BMW Performance Driving School

ATLIEN · 10-19-2018, 03:21 PM

I finally got the opportunity to go to the BMW Performance School and what an experience it was. I was able to drive the following cars on the track:

M2 (DCT)
m240i
440i
X5
X6M

They had 3 events for you to drive. One was a timed event with the M240i, an off-road experience with the X5 and a track session with the M2, 440i and the X6M. The tires were all Continental Extreme Contact tires (Continental sponsors BMW track events).

What I found out immediately was that I don't drive/push my BMW anywhere near as capable as it can go. Especially with the tires that I have had over the years (PSS, AS3+). The Continentals, even after several hot sessions, were able to hold on to serious abuse and never gave up. The other is that I'm not quite as good of a driver as I thought was. Driver training is an obvious enhancement.

My impressions of the cars were quite good. I seriously enjoyed the M2 with DCT. It was an unreal experience. The power was amazing an the transmission shifted with such authority. The handling was over the top good. Compared to the M240i it was like driving two different cars.

The M240i was a good car as well and the one that they used for the time trials. It reminded me a lot of my 335i in its power delivery and handling. A great compromise to the M2 and it can take some serious abuse with no issues.

The X5 (50I) was great off road. It was almost a shame to take such a nice vehicle through all of the obstacles we took it through. We forged through door high water and got the vehicle on 3 wheels with no issues.

The 440i was super comfortable, and was also a rocketship. Nice shifts and great power band. Would make a nice car if you need a larger two door vehicle.

The X6M was super cool. The engine note was phenomenal and the DCT had the downshifts crackling. It felt a little crazy driving such a large car that fast but it could hold its own in the curves. Driving it on the track for long periods of time was a bit tiring though.

We finished the day with a track ride with a professional driver in an M3. Let me tell you that a professional driver can make magic with an M3 on a track. They took us through a wet skidpad and drifted through it twice and then turned out into the dry without a hitch.

If you can ever take into one of these events you have to do it!!

IllSic_Design · 10-19-2018, 03:53 PM

Sounds like a fun time, sure is fun to get to drive a lot of BMW's new cars and push them a little bit and see what they are about.

Seems really similar to the M Track days set up, except I think they did a little more driving/events(and got to drive M3/4/5) than it sounds like the performance school does. How much is it?

ATLIEN · 10-19-2018, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

Sounds like a fun time, sure is fun to get to drive a lot of BMW's new cars and push them a little bit and see what they are about.

Seems really similar to the M Track days set up, except I think they did a little more driving/events(and got to drive M3/4/5) than it sounds like the performance school does. How much is it?

I hosted 40 people and it was about $450 per person.

AllBlackBimmer · 10-19-2018, 10:26 PM

Cool, always wanted to do this... but, no track time with m3/m4 that would be disappointing to me, even with the m2. M2 is an amazing car, but if I was paying that money on a track... I’d want a m3/m4. Thanks for sharing, I still would love to do this without m3/m4.

ckanderson · 10-20-2018, 01:06 PM

That can't be cheap

Persian Whisperjet · 10-20-2018, 02:38 PM

I'm ready to sign up thanks for posting! M2 is an amazing car no doubt.

ATLIEN · 10-20-2018, 08:24 PM

The amazing thing was that every car we drove was brand new with less than 2000 miles on the clock. Once they get to 3000 miles they take them out of service, replace the tires, wheels, brakes, fluids and any other broken bits and send them to Atlanta to sell as new cars. That’s the level of confidence that they have in the cars and the track experience. They service every car daily along with a wash. It made me wonder about the benefit of breaking a car in because we drove the snot out of each model. The brakes on the M2 were warped (1200 miles on it) but it still stopped fine.

ATLIEN · 10-20-2018, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Persian Whisperjet

I'm ready to sign up thanks for posting! M2 is an amazing car no doubt.

No problem. It’s worth the money especially if you’re seriously in the market.

ATLIEN · 10-20-2018, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllBlackBimmer

Cool, always wanted to do this... but, no track time with m3/n4> that would be disappointing to me, even with the m2. M2 is an amazing car, but if I was paying that money on a track... I’d want a m3/m4. Thanks for sharing, I still would love to do this without m3/m4.

I hear ya. The M2 was amazing and we at least got to ride in the M3 with a professional driver which was a real treat.

