Monday 25th July 2011

Video: How To Build A BMW 3-Series

Q: How long does it take to make a BMW? A: 4m 13s...

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Ever wondered how they build a 3-series? So have we.

Fortunately, BMW has made this balletic time-lapse video of the assembly process in its Munich factory, so we don't have to break in overnight and hide in a corner of the factory floor.

Enjoy...

 

[parki11]

Woohoo first comment at last!! -

Cool video but it does remind me of work....but thats only because i'm a metalworker - so its cool!

[666 SVT]

Think they only spent 2 minutes making my last Z3M ?

[Jerry Can]

actual time to build a 5 series at Dingolfing is 4.5 days from fresh air to completed car, or 5 hours from painted shell to completed car.

[The Jolly Todger]

parki11 said:

Woohoo first comment at last!!

Congratulations.


What a cool video. Loved watching the car in front during the dipping process.

[dvs_dave]

The number of stages involved in painting process are amazing! I've had tours of car factories before but never seen so many stages. How many baths of stuff and spray booths does the bodyshell go through?

[Maxus]

Did anyone else notice the bloke who jumps in the car at c3:11 to disconnect the indicators?

[Koing]

Cool video.

Koing

[Garlick]

Maxus said:

Did anyone else notice the bloke who jumps in the car at c3:11 to disconnect the indicators?

I had £5 on the fact that this comment would come. Cheers

[fwaggie]

Garlick said:

Maxus said:

Did anyone else notice the bloke who jumps in the car at c3:11 to disconnect the indicators?

I had £5 on the fact that this comment would come. Cheers

I still have no idea what you two are on about, even after studying the video round about 3:11 in 1080p!

Cool video though, and amazing how many paint/dip/dry stages there are, were there two or three drying/cooking processes?

[detomaso]

fwaggie said:

I still have no idea what you two are on about, even after studying the video round about 3:11 in 1080p!

Cool video though, and amazing how many paint/dip/dry stages there are, were there two or three drying/cooking processes?

[Mark_Karting]

Brilliant. I love the big robot arm swinging in and suddenly there's a good part of the dash in place!

[dbdb]

fwaggie said:

Garlick said:

Maxus said:

Did anyone else notice the bloke who jumps in the car at c3:11 to disconnect the indicators?

I had £5 on the fact that this comment would come. Cheers

I still have no idea what you two are on about, even after studying the video round about 3:11 in 1080p!

Cool video though, and amazing how many paint/dip/dry stages there are, were there two or three drying/cooking processes?

I don't know what he's on about either...

It is a fascinating video though and it's amazing to see just how much investment in the plant is needed to make a modern car.

[rossw46]

detomaso said:

fwaggie said:

I still have no idea what you two are on about, even after studying the video round about 3:11 in 1080p!

Cool video though, and amazing how many paint/dip/dry stages there are, were there two or three drying/cooking processes?

Have another

[Bolognese]

The Jolly Todger said:

Loved watching the car in front during the dipping process.

Yes, that was awesome

[Hellbound]

Lots of lovely processes there. You can see why an all new model probably takes a heck of a lot of planning to get right, not to mention training all the staff. Bet they appreciate working on something new after a models life cycle though.

[Gorbyrev]

Hey Riggers - give it 10 years and a 100,000 miles it will be in shed territory!

[pattyg]

dvs_dave said:

The number of stages involved in painting process are amazing! I've had tours of car factories before but never seen so many stages. How many baths of stuff and spray booths does the bodyshell go through?

What's amazing is how S**T the paint finish on a 3 series is after all these processes.

[Snoggledog]

Great video apart from the obvious CGI bit in the middle. Where did the doors go? One moment they were they, the next they were gone.

[Blakewater]

Like the vid but who the heck would specify white with beige leather?

[jamoor]

I remember going to the BMW factory and seeing 2 guys standing on the production line having a chinwag while waiting for another car to come, doing something to it, then going back to having a chinwag.

The Toyota factory however, a complete contrast to the above, everyone was insanely busy!