BMW Considers Mexico Plant for 3 Series and 1 Series FWD Models Production

[cuiter23]

I have nothing against Mexico or BMW building a plant there. It is just that since we are paying a premium price for a premium product, standards should be set. Whether it be in Germany or Mexico, the final product HAS to reflect the value we are paying for it, not some cheaply built economy vehicle. The only concern that I, and many other enthusiasts have about is whether Mexico is CAPABLE of producing such a product mainly due to their current economical and societal situation.

The legendary 3 series has always been an iconic sedan worldwide, I just don't want to see it go on a downward spiral once a new factory for it has been built.

[US///M3]

Originally Posted by cuiter23

I have nothing against Mexico or BMW building a plant there. It is just that since we are paying a premium price for a premium product, standards should be set. Whether it be in Germany or Mexico, the final product HAS to reflect the value we are paying for it, not some cheaply built economy vehicle. The only concern that I, and many other enthusiasts have about is whether Mexico is CAPABLE of producing such a product mainly due to their current economical and societal situation.

The legendary 3 series has always been an iconic sedan worldwide, I just don't want to see it go on a downward spiral once a new factory for it has been built.

You should read up on South Africa societal situation during Apartheid, where one of the oldest BMW's assembly plant outside of Germany is located.

[cuiter23]

Originally Posted by US///M3

You should read up on South Africa societal situation during Apartheid, where one of the oldest BMW's assembly plant outside of Germany is located.

South Africa has proven to be a reliable manufacturer of the 3 series throughout the years.

I have no doubts whatsoever that Mexico will produce quality BMWs, that being said, we will just have to wait and see. The future is anyone's guess.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by mmzcee

Poor move by BMW. Even worse than Spartanburg. This solidifies why I will not purchase any newer BMW models in the foreseeable future.

:yawn:

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Zed2004

+1

I agree as well. I am particularly amazed that several them try to say that they aren't racist.

Easy way to spot a racist/bigot? The guy or gal saying that they aren't.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by cuiter23

I have nothing against Mexico or BMW building a plant there. It is just that since we are paying a premium price for a premium product, standards should be set. Whether it be in Germany or Mexico, the final product HAS to reflect the value we are paying for it, not some cheaply built economy vehicle. The only concern that I, and many other enthusiasts have about is whether Mexico is CAPABLE of producing such a product mainly due to their current economical and societal situation.

The legendary 3 series has always been an iconic sedan worldwide, I just don't want to see it go on a downward spiral once a new factory for it has been built.

Someone needs to be pimp slapped into the 2010s.

[fercho]

I own a tocota tacoma that was made in mexico, and love it, great quality and very reliable. I support the idea of opening a factory in mexico..

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by BMW M Power Mexico

Thanks for that. Let me present a few "I didn´t know they were Mexican" companies:

Owned by BIMBO (the largest bread manufacturer in the world - yep it´s Mexican):

- Sara Lee
- Mrs Bairds
- Arnold
- Brownberry
- Earth Grains
- Oroweat
- Ball Park

Owned by Comex (a 2 billion+ paint manufacturer):

- Color Wheel Paint
- Frazee Paint
- Kwal Paint
- Parker Paint
- General Paint (Canada)

Owned by Cemex (2nd largest cement manufacturer in the world):

- Brikset
- Dixie
- RichMortar
- RichColor
- Citadel

- America Movil (a mexican cellular/phone carrier) has 313 million subscribers, 4th largest in the world, more wireless subscribers that AT&T and Verizon combined.

And of course the world´s richest man is mexican. Carlos Slim is richer than Buffet & Gates. (Admittedly, this last data point isn´t necessarily a positive, but still.)

I have the utmost respect for the U.S. I am cheering for you guys to beat the Chinese in the current Olympics. I think that the Mars landing last night stands as probably the greatest engineering achievement of all time. Now, THAT is something that only the U.S. can pull off.

But we Mexicans definitely can build a quality BMW.

And *some* of the comments here are incredibly racist, frustrating and plain stupid.

+100,000,000,000,000.00

[E46M54325Ci]

To all the bottom-liners: I get it, I really do. But, to many of us that buy these cars, one of the prime reasons for buying is that it is made in Germany, by Germans. Whether or not that makes a statistically significant, measurable difference in quality is irrelevant if you've lost the perception thereof.

Go out into the public and tell a sample of 1000 BMW owners their German, Ultimate Driving Machine BMW was made in Mexico. I'll bet you'll find more than a handful of disgruntled folks. Hell, when I tell people some of the 3's are made in South Africa and you have to check the VIN to know, the reaction is often, "WHAT!"

[vladberca]

The quality should be the same all over the world!
There are a lot of O.E tyres built in the "Romanian" factory and delivered for BMW: more than 5000 RFTs/ day!
The visual quality and also tyre uniformity limits are the same as in Germany, Italy, England, etc.
Time will tell if the quality will be the same, but I doubt it won't be!

[DASHOCKER]

will these workers be unionized? if not then this is sheer cheap labor. im sorry but when it comes to bmw i expect german craftsmanship period.

[pdxBeav]

Originally Posted by Diver

I really believe BMW would be better off building this plant in the US, somewhere in the Southeast. Labor may be cheaper in Mexico, but US infrastructure is better, and the managers don't have to worry about getting shot by some drug gang.

I know a great site right across I-55 from the Nissan plant in Canton MS.

I would rather have my BMW built where the managers have to worry about getting shot than built where the workers are unable to read the assembly instructions.

DISCLAIMER: Before anyone gets bent out of shape I don't really believe what I said, but I said it to make a point about how silly some of these responses are.

[stubenhocker]

Quality will not be an issue with this plant, the Roslyn, South Africa plant has routinely rated as one of BMW's best quality plants!

