Berlin made

[Petrus]

This goes back to the early sixties when BMW is again reinventing itself. The ´Neue Klasse´ car models https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_New_Class transform the former aircraft manufacturer



gone motorbike manufacturer into a car manufacturer, in the process saving it from bankruptcy.
In Münich soon more than all production space is needed and even taking over the Glas premises is not enough. Motorcycle production needs to go.
In 1966 the first bikes (R60/2) are built in Spandau, near the Berlin wall, and in 1969 production is fully over with everything produced in house there.

Nowadays our R18s



and rest of the R family, F-range, the M superbikes and the CE04 e-scoot are rolling off the line at a rate of up to 900/day made by 4.000 employees.

Although the CE04 and other e-bikes are not appealing to the buyers as much as expected (leading to KTM and Fantic financial problems p.e.) the BEE-MWs are doing great 150.000 strong...




You can visit the plant for guided tours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday. More info through email [email protected] and the bmw-werk-berlin.de website.
Measured over the road the plant is just over 600 kms from Amsterdam with no borders or what holding travelers up.

 

[Ischa]

I like the picture of the R18 in the factory. Where did you get it? I cannot find any footage of how the bike is manufactured on the internet.

 

[Petrus]

I like the picture of the R18 in the factory. Where did you get it? I cannot find any footage of how the bike is manufactured on the internet.

just dogged (re)searching. Seen some different ones on the German forum btw.; https://www.dicker-boxer.de/forum

Here is one from the Thailand plant.



The R18 is a bit of a special product for the Spandau, Berlin plant because of the low production numbers. As such several parts are sourced from third parties and then the final assemply done in Spandau.
For mé that is actualy a very good thing as it means the proper specialists are making those parts. It also means éxtra quality control.
The reason I write this is that you will thus not nearly as much material find on the R18 as on say the superbikes.

 

[Ischa]

just dogged (re)searching. Seen some different ones on the German forum btw.; https://www.dicker-boxer.de/forum

Here is one from the Thailand plant.

View attachment 19245

The R18 is a bit of a special product for the Spandau, Berlin plant because of the low production numbers. As such several parts are sourced from third parties and then the final assemply done in Spandau.
For mé that is actualy a very good thing as it means the proper specialists are making those parts. It also means éxtra quality control.
The reason I write this is that you will thus not nearly as much material find on the R18 as on say the superbikes.

That is nice to hear. I would one day love to see a video of the engine being assembled (or dissasembled)

 

[Petrus]

That is nice to hear. I would one day love to see a video of the engine being assembled (or dissasembled)

Thát you can find on youtube allright abeit not in the BMW Werke.

 

[Ischa]

Yes but only videos of the how the accessoires and options are made (those promotion videos). I cannot find anything else.

 

[Petrus]

Yes but only videos of the how the accessoires and options are made (those promotion videos). I cannot find anything else.

Here is one showing the Berlin plant assembling boxer. It´s the same for the R18:

Yes, but... There were several with the R18 engine completely disassembled (I thínk I even put a link somewhere on here, possibly my 10 ct. thread) during the course of 2020 which are still out, just need to search. I would need to search as well so have a go