Build Time Duration after VIN No. issued!
 

Does anyone know the lenth of time for a X5 to be built once the VIN number has been issued!

I know it takes approx a week to build a X5 but I was wondering once they issue the VIN number how long before the engine number is issued and the X5 actually starts production or is it that once you get a Vin number the X5 has actuatly started production and in about 7 days it will be completed and the engine number is then issued?

Anyone!

Mine was at dealer in 3 weeks after VIN was issued. The website is always behind.

Hi LeMansX5,

So would you say that from the time the Vin number is issued that would be the start of the build and the build takes some 7-9 days. As per the factory website the chassis build start (vin number on chassis) is 7days prior to the full completion?

Once started they are not going to stop & start a build?

We do not have access to a website here, are you able to check the progress of the vehicle production?

The car is usually done within a week of VIN. In US we track production from this website but its usually behind. They had shown a nice video on TV here on how a BMW is build in SC, from start to finish....very cool. I have it on DVD.

Our X5 35d is currently being built. It was in stage '151-Entry Body Shop' on 7/28. It is supposed to be completed on 8/4. So it would be kind of cool to follow it's progress by watching a video of how an X5 is built in SC. Do you have a link for the video you mentioned?

Thanks in Advance - Funf Dreisig

They used to have it here: http://www.bmwusfactory.com - it was a narrated video with slideshow type pictures, but now it's just a bunch of pics with text. Maybe you'll find something on youtube. The other day on Nat Geo channel they did a special on the factory and how the Z4 was built... was VERY detailed. They barely touched on the X5 but it's basically the same process.

I think its more than a hour and the size is in some gigs. No link. It comes on Discovery channel.

Thanks. I thought it was a BMW NA video on their website.

Funf Dreisig

While it is not a cool video, the BMW US Factory site gives lots of details about the process of manufacturing an X5 in South Carolina.

BTW they claim it only takes 36 hours to build an X5 once it has entered the body shop. So I'm thinking our 35d may already be cranking :)

Funf Dreisig

Edit: It appears the the factory's "36 hours" is the total of the production time spent at each stage (4hr-body shop, 13hr-paint shop, 19hr-assembly) and doesn't count the time the vehicle sits on the 'stacker' between these stages :( So wall clock time can be quite a bit longer.