Watch the BMW F30 3 Series Assembly Process on Rosslyn Production Line

Jason · 12-20-2012, 10:49 AM

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Watch the F30 3 Series assembly process at the BMW Rosslyn Plant in South Africa. See the F30 in Body Shop, Paint Shop, Assembly, and Final Assembly.

The F30 is currently produced in three different BMW plants - Munich (Germany), Regensburg (Germany) and Rosslyn (South Africa).

How do you find out where your F30 (or any other BMW model) was built? The answer is located in your car's VIN number. The 11th digit of your VIN indicates the plant of assembly.

Quote:

A, F, K means production at Munich, Germany
E, J, P means production at Regensburg, Germany
B, C, D, G means production at Dinglofing, Germany
L means production at Spartanburg, USA
N means Rosslyn, South Africa
W means Graz, Austria

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Bonus photos and videos:

BMW 3 Series (F30) Production Process

Press Shop

Body Shop

Paint Shop

Assembly

Final Assembly

remmib · 12-20-2012, 11:52 AM

This got my looking at my vin number, and I see the 11th digit is an "V", so I wonder where it was built.

wilme861 · 12-20-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remmib

This got my looking at my vin number, and I see the 11th digit is an "V", so I wonder where it was built.

V is Leipzig

The Sage · 12-20-2012, 07:35 PM

What about j? Looked but maybe not hard enough

Tsuyoi · 12-20-2012, 07:58 PM

J is new code for Regensburg.

Jackson743 · 12-21-2012, 09:48 AM

Wasn't there (or is there) a troll here that would claim your BMW wasn't a real BMW if it was made in SA? Thanks for the link, I will definitely watch it later.

I took the factory tour when I took European delivery on Dec. 5th in Munich. If you have the opportunity, I recommend it. It's a lot of fun.

FYI on the N55 engine. It's not made in Germany, but Austria.

claykin · 12-21-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackson743

Wasn't there (or is there) a troll here that would claim your BMW wasn't a real BMW if it was made in SA? Thanks for the link, I will definitely watch it later.

I took the factory tour when I took European delivery on Dec. 5th in Munich. If you have the opportunity, I recommend it. It's a lot of fun.

FYI on the N55 engine. It's not made in Germany, but Austria.

Hmm, my Munich build 335i Window decal says

Country of Origin:
Engine - Germany
Transmission - Germany

Do SA builds get their N55 from Austria?

BTW, my 2010 E90 I just returned was an SA build. Was virtually trouble free for 36 months.

Imola.ZHP · 12-21-2012, 04:04 PM

My 11th digit is a "K"

First three are WBA

Cool stuff...

tmurphy2 · 12-21-2012, 04:12 PM

feel bad for those with south african build, that production line looks like a joke compared to germany and i lived in SA for a year.....i wouldnt want to buy a pencil made from that place.

mikefromMA · 12-21-2012, 04:19 PM

Could watch these over and over again. Thanks for the info

Drew10 · 12-21-2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmurphy2

feel bad for those with south african build, that production line looks like a joke compared to germany and i lived in SA for a year.....i wouldnt want to buy a pencil made from that place.

I'm sure the massive build quality problem in the SA plant is being ignored by BMW to make a quick Euro.

mspeed · 12-21-2012, 05:03 PM

N for South Africa

have to remember that

Matski · 12-21-2012, 05:17 PM

I find videos like this mesmerizing... it really is incredible.

rich100 · 12-21-2012, 05:29 PM

During which part of the process do they apply the rust to the seats?

must have missed that bit....

BeemerBoi · 12-21-2012, 05:32 PM

I have owned several 3 series manufactured in SA and have not had issue with any of them.

doublevanosrc · 12-21-2012, 05:49 PM

I'm not too impressed by this production line, are any 328s still made in Germany??

Idk but the German production line just has a different feel to it, all have gloves,matching uniforms and a body language that says, "excited to be working here building bimmers". The guys in this vid didn't seem that confident or something.

shivaswrath · 12-21-2012, 06:03 PM

Rusty seat rail?
Check!

Tsuyoi · 12-21-2012, 06:26 PM

I bet if you couldn't see the people's faces in the video and this was relabeled "new production line in Germany" you'd all be going fanboy nuts over how amazing it is.

Seriously, the amount of stereotyping and intolerance in this thread makes me wanna

Cadi335i · 12-21-2012, 06:39 PM

100% made in germany

JonoNZ · 12-21-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsuyoi

I bet if you couldn't see the people's faces in the video and this was relabeled "new production line in Germany" you'd all be going fanboy nuts over how amazing it is.

Seriously, the amount of stereotyping and intolerance in this thread makes me wanna

Agree. I've test driven both SA and German built 328's and 335's. No noticeable difference at all except for the fact the German one rattled quite a bit. Probably just a bad one but shows you the Germans can do dodgy assembly too.

BMW US-based assembly has the worst reputation over here, probably mostly due to the design/quality of the X cars that are produced there. SA isn't generally considered a problem amongst NZ buyers.

JonoNZ · 12-21-2012, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Rusty seat rail?
Check!

Rusty seat rails affect German cars too.

AndyGF · 12-21-2012, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Idk but the German production line just has a different feel to it, all have gloves,matching uniforms and a body language that says, "excited to be working here building bimmers". The guys in this vid didn't seem that confident or something.

Oh come on? That's like saying you think the US made X's and Z's should be made by stilts wearing, blue & red striped, star draped folk in excessively tall top-hats?

