Another recall

[cuddapah]

Another recall ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/bu...bags.html?_r=0

Interesting .. BMW uses the same manufacturer with Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Chrysler, Ford ...

[cuddapah]

It seems this recall effects 3 series only ... sorry, couldn't delete this post :-(

[nicknaz]

E46 3 series from 2001-2005 in high humidity states only. Pretty nice of BMW to recall a decade old car

[Mick70]

FYI - producers of our car's parts (sorry, in German - and I haven't found the airbag):

[nicknaz]

Nice find! Someone was looking for the name of the OEM wheel manufacturers, and I see Borbet and Ronal called out on that picture

[cuddapah]

I don't know German ... am I correct in saying BMW just assembles parts and brand it BMW ?

[JR956678]

Originally Posted by cuddapah

I don't know German ... am I correct in saying BMW just assembles parts and brand it BMW ?

I think that's no more true of BMW than it is of any car manufacturer today. I was in the tier 1 tier2 level of American automotive manufacturing from 1992 to 2002 and almost all component manufacture was outsourced.

A lot of years have passed since Henry Ford realized his dream of putting iron ore in one end of his factory and driving finished cars out the other end; times have changed for everybody.

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by cuddapah

I don't know German ... am I correct in saying BMW just assembles parts and brand it BMW ?

Likely the engine and body are the only major components any of the auto companies make themselves.

It's so much easier to control inventory --> cost, if all you have to do is notify your vendor to send 'x' number of parts with a set delivery date, rather than manage your own factories.

Everything is designed to BMW's specification of course, but in the case of a double clutch transmission, the massive resources required to design, prototype, etc., a DCT would not be something BMW would do. BMW would partner with Getrag to customize a DCT to suit BMW's needs.

[Eltee]

Mick,
Is that from a web site that you could provide? Maybe Google can attempt a translation to English for us poor souls who don't have a clue.
Looks like some great information.

[mbetoni]

Originally Posted by teagueAMX

Likely the engine and body are the only major components any of the auto companies make themselves.

Great section of footage on this in the Ultimate Factories episode featuring BMW and the E85 Z4. Seeing them forge the engines from molten metal and then assemble them is pretty awesome.

FWIW, the logistics involved in building our cars is something to marvel at. The reality that you can order a car exactly to your spec and 10 weeks later pick it up at your dealer is fairly remarkable, considering all of the parties involved and the fact that most manufacturers (BMW included) keep little to no 'inventory' around for each model - things come to the factory as needed to be integrated into the car immediately.

[redhot]

Here you go

[jparnes1]

Cool but not nearly a complete list. The main engine bolt-ons are not included.

[Mick70]

Originally Posted by Eltee

Mick,
Is that from a web site that you could provide? Maybe Google can attempt a translation to English for us poor souls who don't have a clue.
Looks like some great information.

Unfortunately not. I have found it in another forum, it was scanned from a German car magazin of 2009

If you are interested in a certain car part let me know, I will try to find it in the picture. But, of course, the list is indeed far from complete.

Best regards

Mick

[BMWZ4RIDER]

Nice find and very interesting.
Imagine the cost of a Z4 at the super low volume they sell, if BMW had to have the manufacturing plants, rare materials, finished inventory, complete engineering to assembly staff with benefits and more to make just 12000 cars a year. The Z would probably cost $500,000 at minimum to keep the operation afloat financially. I am guessing nearly all of would not have our cars. I'd be back in my 198,000 mile Sonata.