this order guide, I get the impression that only the 328i is made in South Africa, as denoted at the top of Page 8. Perhaps all Xi's are made in Germany?

Anyone here with a 328xi that was produced in South Africa?

[trifona]

I just spoke to my CA...he confirmed that S.A. production waslimited to RWD base 3'ers only.

[c56250]

Originally Posted by jmonier

Only the 328i sedan is made in South Africa (at least for the North American market). It's got a separate model code so the dealer knows when he orders if it's a South Africa car. Since it takes a lot longer for a SA car to get here (shipped via Bremerhaven) it's generally not used for sold customer orders. Rosslyn gets quality awards and there has never been any indication that SA cars are inferior to German ones.

Are you sure about this? My car was originating from Gemany for shipping (328i). Does this mean that cars from SA will go to Germany and come to the US?

[tctic]

N is for Rosslyn, South Africa. That's the only code that I am aware of.
E, J, P is for Regenburg, Germany.
V is Leipzig.
A, F, G, K is for Munich.