We just came back from a trip visiting a few European countries, Germany being one of them. As you can guess, cruising the highways with speeds around 200km/h was quite an enjoyable experience . The real highlight in Germany however was our family visit to the AMG plant in Affalterbach.

We arranged the visit in advance by e-mail, after a few forum members gave me some useful pointers. As soon as I contacted the AMG factory, I received a timely and polite response asking me to provide the VIN of my C32 as the private tours are only offered to AMG owners. Tour time was set to accommodate our schedule – nice. To make things even better, a forum member (thanks Dave!), called the AMG headquarters and asked them to arrange lunch for my family as part of the visit. Now the visit itself...

My wife, two daughters and I arrived at the factory in the early afternoon. As I drove between the buildings, we were very pleasantly surprised to see massive Canadian flags raised at two different locations – the first welcome sign.

The receptionist at the customer center directed us into the customer lounge. We were met by our first host – Sarah. What followed was a superb service and a three course meal – just for us, there were no other visitors at that time. Even the plates and cutlery were top notch quality, with subtle and stylish AMG logos on them (not available for purchase, I checked, though we found the plates later on with no logos at 30 Euros a piece!).

After lunch, we met our tour guide, Ursula, another very friendly person. The tour started. We followed the AMG engine assembly line from the very beginning where workers get the bare bone block to the last station where engines are tested. I do not have to tell you how well organized and clean the entire facility is. Tools are not lying around on tables but are hanging off the ceiling. Just before mounting a part, the worker scans the object with a scanner to register the part with the engine for future traceability. They also scan tools before they use it so that a computer can aid them in case they miss a step. A person assembles around 2.5 engines per day but nobody is being rushed to be faster – focus is on quality, not assembly speed.

We went to a service hall where a few AMGs were serviced. There were F1 safety cars and cars used by the AMG driving academy. We had the chance to hear beautiful engine roar! Did you know that among the 300 AMG engineers, there are a few engine sound engineers? The person who assembled the engine on my C32 a few years back still worked at the factory and we wanted to meet him though he was on vacation at that time, unfortunately.

Ursula, who we found to be a very knowledgeable person, spent close to three hours with us, showing us stuff, explaining how engines evolved, how they hire and train people and answered many question, including a few from my daughters. A bit to our own surprise, everybody in the family immensely enjoyed every bit of the visit. We ended the tour in the show room where everyone had a chance to sit in a red SLS. Guess what kind of face book pictures were uploaded shortly after...

Bottom line: if you have the chance – do not miss this great experience. I could clearly tell that they are looking forward to meeting more AMG owners and show them how it is made. All it takes is a mail to visit-amg@daimler.com and... a trip to Germany.

Here are a few pictures:

 

Looks like you had a great time! Thanks for the write up!

I hope I can swing by one day also!

 

Dang it, they don't flip you the keys anymore I guess. That would have been icing on the cake. Not gonna do it on the SLS of course, but how fun to take the TT out for a quick spin. Did it in the past to early visitors but maybe too much risk.

What a write up. Sounded amazing!!!

give it up!!! Whad Ursula look like?

 

Thx for sharing ur AMG tour.. It makes me want to go someday!! Since ur in Ottawa, we should meet up for coffee & maybe u can show more pics of ur trip.. I will pm u my cell number once I get home tonight.

 

That's very special and sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

Great stuff thanks for sharing!

 

THANKS for sharing, I am also from Ottawa and proud owner of a C32 you are not alone in the hood !!!

 

sounds like a great time.......

 

It's nice to see more Ottawa owners in the forum!! :P

 

Might be a stupid question, but how much does it cost for the tour?

 

I'm planning to go to Germany, France and Spain next year. Visiting the AMG factory would be part of my schedule for sure! Thanks for the post.

 

Thanks for sharing your AMG Experience with us, I've been asking AMG to post their engine builders faces on the web, they have sited privacy issues. As I would really like to see the person that bulit both of my cars engines

 

Great read, thanks for sharing!

 

It's free if you own an AMG.

You aren't allowed to take pictures inside the factory. I met my engine builder, but couldn't even get a photo with him as he was in the midst of building another M156.

 

Good stuff, so that means I can go on two different occasions? Might have to check it out if the wife wants to visit Germany this winter.

 

Great post I love the /////AMG plates

 

sweet !

 

My friend Jim who owns a SLS, returned from his factory tour in Affalterbach, and he managed to get his photo taken with his engine builder. So it's possible.

 

Wow.. Is it really free if we own an AMG? That is awesome.. GOttawa love AMG customer service!

As for taking pics with the AMG engineer, it would be nice if we were allowed to do so.

 

we don't own SLS's

 

I wasn't saying that you personally had a SLS, just that my friend managed to get his photo taken with his engine builder. So, my thought is, if you ask, maybe they will accomodate your request.

 

I didn't like the SLS when it came out but after seeing it in real life I fell INLOVE By the way this is the closest thing to a drool available

 

Ursula musta been asz ugly then if no pics.

I was hoping for



Bet he got this

 

Thanks for sharing your tour!

 

Great write up, thanks for sharing. If only AMG would accommodate a European Delivery I too would take the opportunity and visit their factory for a tour.