[DKG]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I am still very uncomfortable with this level of Automation. I really need to see some grease and people.

Did you see the NGC show on the 599 GTB being built at the Modena factory? Although there's a few robots doing some work, the human element is so distinct. Clearly Ferraris have a huge dose of the passion of people going into them during manufacture

I like the way people building Ferraris are able to say 'I built that!!!' when they see one on the road. I believe one man assembles an entire engine

[Sam Kapasi]

We walk on further to the area where the finished Bodies lie. Look up, says Melanie.

I look up. The feeling is now confirmed. 5 stories high, pods. Each pod holds a BMW body. There are hundreds. All different colours. All lying asleep. There's a big robotic lift. When needed, it picks one up and sends it away to be mutated.

What started off as The Matrix, has ended looking like the Matrix. I am uncomfortable to a point where I am ready to throw up. I cannot handle this anymore.

Where are the 10,000 people Melanie? They are here, you will see some now.

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I am still very uncomfortable with this level of Automation. I really need to see some grease and people.

It is time to see people. No grease, but people. Human beings. Wonderful. I see them. Tightening stuff, checking the bodies, hammering away and working hard.
Those on a break look at us curiously, looking at them. Those working are working more precisely than machines.

I wait. I want to see if German Factory workers goof off. They don't. Hell, nobody talks, they aren't scratching their crack or head, or putting pencils inside their noses and ears. They are working precisely down to the millimeter.
Germans are annoyingly precise in regular life. In the factory, they are even worse. But it feels good to know that he is of the same species as I.

Whump, whump, whump, the robots are working alongside the humans. One robot picks up the windscreen and waits, the other injects the glue on the body, and then the first one slaps the windscreen on.
The car moves ahead and a human being checks the edges.

Yeah man! Show those damn robots who's the boss!

We walk on further to the seat department and the carpet and what not. We understand various processes. Why are they not assembling engines?
Engines arrive from another factory. They are merely fit in. By Robots.

We see every process till finally the car is completely ready. This has been one of the most incredible factory tours of my life.

I return back to the Harman Area, completely thrilled. I take many pictures in and around the car I will drive tomorrow.







That evening TheOne® and I have a special extra-romantic dinner.





I talk excitedly about my BMW Werk tour and she laughs. It's gonna be a great evening.

Happy Valentine's day everyone

Tomorrow, we drive.

[Sam Kapasi]

We wake up, finish a quick breakfast and take the shuttle to BMW Welt. At 10.30 precisely, the car arrives.

The weather is cold and very wet.

[Mad Monkey]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I look up. The feeling is now confirmed. 5 stories high, pods. Each pod holds a BMW body. There are hundreds. All different colours. All lying asleep. There's a big robotic lift. When needed, it picks one up and sends it away to be mutated.

What started off as The Matrix, has ended looking like the Matrix. I am uncomfortable to a point where I am ready to throw up. I cannot handle this anymore.

Where are the 10,000 people Melanie? They are here, you will see some now.

It is time to see people. No grease, but people. Human beings. Wonderful. I see them. Tightening stuff, checking the bodies, hammering away and working hard.
Those on a break look at us curiously, looking at them. Those working are working more precisely than machines.

I Whump, whump, whump, the robots are working alongside the humans. One robot picks up the windscreen and waits, the other injects the glue on the body, and then the first one slaps the windscreen on.
The car moves ahead and a human being checks the edges.

Yeah man! Show those damn robots who's the boss!
.

its very strange, but i find this very normal ..... infact i love humanless factorys.
whenever i see a robot i start to disect in my head .. whats makes it tick ...... actually i think i am disecting a lot.




and most of the car factorys in india are as efficient as the ones in germany.
infact hyundai plant in Chennai is very very well run.

[toiingg]

Sam, i couldn't figure out what you meant by '5 stories high, pods'.

Please explain.

[hydrashok]

Originally Posted by toiingg

Sam, i couldn't figure out what you meant by '5 stories high, pods'.

Please explain.

Something like this:


Imagine the cars stacked neatly in those tall towers.

[VIPER_SRT]

Originally Posted by DKG

Did you see the NGC show on the 599 GTB being built at the Modena factory? Although there's a few robots doing some work, the human element is so distinct. Clearly Ferraris have a huge dose of the passion of people going into them during manufacture

I like the way people building Ferraris are able to say 'I built that!!!' when they see one on the road. I believe one man assembles an entire engine

Same with Mecedes AMG series. The whole unit is built by a single person (Of-course with help) and his signature is on the corner of the windshield. I guess he might feel proud letting each car go out of the factory.

[toiingg]

Bump.

Sam, this is torture now.
M3 experience .. please!!

[Sam Kapasi]

Sorry, I was travelling. I think I should finish this one before beginning a new one.

[balenopower]

Awesome stuff sam.your living our dreams!!

[straight6]

Brilliant stuff Sam! Hope you have many more trips like these .

[Sam Kapasi]

With a little help from our hosts, we decide that we will drive to Salzburg in Austria. It's a long drive and I get to visit the red bull HQ, something that tickles me pink. There are 3 of us. The MD of my company, TheOne® and I. She gets a special day off to spend with us and is the best guide we could have had.

The car has dunlop winter tyres and a warning sticker that goes along with that.


Buss?? Only 240kmph? lol. We are quickly warned not to turn the EDC off as this will lead to no insurance in case of an accident. I assume that the M3 has some kind of uhh.. Black Box device.

The car is supercool with all kinds of funky places to keep stuff as TheOne® discovers.


What I find ubercool is the fact that the seat belts kind of stretch out and offer themselves to you when you sit down. Nice.

A pretty decent ICE system too. lol.


The Old man starts driving first, as I settle into the passenger seat. The road to Austria is wonderful, but traffic ridden.




Soon we reach the Austrian border, cross and shortly drive into Salzburg and the navi guides to to Red Bull Hangar 7.



My story at Red Bull Hangar7 continues here.

The BMW M3 drive will continue on this thread. Soon.

[n_aditya]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The road to Austria is wonderful, but traffic ridden.

. Thats hardly any traffic Sam.

Oops i almost forgot... when one is in an M3 the above statement holds good. What is needed is a clean open road to unleash hell from under the M3's hood.

Lovely pics and writeup Sam (as always). Keep it coming.

[Sam Kapasi]

Finished with Red Bull and now we leave. It's time for me to take over!











I cannot really tell how the car is handling. In fact I am nervous driving through the city on what obviously appears to be the wrong side of the road, lol.
Still, it would be a shame to come all the way here and not explore the city. So we do just that. It is bitter-cold and raining and honestly, quite gloomy, but beautiful in a strange way.







We quickly decide to explore Salzburg by foot. We find a pay and park and I stuff the car in quickly. Austria, here we come!

[navin]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

What I find ubercool is the fact that the seat belts kind of stretch out and offer themselves to you when you sit down. Nice.

late 80s VWs had this too.

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

A pretty decent ICE system too. lol.

I see lobing issues when the mid XOs to the tweeter.

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The Old man starts driving first

That should read as "The Older man"..... :-)

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Attachment 6357

Sam converting the M3 into a 3 seater. Ok 3 seats and room for a golf bag.