C-Class - Made in RSA

[patg]

After reading the Sunday Times today I saw that the C Class is made in South Africa.....when did they move production from Germany?

Does factory collection for the C Class mean a trip to South Africa.......I don't think so.

All seems a bit of a con going to Germany to collect your car which was made 1000's of miles away.

 

[Steve_Perry]

I thought the switch was made when the W202 was phased out and the new shape C-Class, W203 was phased in.

My 1998 C-Class was made at the Bremen factory.

S.

 

[Kamisuma]

I thought the switch was made when the W202 was phased out and the new shape C-Class, W203 was phased in.

My 1998 C-Class was made at the Bremen factory.

S.

DaimlerChrysler switched the C-class production from Germany to East London, South Africa in 2000, creating 800 "new" jobs.

 

[wallingd]

By RSA I thought u meant internet security LOL!

<puts RSA in google iamges and gets this http://www.powercustom.com/rsa 5 (2).jpg >

 

[MangoMan]

Don't know how true this is but I was always lead to believe that w124 300d's were all made in S Africa, as well as the '3' Series BM's.

 

[grober]

rhd saloons in SA

I thought the switch was made when the W202 was phased out and the new shape C-Class, W203 was phased in.

My 1998 C-Class was made at the Bremen factory.

S.

Think Steve is correct about the time of switch being the same as the model change. Most of the UK market saloons are made in SA and possibly for other RHD markets?? There are W203C class models made in Germany --BREMEN mainly LHD and the 4matic models. I have a feeling the C class estates RHD and LHD are built in Germany. The previous BMW 3 SERIES 4 cylinder models in RHD were also made in SA. Dont know about the present model?

I think maybe the w124 series were "built up" in SA rather than manufactured but am not sure.

 

[Flash]

The VW Mark 4 Golfs' were too manufactured in SA and I think that Mark 5s are still assembled in SA.

In India MB had a plant for the W210 (but not sure if they are now doing W211) for the South Asian market. The cars there were also of different spec i.e. suspension/paint for the conditions/climate within the region.

I think I read some where that 123s/W124s in some countires were still being made under license sometime ago after production had been phased out in Germany.

 

[jeremytaylor]

The W203 estates ARE made in Germany (Sindelfingen - Stuttgart), along with some saloons for other markets.

 

[Flash]

Makes no difference really where the car is assembled to be honest as the exact same materials/components are used.

 

[grober]

In theory!

I would agree in theory, BUT witness the difference in the old ML's assembled in Gratz and Alabama. Remember also many of the ancillary's will be sourced locally
e.g. brake parts, suspension, battery,tyres so "local content" can vary widely. Body parts may be pressed/finished differently, door seams for example. In theory local quality control systems should ensure the car is the same no matter where its made but experience shows thats not always the case. A motor trade contact told me that the old BMW 3 series made in SA was not so well screwed together as the German ones for example. It would appear if you want a "GERMAN" C class then buy an estate!

 

[Flash]

All my W203s have been assembled in SA and my current car I'm very happy with... The paint work is very good (no orange peel affect) and the battery is a MB Varta one and the car has Pirelli tyres. Alloys were manufactured in Belgium too. All the parts to the SA plant are shipped over from Germany/directly from the suppliers and excactly the same parts are used as in the German plant.

However, the USA production of the ML was soo poor/rubbish (supposed to be a well developed country as well ) I absolutely agree and it was soo bad they had to switch production over to Austria but this is just an islolated case and happens to be the Americans as well (who are supposed to be good at everything.... ).

 

[grober]

SaaGMopelfiatb

Wasn't wanting to cast aspersions on your car Flash or SA. I do think its something to be aware of though when buying a car. Funnily enough,country of manufacture is not something many car makers put in their publicity material! I noticed just yesterday the next saab 9-3 will no longer be made in Sweden at Trollhattan but at the GM opel plant in Germany. So is it a german GM car or Swedish??? I suppose the answer is a Swedish body design on a world GM platform built in Germany with possibly (in the case of the diesel engines) a Fiat/Alfa engine.

