The BMW Experience

[PricklyPete]

Was back home in SC last week for a get together with some college friends and we headed to the BMW factory in Greer, SC for the newly created "BMW Experience". What this amounted to was:

1) 1 hour to walk around the BMW Museum. This was so-so. The cars and engines at the museum were pretty sweet...but 1 hour was more than enough time.
2) 1+ hour tour of the factory. I had actually seen the factory years ago when it was making Z3 roadsters...but it was cool to see it now making X6 and X5's. This was interesting...but not what I was really waiting for.
3) 1 hour driving X5's through their off road driving course. This was great. We drove through water up to 22" deep, put the vehicle sideways over some pretty crazy terrain. I was actually fairly impressed with what the X5 could do being barely more than what looks like a typical CUV.
4) Finally, what I really went for...laps around their track in 5 different BMW cars. The cars were the following: BMW X6 M, 335d, 750i, M3, and 135. This was great. They let you drive each car 3 times around the track and let you go as fast as you wanted/could. Unfortunately all the cars were auto's (well the M3 was DCT), but it was still a lot of fun.
5) A hot lap around the track in a BMW M5 driven by a professional race driver. This was insane...they had the car sideways almost the whole time.

Overall the whole experience was awesome...especially for $99 (plus $30 for the optional hot lap in the M5). Just wanted to throw it out there for anyone traveling through the area...well worth your time/money.

 

[PricklyPete]

By the way, this is the autoblog post that got me interested in trying it out in the first place:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/15/99-ultimate-bmw-experience-reinvents-the-factory-tour/

I unfortunately did not get any pics as I did not take a camera...but I think some of my friends took some pics with their cell phones...so I'll try to get those.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I was invited to do one of those a couple years ago but declined. It was on a Saturday and about an hour away from me...I think I had other things going on anyway but can't remember what.

 

[RockinZ28]

Damn that sounds badass. Too bad it isn't around here.

 

[Demo24]

Oh damn, I need to go do that! I really want to drive a 335d and a M3, and a m5 hot lap would be awesome as well! Maybe I can take a quick trip up there in July. I didn't know you could drive the cars so I never really bothered with the place.

 

[PricklyPete]

Oh damn, I need to go do that! I really want to drive a 335d and a M3, and a m5 hot lap would be awesome as well! Maybe I can take a quick trip up there in July. I didn't know you could drive the cars so I never really bothered with the place.

Yeah...I didn't realize you would be able to drive the cars either...but when I saw this on Autoblog I looked into it and added it to my todo list next time I was in town. I'd happily do it again for the money.

Of the cars listed, the M3 was by far the best track car followed by the 135. I was in the 750i right before the M3 and was really amazed by the 750i and how well it drove...well until I drove the M3. The 750i would be much nicer around town or on a trip...but that M3 on a track nearly made me cry. I couldn't make the M3 go sideways as hard as I tried with all the grip it had. Funny thing was that as soon as I got done with the M3, I jumped in the 135 and I was going sideways around nearly every corner. Both were fun cars in different ways.

The 335d was fun, but definitely a slow poke of the bunch. The initial torque was nice...but it just wasn't lively enough past that...and all the cars here had a lot of torque...so it didn't feel particularly awesome or anything. The X6 M was alright around the corners...but the engine was fantastic...made a great noise when you stepped on it. It's essentially a hopped up version of what is in the 750i...but it sounded a lot more aggressive with the exhaust tuning. Revving the M3 engine off the rev limiter was as fun as I thought it would be...such a sweet, smooth engine. I seriously wanted to buy one as soon as I got done with it.

 

[SSSnail]

Up around these parts (where I've recently moved to) they have something similar with Audi. But, I don't see the point.

I guess I'll look into it one of these days...

 

[rchiu]

Sounds awesome. Hot lap in the track with a professional is definitely a cool experience. You wouldn't know how tough racing is until you sit with a pro and see how they utilize (you can even say abuse) every little part of the car to gain that speed around the corner.

I went to a track couple of time with local BMW club with professional instructor there, and it was a fun experience. To abuse other people's car around the track, and a few different cars just to see the difference is definitely sweet.

 

[Koing]

Yeah...I didn't realize you would be able to drive the cars either...but when I saw this on Autoblog I looked into it and added it to my todo list next time I was in town. I'd happily do it again for the money.

Of the cars listed, the M3 was by far the best track car followed by the 135. I was in the 750i right before the M3 and was really amazed by the 750i and how well it drove...well until I drove the M3. The 750i would be much nicer around town or on a trip...but that M3 on a track nearly made me cry. I couldn't make the M3 go sideways as hard as I tried with all the grip it had. Funny thing was that as soon as I got done with the M3, I jumped in the 135 and I was going sideways around nearly every corner. Both were fun cars in different ways.

The 335d was fun, but definitely a slow poke of the bunch. The initial torque was nice...but it just wasn't lively enough past that...and all the cars here had a lot of torque...so it didn't feel particularly awesome or anything. The X6 M was alright around the corners...but the engine was fantastic...made a great noise when you stepped on it. It's essentially a hopped up version of what is in the 750i...but it sounded a lot more aggressive with the exhaust tuning. Revving the M3 engine off the rev limiter was as fun as I thought it would be...such a sweet, smooth engine. I seriously wanted to buy one as soon as I got done with it.

Nice write up.

Did you have DSC on the M3 or did you turn it off? As it's easy to step the backend out when it's off...but when it's on yeah it cuts in hard if your being silly .

Sounds awesome. Hot lap in the track with a professional is definitely a cool experience. You wouldn't know how tough racing is until you sit with a pro and see how they utilize (you can even say abuse) every little part of the car to gain that speed around the corner.

