BMW Motorcycle Production at Berlin Plant

The first BMW car, was built in Berlin: on 22 March 1929 the first BMW 3/15 PS's left the production hall rented by BMW near Berlin-Johannisthal Airport. The first BMW motorcycle, the R 32 featuring an air-cooled twin-flat engine and shaft drive, was presented a few years earlier in 1923 at the German Car Show in Berlin. The BMW Plant Berlin was part of the team almost from the start: the history of BMW AG started with the production of aircraft engines in Berlin.
The first BMW motorcycle built in Berlin - a BMW R 60/2 -- came off the assembly line in 1967, but the motorcycle of the Berlin Plant in the former aircraft engine plant started much earlier back in 1949 with production of the first parts for motorcycles still built in Munich back then. Over the years, motorcycle production was shifted step-by-step from Munich to Berlin. And to this day, Berlin remains the only production plant for BMW motorcycles the world over. Nearly all parts and components required for this purpose were manufactured at the Plant, with a total workforce of not quite 400 employees working in motorcycle production back then. Apart from consistently modernising the facilities, motorcycle production as a whole was substantially expanded in 1983 upon the introduction of the K-Series, BMW AG investing some DM 500 million in an entirely new assembly building and system, as well as a highly automated production line for engine components. Ten years later the Company modernised and expanded the Assembly Hall and the Machining Shop for engine and chassis components upon the introduction of the new Boxer generation. And to assemble the single-cylinder F 650 models built at the Berlin Plant since spring 2000, an additional assembly line was installed to provide the capacity required.
Today a total of 1,923 employees build up to 540 motorcycles a day in BMW's three model series -- motorcycles with a single-, two- or four-cylinder power unit. To achieve the growth targets set by the Company in the highly competitive motorcycle market, the BMW Group invested a total of more than Euro 117 million in the expansion of motorcycle production in the years 2001-2003. In February 2002 the Berlin Plant opened a brand-new production building for motorcycle assembly which, with its "intelligent" C-hook system, is absolutely unique throughout the worldwide motorcycle industry. Ultra-modern five-directional machining centres, a high-tech 10-directional laser cutting system, and a valve seat force-fit machine developed exclusively by BMW for production purposes are further examples of truly outstanding efficiency and flexibility -- and, at the same time, serve to guarantee premium quality.The same premium quality is ensured by the new Engine Assembly Shop with its highly flexible assembly system and high-tech testing equipment, which successfully entered operation in September 2003. Since November 2003 the BMW Plant Berlin has been painting motorcycle parts in a new Paintshop, using trendsetting technologies and working to the highest standards of environmental protection. In all, this makes BMW's Motorcycle Plant in Berlin one of the most modern motorcycle plants in the world. Apart from motorcycles, the Berlin Plant has been manufacturing components such as brake discs for car production ever since 1979. Accordingly, Berlin plays an active role within the BMW Group's production network, supplying automotive parts.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BMW
• M5
• M6
• Z4
• 550i
• 535d
• 745d
• 750i
• 760i
• E60
• E92
• E90
• E46
• E39
• E38
• S8
• RS6
• S6
• AMG
• X5
• E70
• X6
• X3

[HackebeilHarry]

Now, go tour a U.S. auto plant, especially a Detroit 3 plant after watching this video. You will just shake your head and wonder how we won WWII. Our plants have people blasting rap and country music on boom boxes and people trying to figure out how they can get a doctor's note to cover their absences on Mondays and Fridays. The Germans never lost their national pride on their workmanship, while too many Americans lost theirs about 1946. "Close enough" is not good enough in Germany.

[hankgs]

I LOVE my GS1200! Amazing all around bike-sport riding touring and backroads...

[hari1408]

beautiful

[cameramandanno]

This gave me the biggest hardon ever.

[pisit1998]

I love GS !!!!!!!!!!

[drAgkIng001]

0:20 JB with mustache

[williambrodie]

@hankgs Sorry, it was 650 not 800, PM me for links

[samihasib]

@hankgs " on backroads! " - =P

[samihasib]

@hankgs humm i once raced with one (GS) while riding from Canberra to Sydney with my OLD 1985 Yamaha FZ750...(only 750cc.. 4 cylinders)... the rider was really good.... his cornering was awesome.. .BUT In stright Aussi Highways... he was Lagging Far far behind...after 2 mins.... later we chatted at a fuel stop... . what he told me was that at High ends.. the GS lacked Torque big time... lastly.. GS engine is Air Cooled... u cant expect much from these machines at high revs...anyway...

[hankgs]

@samihasib It's not a straight line drag-bike...That said, I can stay in the twisties with my "weak" 100hp with any sport bike... It's how good a rider you are more than the HP. That GS kicks most of the bikers asses on backroads!

[hankgs]

@williambrodie Hate to tell you, but the 800GS wasn't around in 2005...lol! Nice try though!

[samihasib]

@hankgs is'nt it a bit weak.. i mean only 100 hp ??