10-19-2018, 03:21 PM	#1
ATLIEN Captain 549 Rep 791 Posts Drives: 08 335i & 11 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (0)	BMW Performance Driving School - Greenville, SC I finally got the opportunity to go to the BMW Performance School and what an experience it was. I was able to drive the following cars on the track: M2 (DCT) m240i 440i X5 X6M They had 3 events for you to drive. One was a timed event with the M240i, an off-road experience with the X5 and a track session with the M2, 440i and the X6M. The tires were all Continental Extreme Contact tires (Continental sponsors BMW track events). What I found out immediately was that I don't drive/push my BMW anywhere near as capable as it can go. Especially with the tires that I have had over the years (PSS, AS3+). The Continentals, even after several hot sessions, were able to hold on to serious abuse and never gave up. The other is that I'm not quite as good of a driver as I thought was. Driver training is an obvious enhancement. My impressions of the cars were quite good. I seriously enjoyed the M2 with DCT. It was an unreal experience. The power was amazing an the transmission shifted with such authority. The handling was over the top good. Compared to the M240i it was like driving two different cars. The M240i was a good car as well and the one that they used for the time trials. It reminded me a lot of my 335i in its power delivery and handling. A great compromise to the M2 and it can take some serious abuse with no issues. The X5 (50I) was great off road. It was almost a shame to take such a nice vehicle through all of the obstacles we took it through. We forged through door high water and got the vehicle on 3 wheels with no issues. The 440i was super comfortable, and was also a rocketship. Nice shifts and great power band. Would make a nice car if you need a larger two door vehicle. The X6M was super cool. The engine note was phenomenal and the DCT had the downshifts crackling. It felt a little crazy driving such a large car that fast but it could hold its own in the curves. Driving it on the track for long periods of time was a bit tiring though. We finished the day with a track ride with a professional driver in an M3. Let me tell you that a professional driver can make magic with an M3 on a track. They took us through a wet skidpad and drifted through it twice and then turned out into the dry without a hitch. If you can ever take into one of these events you have to do it!! __________________ 2011 BMW M3 2008 BMW 335i- MHD STG 1+ Last edited by ATLIEN; 10-19-2018 at 03:26 PM.. Reason: photos
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10-19-2018, 03:53 PM	#2
IllSic_Design Colonel 2124 Rep 2,758 Posts Drives: 09 E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Northern California iTrader: (1)	Sounds like a fun time, sure is fun to get to drive a lot of BMW's new cars and push them a little bit and see what they are about. Seems really similar to the M Track days set up, except I think they did a little more driving/events(and got to drive M3/4/5) than it sounds like the performance school does. How much is it?
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10-19-2018, 10:26 PM	#4
AllBlackBimmer Colonel 818 Rep 2,869 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 m40i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (-1)	Cool, always wanted to do this... but, no track time with m3/m4 that would be disappointing to me, even with the m2. M2 is an amazing car, but if I was paying that money on a track... I’d want a m3/m4. Thanks for sharing, I still would love to do this without m3/m4. __________________ 2019 X3 m40i:Carbon Black:Executive:Premium:Adaptive:Vernasca:699M:HK: Ambient:IND trim:M Mirrors:15mm spacers:Maxton lip:20% tint windows/pano:dsg paddles:TLG mudflaps 2008 328i E90 Jet Black:6MT:RWD:Premium:Sport:Xenon:MTEC V3 AEs:Front Splitters:CF spoiler:19" VMR FF v710 Last edited by AllBlackBimmer; 10-20-2018 at 09:49 PM..
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10-20-2018, 01:06 PM	#5
ckanderson Second Lieutenant 69 Rep 193 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Xdrive Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	That can't be cheap
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10-20-2018, 02:38 PM	#6
Persian Whisperjet Kind of a Big Deal 167 Rep 857 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Washington, D.C. iTrader: (0)	I'm ready to sign up thanks for posting! M2 is an amazing car no doubt. __________________
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10-20-2018, 08:24 PM	#7
ATLIEN Captain 549 Rep 791 Posts Drives: 08 335i & 11 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (0)	The amazing thing was that every car we drove was brand new with less than 2000 miles on the clock. Once they get to 3000 miles they take them out of service, replace the tires, wheels, brakes, fluids and any other broken bits and send them to Atlanta to sell as new cars. That’s the level of confidence that they have in the cars and the track experience. They service every car daily along with a wash. It made me wonder about the benefit of breaking a car in because we drove the snot out of each model. The brakes on the M2 were warped (1200 miles on it) but it still stopped fine.
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