Shaken, not stirred

Southern Living, Sep 1996 by Carlton, Michael

Remember 007, you have a license to kill, but not to break the traffic law.

--"Q" to James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) in GoldenEye

Pierce Brosnan and I have much in common.

Granted, he's younger, richer, and better looking. But we drive the same car--the sleek BMW Z3 roadster that Brosnan, as James Bond, piloted in the movie GoldenEye.

I'm sitting in the same low seat, flowing around hairpin curves, and having my hair tousled in the open-air splendor of a convertible. Where's Honor Blackman (my favorite Bond girl) when I need her?

I am among an international contingent of journalists in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to test-drive the same Z3 (without the rockets and other Bond equipment) that Brosnan drove. We're cruising the coiled-snake roads of South and North Carolina, blasting down straightaways and flying up hills.

Although test-drives of the Z3 are not offered here to the public, a tour of the assembly line and a visit to the Zentrum visitors center is the next best thing to "Bonding." Besides, you can always get a testdrive at your local BMW dealer.

South Carolina won a spirited competition to capture BMW and the first European automobile plant to locate in the South. (A MercedesBenz facility in Alabama will produce its first vehicles in 1997.)

From September 8, 1994, the day the first car rolled off the line, the Spartanburg factory has been brimming with activity. In addition to being the only plant in the world to produce the super successful Z3 (waiting lists for the car extend well into 1997), the facility also builds

the 3 Series.

The Zentrum (German for "center") sits beside the interstate like a giant white croissant. Its welcoming arms embrace visitors who are then drawn to a display of vintage BMW motorcycles and cars. The first BMW automobile--a 1932, 1 horsepower, white roadster--was, ironically, named "Dixi."

Visitors can watch a movie about BMW's history, gawk at an "Art Car" (a BMW sedan painted by artist David Hockney), and see the first South Carolina-produced BMW. You'll learn how models are designed, examine prototypes, and hear about the newest in safety as well as alternative fuels now powering cars around the world. You can enjoy some sweet treats made by a German baker in the cafe, browse through a gift shop, and peruse the current show in thegallery.

Finally you'll step into a small theater for the "virtual factory tour." There, three screens and wraparound sound take you right into the assembly line, where sparks jump like shooting stars as South Carolinians make one of the world's most sought-after cars. Then, if you've made a reservation, you'll take a tour guided by an associate who works in the factory.

You'll see BMWs being assembled by teams of employees, robot welders showering fire, and interiors being installed by hand. It takes approximately 24 hours to build each Z3, which is then shipped off to another James Bond wanna-be in Munich or Miami, Bombay or Barcelona.

After the tour my fantasy was nearly over, but it had been an exhilarating day--just the kind James Bond would have relished. To celebrate, I move slowly, easily, into the hotel bar. It's filled with long-legged blond women and men with sinister, roughly shaven faces. I motion to the bartender.

"Give me a diet Coke over ice, old boy--shaken, not stirred." You know, I may learn to like this life. Now, if I can just find Honor Blackman.

BONDING WITH BMW

Zentrum: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. TuesdaySaturday. Admission: $3.50 adults, $2.50 seniors and ages 12 and under. The Zentrum is located just off I-85 on State 101 in Greer, South Carolina, between Spartanburg and Greenville. Tours of the assembly plant are offered TuesdayThursday and are by reservation only. You must be 12 or older to take the tour. Call, toll free, 1-888-8687269 for reservations.