All the stuff that really matters is made my machine anyway, so what does it matter if its made in south africa or timbuktu?

Additionally, most of the metals used in production of the 3 series are mined in south africa too, it makes sense to produce some of them there.

12-20-2012, 11:52 AM	#2
remmib General 1362 Rep 29,061 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520d M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	This got my looking at my vin number, and I see the 11th digit is an "V", so I wonder where it was built. __________________ F10 520d M-Sport Alpine White \| HRE P43SC 20x9+20x11 \| Michelin PSS 255/35+295/30 \| KW V3 Coilover \| M5 Front Sway Bar + M550d Rear Sway Bar \| 3DDesign Front Lip \| BMW M Performance CF Spoiler \| BMW M Performance Diffuser \| BMW M Performance Black Grills \| BMW M Performance Pedals \|
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12-20-2012, 07:35 PM	#4
The Sage Private 1 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 2013 328i M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Mobile, AL iTrader: (1)	What about j? Looked but maybe not hard enough __________________ Alpine 13 328i M-Sport
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12-20-2012, 07:58 PM	#5
Tsuyoi Lieutenant 26 Rep 564 Posts Drives: 2013 F30 328i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	J is new code for Regensburg.
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12-21-2012, 09:48 AM	#6
Jackson743 Lieutenant 20 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 335i M-Sport/EBII/ED 12/5 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Wasn't there (or is there) a troll here that would claim your BMW wasn't a real BMW if it was made in SA? Thanks for the link, I will definitely watch it later. I took the factory tour when I took European delivery on Dec. 5th in Munich. If you have the opportunity, I recommend it. It's a lot of fun. FYI on the N55 engine. It's not made in Germany, but Austria.
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12-21-2012, 04:04 PM	#8
Imola.ZHP Colonel 125 Rep 2,229 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW i3 BEV EE Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mud Island, TN iTrader: (0)	My 11th digit is a "K" First three are WBA Cool stuff... __________________ - 2014 CPO i01 BEV Electronaut Edition Capparis White Tera World, '17- - 2015 CPO i01 BEV Laurel Grey Tera World, '17- - 2015 i01 REx Laurel Grey Tera World, '15-'17 - 2003 CPO 330i ZHP Imola Red Build 03/03/03, '06-'15
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12-21-2012, 04:12 PM	#9
tmurphy2 Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 242 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hartford, CT iTrader: (0)	feel bad for those with south african build, that production line looks like a joke compared to germany and i lived in SA for a year.....i wouldnt want to buy a pencil made from that place. __________________ e92 335i sport[/B] 2 GO: Cobb AP Stg 2+, Macht Schnell DPs, Injen intake, Spearco FMIC, Velocity throttle booster, DBA 4000xs rotors, Vibrant Performance catback, Synapse BOV & charge pipe, Hancook V12 EVOs 4 SHOW: DCT paddles, cusco strut, piano black trim, Mtech bumper, aero lip, 19" Miro 111's, angel eye, black: window trim, side mark, kidneys
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12-21-2012, 04:19 PM	#10
mikefromMA First Lieutenant 30 Rep 344 Posts Drives: 2017 m4 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: MA iTrader: (9) Garage List 2017 BMW m4 [0.00] 2015 428 [0.00]	Could watch these over and over again. Thanks for the info
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12-21-2012, 05:03 PM	#12
mspeed Private 9 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2006 M3 CSL wannabe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: LA - OC iTrader: (0)	ic.. N for South Africa have to remember that
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12-21-2012, 05:17 PM	#13
Matski Captain 148 Rep 850 Posts Drives: A slow BMW Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: England iTrader: (0)	I find videos like this mesmerizing... it really is incredible.
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12-21-2012, 05:29 PM	#14
rich100 Colonel 852 Rep 2,028 Posts Drives: F31 320i Xdrive msport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	During which part of the process do they apply the rust to the seats? must have missed that bit....
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12-21-2012, 05:32 PM	#15
BeemerBoi Member 2 Rep 9 Posts Drives: '09 E92 BMW M3 DCT Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	I have owned several 3 series manufactured in SA and have not had issue with any of them.
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12-21-2012, 05:49 PM	#16
doublevanosrc Just picked up an F30!! 185 Rep 2,361 Posts Drives: 2017 330i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Austin. Tx iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 BMW [0.00]	I'm not too impressed by this production line, are any 328s still made in Germany?? Idk but the German production line just has a different feel to it, all have gloves,matching uniforms and a body language that says, "excited to be working here building bimmers". The guys in this vid didn't seem that confident or something. __________________ Past- 2013 135i 2011 135i
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12-21-2012, 06:03 PM	#17
shivaswrath Brigadier General 615 Rep 4,327 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lost in NJ iTrader: (3)	Rusty seat rail? Check! __________________ CURRENT: 2017 RS3 (miss you guys) SOLD: 2012 335i Mineral Gray M Performance Exhaust/Brakes/Suspension/LSD\|Bav Stage 1/AMP\|\|ER CP/IC/DP/OC \| Dinan CAI/N55 PWG BIG TURBO\|BMWF30.com
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12-21-2012, 06:26 PM	#18
Tsuyoi Lieutenant 26 Rep 564 Posts Drives: 2013 F30 328i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	I bet if you couldn't see the people's faces in the video and this was relabeled "new production line in Germany" you'd all be going fanboy nuts over how amazing it is. Seriously, the amount of stereotyping and intolerance in this thread makes me wanna
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12-21-2012, 06:39 PM	#19
Cadi335i Private 4 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 335i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (0)	100% made in germany
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