Quote:
Originally Posted by ard
Absolutely correct. Car is built in 2 days, then paint, inspection, done.
You need to understand how a production line works... every single part and component is already well underway to becoming a car when YOUR production number is begun... so seating, dash assemblies, engine, tranny, driveling, etc are all sitting and waiting.
When the production number starts they take a body shell, VIN it, then stuff it.
Pretty fast, well, well, well discussed here.....
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That's not exactly correct. I don't know when the production number actually starts but I recently toured the plant and saw the whole process.....
It's a 3 day process from the raw body parts entering the factory to the finished product. I was told they already have your car in mind when they assemble the frame and assemble the body (X5, X6, sunroof, no sunroof, etc) so there are already differences. Note it is "just in time manufacturing" even at this stage. The correct body parts are delivered to the welding areas in order and just in time in groups of 20 IIRC.
Then the two are welded together and sent to the paint shop. Your paint code is applied and the car is baked and cured. It then comes out of the paint shop on day 3 and meets up with your engine and chassis specs for the "marriage". It may be possible they build a stock of the color/body combinations and pull one for your specs from the curing area as the step 0.
Then it is rolled down the line to meet up with your specific order code parts, all delivered at the right, place, right time, and right production sequence. It is a truly amazing thing to see.