Witness the Birth of a BMW
 

I was stuck in traffic today and thought to myself, I just booked a MR to Germany. What the heck am I going to do there? I looked up and saw a BMW and found my answer. Wouldn’t it be sweet to see the BMW factory!? Well I got home and one link led to another, and here’s my humble contribution: a brief list of factory tour contact information for BMW, Porsche, Audi, VW, and Mercedes.

Most tours have admissions fees and need to be booked in advance. Feel free to share any experiences with the tours in this thread. (Locals, please help!)

BMW Munich Plant
Phone: +49(0)1802 118822
Duration: 2.5hrs
Route length: 2km (1.2mi)
Notes: No children under 4 years old. Children 4-14 require adult chaperones.
Cars: BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring
Engines: 6-cylinder, 8-cylinder, 6-cylinder M3, 8-cylinder diesel, 10-cylinder, 12-cylinder engines

BMW Dingolfing Plant
Phone: +49-(0)8731-76-27597 or +49-(0)8731-76-21633
Duration: 2hrs
Route length: 4km (2.5mi)
Notes: No children under 14 years old. (The head of this visitor’s center emailed me within a day of my request. English tours are available on Thursdays at 5:30pm.)
Cars: BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW M5, BMW M6, Rolls-Royce Phantom bodyshells

Porsche Leipzig Factory
Phone: +49 (0) 341 9 99-13911
Duration: 1.5-2hrs
Cars: Cayenne, Carrera GT
Notes: No children under 12 in production facility.

VW Dresden Plant
“The Transparent Factory”
Phone: +49 (0) 18 05 89-62-68
Duration: 1.5hrs
Cars: Phaeton

VW Autostadt
Phone: +49 (0) 5361 400
Duration: 45min – 2hrs

Audi Ingolstadt
Phone: +49 0800 2834444
Duration: 2hrs

Mercedes Sindelfingen
MB EDP Link
Fax: +49-7031-902679
Duration: 1.5hrs
e-mail: [email protected]
Notes: No children under 6 years old.

Mercedes AMG Affalterbach
Private Lounge Sign-up Link
Email: [email protected]
Notes: Tour details can be found at the Private Lounge (need to have AMG VIN# to register) or by emailing.

thank you so much for putting this list together, i have been looking for this type of information for days for the different factory tours in germany!! you're fantastic!

I would also add the new BMW World in Munich (close to the factory)

This is where the new BMWs get picked up by their new owners if they decide for the factory pick up. This building is also accessible for visitors and a really "state of the art" building! A must see in Munich, I can't for January 28th when I go there!

Here are the contact details:

BMW Welt Info Service
Am Olympiapark 1
80809 Munich

Telephone:
+49 (0) 180 2 118822

That's an awesome list!

I'm planning to go to the VW Glass/Transparent Plant in Dresden. Have you been there yourself? Just wondering what to expect. :)

Did the Audi tour in Ingolstadt for free when I picked up my A3 in 2001. You get to take upto 4 guests when you pick up your own car. Free food in the Mövenpick Marche too. Cool stuff, little pricey if had to pay it out of my own pocket.

I went to BMW World during my 2nd mileage run to MUC in Dec, and it was pretty cool. It was very easy to access it from the U-bahn/subway. I spent about an hour or so there, looking around at all the vehicles, concept cars, browsing the shops, etc. Then I walked around the Olympic Park (just next door), went up the tower. Unfortunately, the BMW museum was closed (they were moving it from one location to another). And I didn't think to plan ahead and arrange a tour in advance...they were sold out several days ahead.

Of course since I returned, I now want an X3, and I want to do the delivery in Munich....maybe someday.

If you're picking up a car, that opens a door or two for you. (If pre-arranged, you can even install your own steering wheel on your car before taking delivery.)

If going to the center as a normal visitor, just be aware that everything is viewed from a distance through the glass. There are good explanations and exhibitions. A Phaeton simulator for certain ages and above (I don't remember if it was a height requirement or age requirement). I just would have appreciated being closer to what little action was taking place behind the glass.

Overall, it was fun, but I would also say: (and I say this as a VW owner) at least one of their videos was just a bit too heavy on the why-you-should-love-VW marketing. Made me imagine what sect recruiting must be like. And there, you have the pleasure of having to pay for it! :p