The Making of an E46 (BMW 3-series)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...03396689&q=bmw

For those that haven't seen this yet, it's very interesting.

Auf Deutsch.

Interesting. Made me wish they had used thicker steel stampings for the area
around the rear shock towers, though.


"KJ" > wrote in message
...
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...03396689&q=bmw
>
> For those that haven't seen this yet, it's very interesting.
>
> Auf Deutsch.

"GRL" wrote
> Interesting. Made me wish they had used thicker steel stampings for the
> area around the rear shock towers, though.

Which model years suffered from the subframe damage issues? Was it around
2002 MY that they made improvements to this?

Pete

Wow! I would hope GM or Ford would make a video like this. BMW has
their assembly plant work and automated lines down TIGHT!

I'm still waiting for the day I can spec out my car on the BMW website,
then watch via following web cam as it's built from the sheet metal to
finished product. Or at least have a DVD of the whole build on the
passenger seat when I take possesion I would pay a premium for that
kind of service.

trwbmw wrote:
> Wow! I would hope GM or Ford would make a video like this. BMW has
> their assembly plant work and automated lines down TIGHT!
>
GM and Ford probably know they can't compete and producing a similar
video would likely be business suicide. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I
sincerely doubt their production process is even in the same league.

It would have been nice to see more of the engine/transmission
construction on the BMW film, though I don't knock what they're already
produced as I've not seen a single other manufacturer release anything
remotely close.

> I'm still waiting for the day I can spec out my car on the BMW website,
> then watch via following web cam as it's built from the sheet metal to
> finished product. Or at least have a DVD of the whole build on the
> passenger seat when I take possesion I would pay a premium for that
> kind of service.
>

KJ wrote:
> trwbmw wrote:
>
>> Wow! I would hope GM or Ford would make a video like this. BMW has
>> their assembly plant work and automated lines down TIGHT!
>>
> GM and Ford probably know they can't compete and producing a similar
> video would likely be business suicide. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I
> sincerely doubt their production process is even in the same league.
>
> It would have been nice to see more of the engine/transmission
> construction on the BMW film, though I don't knock what they're already
> produced as I've not seen a single other manufacturer release anything
> remotely close.
>

I'd bet the engines and transmissions are manufactured in a different
facility (or facilities) and then shipped to the car production line.

--
-Fred W

Fred W wrote:
> KJ wrote:
>> trwbmw wrote:
>>
>>> Wow! I would hope GM or Ford would make a video like this. BMW has
>>> their assembly plant work and automated lines down TIGHT!
>>>
>> GM and Ford probably know they can't compete and producing a similar
>> video would likely be business suicide. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I
>> sincerely doubt their production process is even in the same league.
>>
>> It would have been nice to see more of the engine/transmission
>> construction on the BMW film, though I don't knock what they're
>> already produced as I've not seen a single other manufacturer release
>> anything remotely close.
>>
>
> I'd bet the engines and transmissions are manufactured in a different
> facility (or facilities) and then shipped to the car production line.
>
You are correct. Still, it would be interesting to see! 8)

This is not definitive, but judging by what I've seen in the news groups and
BMW forums, it was never fixed.

- GRL
"Pete" > wrote in message
...
>
> "GRL" wrote
>> Interesting. Made me wish they had used thicker steel stampings for the
>> area around the rear shock towers, though.
>
> Which model years suffered from the subframe damage issues? Was it around
> 2002 MY that they made improvements to this?
>
> Pete
>
>

On 15 Feb 2006 19:55:28 -0800, "trwbmw" > wrote:

>Wow! I would hope GM or Ford would make a video like this. BMW has
>their assembly plant work and automated lines down TIGHT!

I visited this plant when doing ED, and I thoguht there was actually
quite a bit of manual labor involved.

>
>I'm still waiting for the day I can spec out my car on the BMW website,
>then watch via following web cam as it's built from the sheet metal to
>finished product. Or at least have a DVD of the whole build on the
>passenger seat when I take possesion I would pay a premium for that
>kind of service.

lol, not a bad idea.

If you prod around in the various 3-series forums in E46 Fanatics,
Bimmerfest, or Roadfly I think you will find many instances of owners of
E46's after 2000 that have reported problems.

I have a 2003 and I fervently hope you are right and these owners were
wrong...but I doubt it.


"ena" > wrote in message
k...
>
> "Pete" > skrev i en meddelelse
> ...
>>
>> "GRL" wrote
>>> Interesting. Made me wish they had used thicker steel stampings for the
>>> area around the rear shock towers, though.
>>
>> Which model years suffered from the subframe damage issues? Was it around
>> 2002 MY that they made improvements to this?
>>
> On the E46 models produced until feb 2000 suffered models produced after
> mar 2000 should have the improved subframe and there is no known problem
> with these newer models - at least not according to the German BMW clubs.
>
>