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I arrived at the factory together with several others who were taking delivery of their cars-a lady from CT who got a beautiful red Z3, and two couples who were getting X5’s, one a 4.4 and one a 3.0. BTW bmv, I saw your 3.0 X5 being assembled, and switched the tranny to a 5sp Step. I’m sure you won’t mind too much; it’s only an extra $1275. We were told that the most popular color for Z3s is silver with a tie for second between red and black. When we came into the reception area, I glanced to my right, and THERE SHE WAS. My beautiful white roadster, top down, was in the delivery room, waiting for me. While the others went someplace else, I was escorted into the room, the paperwork was concluded, and we inspected the car. Because you all have made me kind of critical, I went over the car with a fine toothed comb, and found several smudges and a PIMPLE on the car. I suggested that the car should be redetailed, and my host Josh agreed, and the car was wisked away to the finishing room again.
When I next saw the car, a few hours later, the car was spotless!! Additionally, Josh told me that when the took off the pimple they also took off some clear coat, so when I get back to CA I will take the car to a dealer who will have the entire door repainted and clearcoated. So thanks to all of you for making me understand that this is what I should expect from BMW.
Next on the agenda was the driving course. We were all in 330’s, brand new. Mine had 700 miles on it. First we went thru a slalom course, starting at 20 mph going faster and faster, until I couldn’t make the turns. The 330 is a nice, tight car, and now I really see the benefit of having a pusher rather than a puller. It’s just easier to drive. We then went thru a braking excercise to teach the proper use of the ABS, and finally we went on the skid pad, where I had a lot of fun trying to steer the car with the throttle as the rear end came out. I made believe I was Zanardi, and did some crude donuts, to the applause of all. I was out of my funk.
Next on the agenda was lunch, and we ate with the employees-associates, they are called in BMWese, one of whom was Richard Glasscock, who is head of training. He is responsible for the training of all the technicians who come to the factory to get training in servicing ALL BMWs, including M3, M5, and the Z8. I took the opportunity of asking him as follows: since the new MZ3 will have abt 100 hp more than the present one, was there a suspension change in the works at the same time, since the body style was to be the same as now. He looked at me, smiled, and said he was not permitted to discuss future changes, and that did not necessarily mean that one was contemplated, so you can draw your own conclusions. He loves his job, and you can tell in a moment that he is very knowledgable. FWK and crew could probably spend weeks with him and never repeat themselves.
Last was the factory tour. No cameras were permitted, so don’t be too disappointed. I have never been thru an auto plant before, so I had nothing to base a comparison with. There is a lot of hand finishing involved, and a lot of decision making on the floor as each part is made and put on the car. While there is automation, most of the work is done by people, 42% of who are women, working along side the men. None of the workers seemed hurrried, yet the work was getting done. The lines are not mixed-Z3’s have their line, and X5’s theirs. The X5 line is being expanded to produce 330 per day-right now they do abt 150. 150-175 Z3’s are finished every day, with the work being done on 2 shifts. The workers are in crews, and in their little area of responsibility jobs are traded off so all of the crew can do every job in that area. I was told it makes the job less boring and more of a team effort. It was an interesting tour. I will have pictures to post soon.I have to get the film developed and then scanned and downloaded into my Mac, so it might be a few days for this. So the first day of my journey ended with me driving off to get the car Xpel’d tomorrow.
Wouldn’t you know that 10 minutes after I started driving it began to rain, so foo, the top came up. First time I have ever driven with the top up. It’s noisy!!! As for the car itself, what can I say. It’s a BMW. It’s great!! So far, everything works. I was disappointed in the way BMW handled the gear annunciator. On the X5, the gear annun LED is in its own cubby. In the Z3, the trip odometer becomes gear annunciator when the tranny is put into Step mode. You can get into trouble if you keep looking down at it instead of the road. I could not see it peripherally. I think they copped out on this one. They could have made a dash with one more cubby in the center of the dash, just below the high beam indicator, and, IMO, improved the sporty look of the car. I played with the tranny, and am impressed. On the freeway, I put the car in cruise and played with the revs both with the stick and the throttle. I like it, especially since I have one gear more to play with. Obviously it’s too new to compare with my 2.8 yet. After I break in the car I’m going to check out BMW’s upshift points against mine to see if they max the car as I will. Then I’ll practice some launches and be ready for you at H/C. This is being written in Cumming, GA, where I will take pictures of the Xpel and striping process, and post. Talk to you soon.
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