[BeastMode335i]

So I'm going to check out a car tomorrow and in it's description is "2013 F30 BMW 335i South Africa Edition", in which I've heard of before but never bothered to find out why they call it that.. It appears that it just means it's built partially in South Africa, not Germany.. However, this one local to me is an M-Sport edition, but it doesn't have M-Sport wheels, and tbh the wheels it comes with are not my favorite in the whole world.. So clearly since I can tell the wheels are not the typical M-Sport wheels, is there perhaps anything else different with these South African F3X's, that the German cars do/don't have..?

Thanks!

[Michael Schott]

The only difference between German and South African BMW’s is where they are made. Content is identical. They are not partially made in SA, they are completely made there. If the wheels are not the typical MSport either the current owner changed them or they are optional factory wheels. Get the serial number and plug it into an online configurator which will tell you how it was built.

[jmg]

SA F30s and German F30's are exactly the same. I had an SA 340i M Sport ZTR. ZTR comes with the M Sport wheels, but for some reason many were optioned with a different wheel which I think BMW or the dealer deemed more popular for the US. The SA plant is highly regarded, by the way, and there are no quality issues unique to that plant. If anything, the SA cars have been reported to have less quality control issues, but that could just be what is reported here in bimmerpost.

[Bob in IL]

BMW recently announced that 3 Series production is ending at the SA factory after 35 years and 1.2 million cars. . They will be making X3's.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/news/12497...-south-africa/

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

Lol no, only final assembly is in SA.

They have identical German and US/Canada parts content between a SA 3er and a DE 3er.

Really? So substitute assembled for made. My point is correct.

[otay]

Nah, not rare. My 335i is SA.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

My 335 is a SA build as well.

[Ralph335]

My 335 is a SA as well. I'd say half the 3s I looked at before I got mine were SA builds

[kpgray]

My 335i is SA. Not too rare, but I think most special order cars come from Germany as the SA cars have a longer lead time due to shipping distance. The SA plant has a good reputation for quality. I have had zero issues with mine so far.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

Final assembly is a tiny piece of manufacturing an automobile.

Changing "completely made" to "completely assembled" is still incorrect because the engine and transmission are put together in Germany of mostly European parts, among other components.

Not the point. The point is that there are assembly plants in Germany and SA for the F30 and the cars they build have the same configurations. There isn't anything special about cars from SA vs Germany. That is what is pertinent to the OP's question.

[BeastMode335i]

Thanks for your input guys' I appreciate it..!

Yes this M-Sport F30 is coming with 18x8 wheels that are the 20 spoke BMW wheels.. Not my cup of tea...

[Soul_Glo]

It sounds like cheeky advertising. Same car as those off the line in Germany. I would understand if it was the last F30 built by the SA plant but it's not.

[ErkanTR16]

Both of mine 340s are built in SA. Only had interior trim piece replaced. No other major issues.

[Kafkaesque328]

Seems the majority I see at So Cal dealers, at least with 328s anyway were SA builds.. Some correlation with the SULEV vehicles

[LRW70]

The wife's 328 & my 340 are both from SA. I think Kaf is correct about the SULEV.

[bimmer456]

My car was made in Germany. There isn't any difference in the SA cars other than where they were assembled. Custom order cars seem to usually be from SA unless you're getting ED.

[eluded]

I Custom ordered 340 at the end of 2016. It was assembled in Germany.

[razzy530]

Mine is assembled in Munich.

[tim818]

Getting a 'South Africa Edition' means you have 50/50 chance to get a RHD import... J/K!

Regardless where the cars were built, as long as they're US-spec'd, they'll come with the same equipment/accessories. If the wheels are different, that usually means the previous owner changed them, or the dealership did.

Or maybe OP is getting a special one-of-a-kind SA-built unicorn?

Tim

[Facin]

My 2014 335i is SA and it has been fantastic with 51k on the clock.

[Slickz]

I believe the SA Plant was the most common for final assembly of the 3er, up until just recently when they moved 3er production out of SA. Mene is SA and had no issues so far.

[cfm56d7b]

The quality of vehicles produced at SA plant has been excellent. SA plant even received JD Powers Award:

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/south...dy?language=en