I went to a track couple of time with local BMW club with professional instructor there, and it was a fun experience. To abuse other people's car around the track, and a few different cars just to see the difference is definitely sweet.

After about 5-6 laps I feel smashed...coming back from a track day I feel so mentally smashed it's savage! To concentrate for that long is really fatiguing!

 

[PricklyPete]

Nice write up.

Did you have DSC on the M3 or did you turn it off? As it's easy to step the backend out when it's off...but when it's on yeah it cuts in hard if your being silly .

They did have DSC on to some level. They said we could go as fast as we wanted...but to not mess with any of the settings in the car. The whole deal is a bit of a sales pitch for their driving school where they give you much more time/freedom with the car to really learn how to drive.

After about 5-6 laps I feel smashed...coming back from a track day I feel so mentally smashed it's savage! To concentrate for that long is really fatiguing!

Definitely...the concentration is the big one for me. Really gives you an appreciation for professional drivers.

 

[Elfear]

Thanks for posting OP. I'm near Columbia for a few months doing training. I may need to slip up to Spartanburg and do that. I can't believe you get to drive the cars around the track. Do they have someone riding with you while you drive?

 

[MJinZ]

Oh wow, never thought I'd go to South Carolina for anything. I might drop by sometime.

 

[PricklyPete]

Thanks for posting OP. I'm near Columbia for a few months doing training. I may need to slip up to Spartanburg and do that. I can't believe you get to drive the cars around the track. Do they have someone riding with you while you drive?

Nope...you are in the car on your own. They have two way radios in each car that the guy can talk to you with...but no one in the car.

 

[PricklyPete]

Oh wow, never thought I'd go to South Carolina for anything. I might drop by sometime.

Make sure you call/reserve before you do it. As far as I heard, the slots are filling up pretty quickly. I'm sure this will slow down as the "newness" wears off.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

no manual, no go.

 

[shortylickens]

I have seriously been thinking about doing it. Only a short drive from Virginia, and I would love to handle some vehicles that I'll probably never own in real life. The local dealership is tired of me getting all those test drives. They know I'm not going to buy.

 

[PricklyPete]

no manual, no go.

Yeah, yeah...I normally feel the same way. But this was my first time on a track and concentrating on the turns was honestly a better first experience than concentrating on my shifting. I definitely made some mistakes with my shifts of the DCT in the M3 that I didn't have to think about in the other cars. Not saying manual wouldn't have been nice...and I'd never buy a BMW without one...but for $99, I'll take what I can get for a drive around a track in an M3, 135, 750i, etc.

 

[MJinZ]

No thanks, I'll take a M-Double Clutch anyday. I can shift it manually without my left foot and tolerate city traffic in the same car.

 

[KIAman]

I would pay $99 just for the hotlap with a professional. I remember when Indycar came to Infineon Raceway and the fans were bidding upwards of several thousand dollars for a hotlap with a driver. I believe Danika Patrik commanded the highest price, lol.

 

[PricklyPete]

I would pay $99 just for the hotlap with a professional. I remember when Indycar came to Infineon Raceway and the fans were bidding upwards of several thousand dollars for a hotlap with a driver. I believe Danika Patrik commanded the highest price, lol.

Oh I'd pay several thousand dollars for a hot lap with Danica Patrik...but I don't think we're talking about the same thing... :awe:

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Yeah, yeah...I normally feel the same way. But this was my first time on a track and concentrating on the turns was honestly a better first experience than concentrating on my shifting. I definitely made some mistakes with my shifts of the DCT in the M3 that I didn't have to think about in the other cars. Not saying manual wouldn't have been nice...and I'd never buy a BMW without one...but for $99, I'll take what I can get for a drive around a track in an M3, 135, 750i, etc.

you're not supposed to shift during a turn. it disrupts the balance of the car, esp. if you can't heel-toe shift perfectly. downshift to the right gear before entering the turn.

if hyundai can provide manuals during their genesis coupe event, there's no reason that bmw can't.

 

[BChico]

Do you have to setup an appointment for this? Do they run this on the weekend?

 

[KIAman]

you're not supposed to shift during a turn. it disrupts the balance of the car, esp. if you can't heel-toe shift perfectly. downshift to the right gear before entering the turn.

if hyundai can provide manuals during their genesis coupe event, there's no reason that bmw can't.

Unfortunately for the die hard manual enthusiasts, this is a trend that more high performance cars move towards. It will be an interesting day but manuals will go poof on high/ultra-high/exotic cars.

 

[PricklyPete]

you're not supposed to shift during a turn. it disrupts the balance of the car, esp. if you can't heel-toe shift perfectly. downshift to the right gear before entering the turn.

if hyundai can provide manuals during their genesis coupe event, there's no reason that bmw can't.

I know how to drive a stick. You're still concentrating on what gear you are in so that you properly exit the turn rather than trying to brake/hit the apex of the turn properly. I'm just saying that the first time on the track, not having to think about the gear changes allowed me to focus on hitting the turns correctly.

This was not an event for auto journalist. This is a $99 deal for general people..many of whom sadly can't drive manual. BMW is not going to sit there and ask each person whether they can drive stick or not and then go fetch an appropriate car for $99. If I signed up for a driving school that cost me thousands of dollars...I'd certainly expect to be able to drive a stick if I so choose...but not for $99. You're being a manual transmission troll.

 

[PricklyPete]

Do you have to setup an appointment for this? Do they run this on the weekend?

You do have to make reservations (call the number in the link provided) above. They are currently running it Monday, Wednesday, and Friday right now to my knowledge. That may change in the future...but I wouldn't bet on it as that would make the pro-drivers have to work on the weekends which I'm sure they are not interested in doing.