otherbmw

I am thinking of buying a 2004 S4 from a local dealer. He has a new build that has exactly the features I want except for color.

The salesman said he *may* be able to change the color - it does NOT yet have a VIN.

Does anyone know if/when this can be done during the process?

JDBlueAudiS4

it can be done up until the point the car is pulled for production....

OPTIMUS PRlME

correct me if i'm wrong

nappin

the terms are

1) body - quarter panels, lower frame, etc are welded by robots etc
2) paint - it is painted =)
3) assembly - all the pieces are installed by your favorite union or not hehe (seats, steering wheel, left over beer cans).

Before it goes to paint it is all ordered (amazingly so) in sequential colors. Bunches of blue/red/etc. Repair is one or more poor sap(s) fixing a huge line of cars for defects (forgotten drilled holes for seats, etc). Maintenance is people repairing welding bits of robots and Parts is people filling in the parts bin. Each car has a build label (I saw mine on my S4 HEHE).

Whats great about assembly is that the car is moving on a belt WHILE people are installing parts and their tools have only a certain length before they can't reach the car anymore. =)

Try to take a tour of a auto-plant and see. I think I am pretty accurate from what I remember.

nappin

IF you could possibly change the color hahah, it would require a reordering of that car in a sequential line. Since the line is moving, it would require the line to stop and reshuffle that car back into the line (appropriate and sequential colors). So, I am uncertain you will be able to change the color once it is in production unless their line is so slow and they make so little that it is not a hassle. In mass production, I don't think it is possible.

nappin

It goes in some large square room where the paint is applied. Its quite neato. One room for many paints. Imagine the cost of changing the colors for each individual unordered car in a mass production factory. Maybe if we all like rainbow cars, it would be possible =) So there is a huge complex computer program that orders all cars built on a certain time/date and puts them all in a nice little line so that similar colors are painted to save costs. I hope I am right since this is what I remeber.

otherbmw

(relative to the ordering process)

Does the timing have anything to do with the VIN assignment?

JDBlueAudiS4

then it goes though lots of other phases.

nappin

explained above... heheh =)

since84

before it starts down the production line.