BMW Factory Tour

[Cruiseman]

We are about to go on a BMW (car) factory tour in Regensburg, Germany. Not a big BMW fan, but I like factory tours.

[HBarlow]

Sounds like a nice trip. I also enjoy automobile factories and would enjoy seeing the BMW factory and a bit of Germany. I like BMW cars and motorcycles also.

Many years ago my Navy tour guide took me to many exotic foreign countries but I've never seen Germany.

[TravelinLite]

...Many years ago my Navy tour guide took me to many exotic foreign countries but I've never seen Germany.

Come on Harvey, you guys could have gotten that thing through the North Sea and down the Rhine. Heck, they may have even treated you to Brats once there.

[MMR]

Cruiseman, when you get back into the USA, think about going to Southbend, IN. to visit the Studebaker factory and museum. It is quite facinating all the products that Studebaker used to make over the many years they were in business, including Presidential carriages, like the one that Lincoln rode to the Ford Theatre in...the old Conestoga wagons, the outboard motors, military trucks, etc. Also, think about going to the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg museum in the old Auburn factory, in Auburn, IN. That is where I saw the 5th Tucker I have ever seen. These are not just museums, but also remnants of the old factories.

[HBarlow]

Cruiseman, when you get back into the USA, think about going to Southbend, IN. to visit the Studebaker factory and museum. It is quite facinating all the products that Studebaker used to make over the many years they were in business, including Presidential carriages, like the one that Lincoln rode to the Ford Theatre in...the old Conestoga wagons, the outboard motors, military trucks, etc. Also, think about going to the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg museum in the old Auburn factory, in Auburn, IN. That is where I saw the 5th Tucker I have ever seen. These are not just museums, but also remnants of the old factories.

I've visited the Studebaker Museum several times. It's a bit small but has some nice cars, signs, photos, etc. The Auburn/Cord/Duesenburg Museum is not far away near Ft. Wayne. Of course the Corvette factory and museum are at Bowling Green, KY which is not too far either. The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village at Detroit and the Chrysler Museum at Auburn Hills are my favorites.

[HBarlow]

Come on Harvey, you guys could have gotten that thing through the North Sea and down the Rhine. Heck, they may have even treated you to Brats once there.

I was willing but as a young PO2 on an old diesel-electric boat nobody asked me where I wanted to go.

[MMR]

I've visited the Studebaker Museum several times. It's a bit small but has some nice cars, signs, photos, etc.

Harvey, what year did you go to the Studebaker museum ? When I went, back in '91, it was a HUGE place...took a full day to see everything.

[HBarlow]

Harvey, what year did you go to the Studebaker museum ? When I went, back in '91, it was a HUGE place...took a full day to see everything.

I visited immediately following the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour in '98 and again in 2006 when I was transporting trailers out of Indiana. I don't recall it being huge but perhaps we have different definitions of the word "huge." It may have been larger than I remember but I've been in automobile museums all over the country. Many of them I would consider huge.

[Cruiseman]

Well we finished the tour and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I guess if you are a BMW enthusiast it would be more interesting. Other than the paint shop, it was really hard to see up-close what was going on. And, we never got to see an "assembly line" per se. Everything was robot-driven.

[HBarlow]

Well we finished the tour and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I guess if you are a BMW enthusiast it would be more interesting. Other than the paint shop, it was really hard to see up-close what was going on. And, we never got to see an "assembly line" per se. Everything was robot-driven.

I just watched a BMW R1200RT assembly video sent by a friend a couple of days ago. Motorcycle assembly, at least when the video was filmed, was all done by human hands, one part at a time. Did you visit the BMW car assembly plant or the motorcycle? I assume they are in different locations.

[jmohme]

That should be a very interesting tour.
I have gotten to tour some truck factories in the past, but I think my favorite was the old Mack facility in Allentown.
No automation to speak of, just a very well organized manual assembly line. Just the fact that every part arrived at the correct place at the right time was amazing to me.