 

[Flash]

I understand all your points Grober and know that you were not casting any aspersions... You have made very valid points in all your posts on this thread Its just that I'm fed up a little bit with MB at the moment. My current Sprinter was made in Belgium or Germany (one of the two) and is a rust bucket after 19 months and is curently having a major (almost complete) re-spray done at the moment.

 

[GSBellew]

The VW Mark 4 Golfs' were too manufactured in SA and I think that Mark 5s are still assembled in SA.

The Mkv Golf is made in Wolfsburg, the New Jetta is made in Mexico, certain models of the Mkiv golf were made in Brazil.

I think I read some where that 123s/W124s in some countires were still being made under license sometime ago after production had been phased out in Germany.

Flagship of the Ssangyong range is the Chairman luxury limousine. Rear-wheel drive, the Chairman echoes the strong links that Ssangyong has had with Mercedes-Benz, with it's Mercedes styling and its in-line six-cylinder petrol engine developed from the 3.2 litre Mercedes-Benz 5 speed automatic transmission. Inside, the Chairman exudes luxury and comfort with soft leather seats, dark walnut trim, seat warmers and a 10 speaker sound system. Safety and driver assistance are taken care of with a backing obstacle warning system, ABS assisted brakes with electronic stability for traction control, front and side airbags and a swing-away brake pedal.

 

[DC_insider]

The Mkv Golf is made in Wolfsburg, the New Jetta is made in Mexico, certain models of the Mkiv golf were made in Brazil.

I think Flash's point was that the RHD VW Golf mkV is (and the mkIV was) made in South Africa. LHD models are made in Wolfsburg, Germany.


Whilst RHD versions of the 203 series C-Class Saloon are assembled in South Africa, RHD versions of the 204 series C-Class Saloon will be assembled in Germany.

 

[blassberg]

I absolutely agree and it was soo bad they had to switch production over to Austria

At one stage (ML) diesels were made in Graz, Petrol in Alabama

 

[blassberg]

....UK market saloons are made in SA and other RHD markets.. C class estates are built in Germany.

Agreed

 

[Piff]

When I collected an A-Class from French MB dealer in Boulogne (Apr 2000) he had a new RHD C-Class saloon there awaiting collection. He told me that the early RHD production was in Germany but it was then moved to SA. The C-Class he had there was made in Germany and would probably be better quality than the SA production.

 

[Flash]

The C-Class he had there was made in Germany and would probably be better quality than the SA production.

Never believe eveything that a "Salesman" says...

It was actually the "early" W203s in the UK (RHD) that were the most problematic cars... They also forgot to properly treat/process the finish on the door frames around the rubber seals and there was a recall on these cars to prevent rust as result of this. These cars were from the German plant.

 

[GSBellew]

I think Flash's point was that the RHD VW Golf mkV is (and the mkIV was) made in South Africa. LHD models are made in Wolfsburg, Germany.

That may well be his point, but its inaccurate, LHD and RHD golfs are made side by side in wolfsburg, the plant that a VAG car was built at can be identified by the chassis number as follows:

Country Codes​

This is the final letter before the 6-digit serial number at the end of the VIN.​

eg for VIN WVWZZZ86ZCW063993 the last W before 063993 means Wolfsburg ​

W Wolfsburg, Germany
A Ingolstadt, Germany
B Brussels, Belgium
C Taipei, Taiwan
D Bratislava, Slovakia
E Emden, Germany
G Steyr/Graz, Austria
H Hannover, Germany
J Jakarta, Indonesia
K Karmann, Osnabruck Germany
M Puebla, Mexico
N Neckarsulm, Germany P Mosel, Germany
R Martorell, Barcelona, Spain
S Stuttgart, Germany
T Kvasiny, Czech Republic
U Uitenhage, South Africa
V Palmela, Portugal (previously Westmoreland, USA)
X Poznan, Poland
Y Pamplona, Spain

1 Gyor, Hungary
2 Changchun, China
4 Curitiba, Brazil

Wonder if a similar list exists for Mercs