Z4 and future zed model production to move to Germany

[Zmeagol]

Production of the Z4 and its sisters will move to Regensburg, Germany in 2009 and will be replaced with the X3 Sports Activity Vehicle, which comes to BMW Manufacturing from Austria in 2010.

As a consequence, the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina will be focused purely on X models--the X5 sports activity vehicle, the X6 sports activity coupé and the X3 sports activity vehicle.

[PhoenixCoupe]

I thought the X3 production line had already moved from Austria to the US?

One thing that always confused me was how the US built cars have WBA and WBS VINs, which suggests the car was built in Germany. South African built BMW's don't.

[John Boy]

Production of the Z4 and its sisters will move to Regensburg, Germany in 2009 ...

From all I hear of the build quality issues on the Z4 range, this will be a welcome move for future Zeds.

[PVR]

But implies a price increase as production costs in Germany is higher then in the US.

[benelvin]

especially with the value of the dollar as it is! I would've thought they'd be moving MORE stuff out there...

[PhoenixCoupe]

But remember, a lot of components are built in Europe and shipped out.
I'm guessing the US market for the Z4 isn't as big as the X models, so, it's cheaper to built the X3 there (and not pay Steyr to do it), and ship Z4's over, as opposed to the other way round.

Building all the X models also means that more shared components can be sourced in the US.

[John Boy]

But implies a price increase as production costs in Germany is higher then in the US.

You get what you pay for: Cheaper American assembled rubbish or more expensive, German assembled quality.

[///M_aniac]

But implies a price increase as production costs in Germany is higher then in the US.

You get what you pay for: Cheaper American assembled rubbish or more expensive, German assembled quality.

The Z3 and Z4 then were American assembled rubbish, John?

[John Boy]

But implies a price increase as production costs in Germany is higher then in the US.

You get what you pay for: Cheaper American assembled rubbish or more expensive, German assembled quality.

The Z3 and Z4 then were American assembled rubbish, John?

Obviously, when they first started production there were plenty of German values intstalled in the factory. However, over time more & more shoddy American practices crept in and quality went down.

So the best built Zeds are the earlier Z3s or the ones assembled in Europe.

[greg_ch]

My two X3's were very well built and compared very favorably in that respect to the Z's.

The ///M5 is the best BMW I have owned regarding build quality. It's still early days but It's rock solid.

Purely anecdotal but I can say that in my experience European BMW's are better built than their US siblings.

[Zmeagol]

Germans are very loyal to their supplier-customer relationships. When BMW decided to break ground on a new factory in the US they approached their suppliers in Europe and 'encouraged' them to open plants in the US to handle the business. Some 50% of the components were shipped from Europe (e.g. engine), the remainder are mainly sourced from the US factories of European suppliers.

I've never felt the Z3 or Z4 had quality problems, but I know some do. I had an interesting chat a number of years ago with a lady who at the time was the worldwide Z3 product manager, and she related the problems BMW was having convincing the management of the American-based companies to improve their QA.

Tim

[PhoenixCoupe]

My two X3's were very well built and compared very favorably in that respect to the Z's.

Your X3's were probably built in Austria by Steyr in the same factory as the the Mercedes G-Class

[greg_ch]

They were indeed. The chassis of my new toy is being built by Dallara but the car will be asymbled by Steyr in Graz. My X3 experience was one of the - small - reasons I was happy to precede. I visited the factory a couple of years ago and was super impressed. It's a fabulous facility.

Outsouced assembly is more common than mainstream car buyers think. My mum for example didn't realize her MY 2007 Boxster was built alongside the Cayman in Finland by Valmet. Porsche recently extended the contract until the end of the 987's production run.

[greg_ch]

I thought the X3 production line had already moved from Austria to the US?

When BMW made the announcement Tim's refering to - August 2007 - it was stated that production of MY 2008 X3's would be in Spartanburg.

This may have changed but I don't know.

[ZZZEMMCO]

I think its all in the genes When you visit the factories of BMW for a tour of the car or motorcycle production lines , the impression that one see,s is of Pride of the staff in their work and wanting to be the best in the world.

Mass production has come lately to the Europeans, so that tradition is still a vital ingredient to Eu car companies while the americans are masters of the mass everything---BUT- here comes china!!.

General Motors have been trying to make a real indent in their export of "European Spec" cars in the past few years, but at the moment do not compare with the quality and fit of their targets 3 & 5 series cars, if you read the latest road tests.

The future of BMW AG production now spreading evermore to new countries, will increase the problems of how does one ensure that the White & Blue pride can be in the genes of the next generations of workers.

Tim, would be interesting to hear your opinion of your tour,s around the "homecoming"production lines.

For the ultimate Fix, go visit Buchloe and Alpina--feel better already

[spokey]

The chassis of my new toy

Which is?

[Zmeagol]

Tim, would be interesting to hear your opinion of your tours around the "homecoming"production lines.

Well, I've done the standard Spartenburg factory tour three times and have also been in the factory many other times during special tours and parties. Despite being in the deep south, there's no air conditioning in the plant, instead there are big fans to keep the air moving. The marriage (when the complete front suspension and engine is mated up with the rest of the car) is particularly spectacular.

The associates (as employees are called) are all extremely proud of their plant and have a great attitude to customers. During the Homecoming associates volunteer to come in during what is Labor Day Weekend to help people with any problems, to get dents out, whatever. If there are any QA problems with US built cars it's nothing to do with the attitude of the associates.

Tim

[greg_ch]

I think its all in the genes When you visit the factories of BMW for a tour of the car or motorcycle production lines , the impression that one see,s is of Pride of the staff in their work and wanting to be the best in the world.

I'd believe that if it wasn't for knowing a member here rather well! When working on the E36 production line - door fabrication - in Munich he got a little bored and left his cheese sandwhich inside the door to relive the tedium!!

It wasn't me btw.

[PhoenixCoupe]

Best made BMWs I've ever had were built in Rosslyn, South Africa.