Yes, VW sucks, but that is not because of Mexico, it is their internal VW issues!

[Fraggy]

Originally Posted by pdxBeav

I guess a lot of people are going to stop flying once they read these:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...erospace_N.htm

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...238682634.html

Those links serve no purpose but to convince how stupid American business is.

[ATS]

People saying that they will never buy a BMW again if its built in Mexico, should put that extra money into some education.

If BMW builds a plant in Mexico (or anywhere else for that matter), it will have the same robots, production and quality processes that they have at their plants in Germany. In fact, being a brand new plant, it'll have newer robots than the ones they have in Germany.

I'm more worried about their existing quality processes since my last 3 BMWs (E46 330ci, E92 335xi and E82 128i) have been reliability nightmares. All of them built in Germany by the way.

Also, instead of complaining about where a new plant might be built, we should be outraged at the fact that one of the models that will be built at such plant is going to be a FWD BMW!!!

If you combine the loss of NA engines, morbid weight and size increases, appalling reliability, electric steering, run-flat tires, fake engine noise and the FWD stupidity, BMW has successfully removed most of the key features that made me own six of their products over the past 8 years. You can be sure that my current will be my last BMW, regardless of where they are/were/going to be built.

[rkcruiser]

Do people really think that being built in Mexico will make the prices any cheaper? I think not. Prices will stay the same because it's business.

Would I buy another? Let's just see how the first year rollout of the vehicle does and I'll go from there. I wouldn't judge because of where it's built only how the end product looks and feels.

[US///M3]

Originally Posted by cuiter23

South Africa has proven to be a reliable manufacturer of the 3 series throughout the years.

I have no doubts whatsoever that Mexico will produce quality BMWs, that being said, we will just have to wait and see. The future is anyone's guess.

Thank-God! BMW didnt follow your requirements to determine where to build a plant otherwise we wouldn't be talkin about South Africa being a reliable manufacturer.

[lawgone]

Originally Posted by rkcruiser

Do people really think that being built in Mexico will make the prices any cheaper? I think not. Prices will stay the same because it's business.

Would I buy another? Let's just see how the first year rollout of the vehicle does and I'll go from there. I wouldn't judge because of where it's built only how the end product looks and feels.

This. The savings will be not be passes onto the customer.

BMW is a premium brand that charges $50k + for a compact sedan with a four banger. It doesn't matter how great the Mexican factory would be, the perception would seriously damage the brand image. I'm not sure who BMW has working in Enterprise Risk but they are either asleep or have no say in anything.

[fercho]

you guys have no idea of all the things that are made in mexico, here are some examples of some of the companies that manufacture in mexico

" Companies that have set up maquiladoras in Tijuana include Lanix, Hyundai, Sony [28], Vortec, BMW, Vizio, Toyota, Dell, Samsung, Kodak, Matsushita/Panasonic, Bimbo, GE, Nabisco, Ford, Microsoft, Cemex, Zonda, Philips, Pioneer, Airbus, Plantronics, Siemens, Jaguar, Pall Medical, Tara, Sanyo, Volkswagen and vimay. Many of the maquiladoras are located in the Otay Mesa and Florido sections of Tijuana"

[Nick.CBR]

Originally Posted by rjc32000

I realize that past performance is not an accurate predictor of the future, but I have a 2003 Honda that was produced in Mexico that has been absolutely flawless over the past 9.5 years. At the time, Honda built this model in either Mexico or Japan, and the Japanese built models were much more highly desired by the cognoscenti due to concerns of build-quality in Mexico. From my experience, my Mexican-produced Honda has been absolutely brilliant with zero problems. (By contrast, my german-made VW was absolute rubbish in terms of quality and reliability.)
Keep in mind that the 3 series isn't exactly a hand-built vehicle; it is produced on what appears to be a mostly automated assembly line (at least on the production videos I've seen). It isn't like a bunch of 3rd-generation Bavarian craftsmen in pristine white lab coats are lovingly building the current 3 series from scratch in their family workshops. I know many will vehemently disagree, but I'm not too concerned with where my car is built as long as it is built to BMW standards. Especially if it results in a cheaper sticker price!

I agree somewhat but I think what appeals to many is that the car is actually built in Germany. Quality controls can and will be put in place and origin of mfg. likely doesn't matter as much but just the thought is rather discouraging to say the least. For me, it was a neat experience doing ED - so if they moved all production to SA and MEX it would be a bummer to me but it sounds as if it would in "in addition to" or maybe I didn't read the article close enough.

I wonder if M cars are built in Germant regardless? Is the X5M built in Germany or the US?

Nick

[Beyu]

American car owner: U.S. assembled only
Reality: Made in Mexico
Japanese car owner: Japan assembled only
Reality: Made in U.S.
European car owner: Germany assembled only
Reality: Made in U.S., South Africa, South America

It doesn't matter which side of the fence you're on in terms of car ownership, people just like a false sense of quality knowing that their car was produced in the car brand's country of origin. It's not like BMW is contracting local factories in Mexico in order to build their 1 & 3-series where they make cars on one side of the factory and produce meth & cocaine on the other; BMW is pumping 100s of millions into building a new plant. If the quality of the cars in Mexico are poor then that's BMW's fault as even without strict government regulation if BMW wishes to market their cars as being upmarket and charge a premium price for it then they need to self regulate.

PS: Why does the U.S. need factory jobs more than Mexico? Why should BMW build another plant in the U.S.? BMW has absolutely no obligation to the U.S. nor should BMW give American workers preference over people in other countries. This thread is one bad comment away from "those dirty <insert people of X country> took our jobs."

[punky8d]

BMW has to cope with this competitive market.....

But, as long as they keep the ///M lineup in europe.. I'm happy.