If you have any more road tests and factory tours coinciding with each other like this and the Z3 road test, Motorweek should try and find the 1998 Mercedes Benz ML320 road test and Tuscaloosa, Alabama factory tour from late 1997 and post those here as well; if you guys can find that.
I know you guys are probably a bit "less informed" on fundraising but you should grab yourselves a Patreon account and also look into the "join" function here on TH-cam where members can financially support your channel. Keep up the good work.
I was a kid when these were introduced, so not really shocking to see them as new cars. That was BMW from the start for me at least, as I was born into the era of E30/E32/E34/E36/Z1, but of course don't remember it. I remember when this was new, as well as the SLK and Boxter being a big deal.
It's so neat seeing the original building. Since then they've doubled the size of the body and paint shop and added a second assembly hall. It's now BMW's largest facility in the the world. I've worked there over the years as a temporary line worker, then on the logistics supply side, then as a truck driver delivering to the plant. I don't know anyone whose life hasn't been affected by it.
This is fantastic. It’s amazing though that a lot of them had those trunk weld issues. I have been looking at one for years but they are more expensive than I would expect them to be at this point. A decent one is about eight grand.
I got my Z3 that was supposedly built in SC, bought by a guy who built that exact model. He sold it to another engineer who babied it to blowing rock and back occasionally. New rotors, New brakes and new fluids and Now I got a 188,000mi that feels barely driven:)
All Z3s were built in South Carolina. I think the four cylinder is a better fit for the roadster, with better weight distribution and a more usable power curve for the back roads.
I wish I knew when this was done in 1996. My car was made in October and I think the last one in the video is it. Oh well I will just say it is like I know.
It's not it. This was taped in the spring of 1996 and aired June 26, 1996. Definitely not your car, unless you mean first sold in October 1996 and built in May/June 1996.
It takes a German car company to open a plant in the middle of nowhere in South Carolina so that American workers can enjoy worker equality something unheard of in corporate America I wonder if these workers will ever go on strike or try to implement a union my guess is probably not because is one of the most sought after jobs in that state is easy to get used to working for a company who cares about it’s employees
No. The decisions were made in 1991-92 to build a US plant, as the Z3 was literally being designed in Germany. SUVs weren't under serious consideration until 1993-94 at BMW. X5 development began in 1994.
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If you have any more road tests and factory tours coinciding with each other like this and the Z3 road test, Motorweek should try and find the 1998 Mercedes Benz ML320 road test and Tuscaloosa, Alabama factory tour from late 1997 and post those here as well; if you guys can find that.
I know you guys are probably a bit "less informed" on fundraising but you should grab yourselves a Patreon account and also look into the "join" function here on TH-cam where members can financially support your channel. Keep up the good work.
Its so nice to see fresh cars roll out. weird because we now see these with fogged headlights, ripped tops, and rough paint
Thats the way she goes
Well, sitting outside in the sun for 25 years will do that to any car, honestly it's just replaceable parts, no paint will hold up that long.
Still.... they are head turners
@@SavageBunny1that’s not true. Even water based paint will last a long time if you keep it in a garage, away from the elements.
I was a kid when these were introduced, so not really shocking to see them as new cars. That was BMW from the start for me at least, as I was born into the era of E30/E32/E34/E36/Z1, but of course don't remember it. I remember when this was new, as well as the SLK and Boxter being a big deal.
Me yelling at the guys in the video: ADD THE STRENGTHING BRACES TO THE REAR!
I really love these retro videos. It's so humbling to watch
It's so neat seeing the original building. Since then they've doubled the size of the body and paint shop and added a second assembly hall. It's now BMW's largest facility in the the world. I've worked there over the years as a temporary line worker, then on the logistics supply side, then as a truck driver delivering to the plant. I don't know anyone whose life hasn't been affected by it.
This is fantastic. It’s amazing though that a lot of them had those trunk weld issues. I have been looking at one for years but they are more expensive than I would expect them to be at this point. A decent one is about eight grand.
Water based paint. If you are wondering why modern vehicles can not have a nice 15 yr old paint job.
Wow two Z3 videos in one week! I saw them being built here several times!
Surely Spartanburg has changed beyond recognition in the last 25 years.
Since 1973 BMW’s Rosslyn Plant in South Africa was the first BMW manufacturing plant outside Germany.
They’d probably like you to forget it was in operation during apartheid...
I got my Z3 that was supposedly built in SC, bought by a guy who built that exact model. He sold it to another engineer who babied it to blowing rock and back occasionally. New rotors, New brakes and new fluids and Now I got a 188,000mi that feels barely driven:)
What engine?
@@jimmylinch9164 the tiny 4. Would enjoy the 6 cylinder but it has not as good a stats at living past 200k.
All Z3s were built in South Carolina. I think the four cylinder is a better fit for the roadster, with better weight distribution and a more usable power curve for the back roads.
At the time, this was one of the best manufacturing plants in the world.
Is it not anymore?
@@madreus not sure anymore because it's 2021 now and I'm sure things have changed.
Was a pretty good car to drive at that time
I've been by that plant several times on I-85
I wish I knew when this was done in 1996. My car was made in October and I think the last one in the video is it. Oh well I will just say it is like I know.
It's not it. This was taped in the spring of 1996 and aired June 26, 1996. Definitely not your car, unless you mean first sold in October 1996 and built in May/June 1996.
It takes a German car company to open a plant in the middle of nowhere in South Carolina so that American workers can enjoy worker equality something unheard of in corporate America I wonder if these workers will ever go on strike or try to implement a union my guess is probably not because is one of the most sought after jobs in that state is easy to get used to working for a company who cares about it’s employees
Not really. The auto union in the US is pretty strong.
@@2steaksandwiches665 and corrupt
@@jsiszero I don’t disagree but the rank-and-file union members are just doing their jobs.
@@jsiszero and running the big 2 in the ground
Just look at what unionisation did to the British car industry in the 60s and 70s. And to the wider economy.
The miata from the time seems to have the bigger following these days.
Definitely worth more also. Strange times.
Goldeneye moment
I bet BMW built that factory with the express intent to build SUVs there, but built the Z3 and E36 there as “trial runs”.
No. The decisions were made in 1991-92 to build a US plant, as the Z3 was literally being designed in Germany.
SUVs weren't under serious consideration until 1993-94 at BMW. X5 development began in 1994.
BMW MIATA BMW MIATA BMW MIATA BMW MIATA BMW MIATA BMW MIATA
Funny thing is, my 2020 miata has a Z3 car cover that fits perfectly.
BMW caring about quality. No way 😮
Last
1st
What a terrible little car the z3 was
how so?
Had two of them over 10 years. They've been great.