[M2compcharlie]

Has anyone done the track training that’s included with the M driver’s pack and if so, what’s the experience like? Has anyone done it at the Hockenheim circuit in Germany?

[dagoban]

I'm interested in the thread, I also go to the Hockenheim circuit.

[DomMuc]

I´ll do it summer 24.. can´t decide between Nurburgring GP, Redbull Ring and Bilster Berg

[JG13]

Do they offer anything in the US? Didn't realize I'd have to plan a trip to Germany to take advantage. Probably my biggest regret with my order was adding the M Drivers Package.

[Bumpinjeep]

I'm scheduled for Thermal for next weekend. I'll take pics and report back here.

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Good timing. I was waiting for summer to be over to go. I'll schedule mine in Thermal sometime as well.

Yeah i'm not going to be on a racetrack in 120+ temp, having to show up at 6:30 am because the track gets too hot, F that.

[JG13]

How long after delivery did you guys get your voucher?

I've always wanted to track Thermal... I'll definitely take up that offer.

[FrankWhite!]

What all Does that 2,500 payment to BMW include? Is it just the one M car track day? Airline tickets, hotel, etc? Or just the track day and you cover your own travel & accommodations expenses to their venue? Thanks!

[JG13]

Yeah, it's a huge rip off.

I pay $350ish for open track days with 6+ hours of seat time. I'll take advantage of this voucher but if I could go back in time I'd save my money.

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by JG13

Yeah, it's a huge rip off.

I pay $350ish for open track days with 6+ hours of seat time. I'll take advantage of this voucher but if I could go back in time I'd save my money.

With a supplied car, though, on top of the track day cost, the car consumables and wear and tear can be a lot higher. I would expect the G87 is about the same cost as most Corvettes per lap. Any instruction, vehicle depreciation and catering would also be additional cost, too.

For one of our local tracks a couple of years ago, a few of us calculated our costs per lap (in CAD) including track rental, fuel, consumables and a portion of annual maintenance. It worked out to $12 for a C5 Z06 Corvette (close to stock with R comps) and $37 for a 992 GT3 (with CCBs and slicks) for each 2.7km lap, with typically 100 laps a day. My Caterham was a bargain at $6.

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Don’t forget instructions and different formats. It isn’t just a track day where you go and drive around a track.

A track day around here is from 300 to 500 a day (to take your car in an open lap day).
If you rent their cars, the day is 1,500 I believe. And you’re in a lead-follow learning the turns (not the cars) most of the time. That is “lame” for me (but not for the uninitiated).

BMW’s drivers’ program is something to look forward to, but maybe the cost is a wash with the driver’s pack.

Yes, the additional costs for the program, let alone realistic deprecation and insurance (not including any track day insurance) of $1 per km if it was a personal vehicle used instead of a program vehicle. Whether it is lapping, quality education or a combination of both, the true cost is multiple times higher than just the cost of a track day at a given track.

[dagoban]

Originally Posted by M2siast

AFAIK you get there on your own dime.
They recommend hotels in the areas with discount codes for BMW.

The 2,450 option also raises the speed limit to 285.

Here in Spain the dealer tells me that it is a two-day (weekend) course in Germany. I have been told that the M driver package includes accommodation and food for two people, the driver and the passenger, but the transportation is the client's responsibility.

From what you say there are differences between what is offered in America vs Europe, it is also true that the M driver cost me €3,200 ($3,500)

[JG13]

Originally Posted by M2siast

You’re comparing apples and oranges… this isn’t a track day…

And yes, options in cars are not for everyone, that’s why they’re optional.

Fair enough but it sounds worse than an open track day lol.

Maybe I'm not understanding all the details but seems like they should be inviting us to these events for just buying the car, not paying for some $2500 package. My CA said that they regularly send out free invites for these events if they don't fill up.

I still blame myself for ticking the box

[JG13]

I'm not interested in renting a car nor am I interested in instruction when I've got 30+ track days of experience.

I just want to send my M2 for as many laps as I can get.

[JG13]

I hope I'm just being grumpy. I'm gonna take advantage of the voucher and I'll eat my words if I have a great time.

I just thought I was signing up for 2-3 days of lapping with my new car

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by JG13

I hope I'm just being grumpy. I'm gonna take advantage of the voucher and I'll eat my words if I have a great time.

I just thought I was signing up for 2-3 days of lapping with my new car

They provide the cars, so you keep the wear and tear off your own car, that in itself will be the main cost of the package. According to the line-up at Thermal, it is all M3/M4/M5 Competitions as the provided cars.

[JG13]

Yeah I guess I can understand why that would cost a bunch. Hopefully they cut us loose and let us get a good amount of laps in.

If you guys get anything scheduled at Thermal, make sure to share. Would be nice to meet you guys at the track.

[Searay55555]

Originally Posted by Bumpinjeep

I'm scheduled for Thermal for next weekend. I'll take pics and report back here.

Very interested, as I’m only a couple hours away in Phoenix. Pretty easy to pop over for the weekend.

[M2_Steph]

Originally Posted by M2compcharlie

Has anyone done the track training that’s included with the M driver’s pack and if so, what’s the experience like? Has anyone done it at the Hockenheim circuit in Germany?

I did the track training in Hockenheim back in 2021.

The training itself lasted one day, but we arrived the evening before and had theory training in the hotel.
The voucher included the training as well as the overnight stay in the hotel and the meal on the evening before the training.

The training was divided into two parts: In the morning, various driving exercises were carried out, such as slalom driving or a double lane change. After lunch (included), it was off to the GP track, where laps were driven in groups of five vehicles behind the instructor in the lead vehicle.

Only BMW M4 Competition cars were available for our training, as the F87 M2 has already been discontinued.

[M2compcharlie]

Thanks Steph, it’s nice to know what to expect.

[luv2bike]

Hi,
I was at Thermal for the "M" course last month.
Thought is was a fantastic day and very worth while. Time is split between instruction and lapping but you are in the car the whole day except for an hour of classroom in the morning and lunch.
You use mostly the M2 and M5, with the M2 being used for a lot of the instruction and the M5 on the big track.
If you have done a lot of track days it might be a little tame but the average driver will get a lot out of it.

[DrewNewM2]

I would probably do Spartanburg. Would be a cool road-trip down from NY. Maybe hit Tail of the Dragon on the way down. Can you bring guests ?