3-series made in South Africa

tablet · May 23, 2004

I understand many 3-series in North America are manufactured in South Africa now even though the VIN appears as Germany (as per an employee from BMW-Taiwan).

Does anyone know how to determine a VIN of a 3-series manufactured in South Africa?

Does anyone know when they started manufacturing in South Africa?

Please provide sources of your information if possible.

codex57 · May 23, 2004

Off the top of my head, sedan body style is made in South Africa. I think almost all the 325i's? Supposedly, the quality from that plant is better than the German plants.

http://www.bmw.co.za/info/News/current/future.asp
According to that link, the SA plant makes 3 series sedans in both LHD and RHD and Minis.

LarryE · May 23, 2004

I don't believe this is true. I believe most 3-series are assembled in Germany, with only a very few coming from SA. Digit 11 of the VIN number is the plant of manufacture: "N" = SA. A-G, J, K are Germany. Not sure which models they build.

rory · May 23, 2004

Which models are built in Mexico?

theBMWenthusiast · May 23, 2004

okay heres what i hear over at IrvineBMW: the cars from South Africa are sold cheaper becuase the quality at that plant cannot be kept at the same level, thus it fluctates sometimes so sometimes the quality may be up to par and other times not, so you may get lucky if you get a car from South Africa and it runs perfectly and you get a cheaper deal, or you could get one of the ones that is under quality which will need to go for a lot more constant repairs, which are free under warranty, but it will be a headache with your car gone for some periods of time

no information from BMWgroup at what is produced at the Toluca plant in Mexico...it is just an assembly plant

aNoodle · May 23, 2004

rory said:

The 3 series is being made in Mexico? I heard about South Africa tooling up and China (for the domestic market only).

theBMWenthusiast · May 23, 2004

aNoodle said:

no information about it on the bmw group site, probably just a plant that builds kits of BMW's (on the BMWgroup website it says some countries they need to send the parts and then they assemble them there becuase of some laws) so they might just be assembling some of hte BMW's for mexico and central america...im pretty sure those dont come to the U.S.

tablet · May 23, 2004

As an interesting tid bit, BMW has had a history of trying to deceive customers with their VINs. The X5 was given a VIN starting with WBA but the plant code (digit 11) was L (for the SC, USA plant).

here's an interesting link
http://www.usatoday.com/money/consumer/autos/mauto614.htm

Is BMW trying to do the same thing for 3-series manufactured in S. Africa and sold in the US. If you do a search on ebay for "2003 325i", you'll find that some 325i's have vins starting with WBA, but 11th digit = N (for the South Africa plant). Umm...a car bearing a vin indicating that it was manufactured in Germany and yet the plant is located in South Africa??

codex57 · May 24, 2004

Doesn't it just say on the sticker where the car is from? Luckily for me, the Regensburg plant in Germany is the one that builds the coupes.

bmwcoupedriver · May 24, 2004

No Secret

Look at the sticker next time you are in a dealership. It clearly states the country of manufacture. (For the transmission as well)

I believe BMW started making cars in South Africa in the 1960's.

Joseph [driving2]

Kirby · May 24, 2004

tablet said:

As an interesting tid bit, BMW has had a history of trying to deceive customers with their VINs. The X5 was given a VIN starting with WBA but the plant code (digit 11) was L (for the SC, USA plant).

here's an interesting link
http://www.usatoday.com/money/consumer/autos/mauto614.htm

Is BMW trying to do the same thing for 3-series manufactured in S. Africa and sold in the US. If you do a search on ebay for "2003 325i", you'll find that some 325i's have vins starting with WBA, but 11th digit = N (for the South Africa plant). Umm...a car bearing a vin indicating that it was manufactured in Germany and yet the plant is located in South Africa??

I believe that WBA is assigned to BMW as a corporation ID, not a specific plant?

tablet · May 24, 2004

Kirby said:

The X5 now (at least in Canada) have vins that begin with 4 (US as country of origin). As well, vins of Volkswagons made in Mexico are designated to begin with 3 (I believe).

W = Germany
BA= BMW AG

If you look on a German built VW, it starts with WVW.
W=Germany
VW=Volkswagon

rory · May 24, 2004

My X3 has a VIN that begins with WBA but I was told it was built in Austria.

codex57 · May 24, 2004

They probably lump Austria in with Germany

tablet · May 24, 2004

Here is an example of how some dealers are trying to fool people in thinking the X5 is made in Germany using the WBA vin. Notice the 11th digit is a "L" for SC, USA.

http://www.kygallery.com/cars4all/1710.htm

theBMWenthusiast · May 24, 2004

thats something to pay attention to...im pretty sure my 3 wasn't made in south africa since my dealership sells south africa cars at a discounted price and seperated from the rest

deutsch100 · May 24, 2004

Hi! What dealer in Orange County, or for that matter any dealer, would voluntarily tell the consumer certain BMWs are made in So. Africa and discount them. I didn't even know that the USA got any South African cars. I am very curious!!! If out 3ers say Made In Germany on the driver's door, can we believe that????

Bmw 325i 7803 · May 24, 2004

What does the designation 11 number P mean? That was the VIN on that POS loaner I got, I wonder if its from South Africa.

Xyrium · May 24, 2004

Poor souls. The plant in SA is superior to the old plant in Germany. They use far superior techniques for mechanical calibration. THe old plant is just that, old. [hatchet]

tablet · May 24, 2004

P=Regensburg,Germany

http://www2.autospies.com/article/index.asp?articleId=2738&categoryId=1

3-series made in South Africa

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