[Bumpinjeep]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

As many of you know, when speccing the Carbon Buckets, the only way to get them is the $9,900 carbon package consisting of the seats, roof, trim, and oddly enough the M Drivers package.

This was my first BMW with the Drivers package and my first experience at Thermal Raceway.

BMW threw in the One Day School which I did on Sunday while doing the M Drivers on Tuesday.

The Driving School is actually beneficial to sharpening your skills, learning to trust the vehicle, and is plain fun. On the short track, we drove the G42 m240i (xdrive) and G20 m340i (RWD). For one, these cars, even in non M (m-lite) have sky high limits that the vast majority of people will never really reach. When you slam the brakes at 60 mph, you absolutely stop and when corners come up, you better be ready.

The location Is in the middle of the desert, easy to get to from Palm Springs and is very well maintained. The BMW building is located as you enter the track.

Firstly, Google “Thermal Club” (https://www.thermal.cc/) because it is insane. Great place to hold events

The Drivers School starts you off in the 240s and 340s in acceleration, emergency braking, emergency maneuvering, track lapping, and skipped exercises. Again the limits of these cars are sky high but easily exploitable on the track. What a fun 8 hours.

Now the M Drivers package, you get a G87 and G82C (RWD) and the real fun begins.

G87 track review. Want to talk about high limits? This car has them, immense grip, perfectly tuned track performance (acceleration is right now and the 8 speed is shoots off shifts quickly). Speaking of the automatic, the shift logic works really well, downshifting when braking into corners and holding gears when needed (the cars were set up with all Sport or Sport+ modes when applicable). Grip is super high and the brakes will test how sensitive you are to seatbelt pressure around your collar bone. The car is in another league to the non-m (or m-lite) models. Fun thing to note, all cars are on stock everything down to the fluids and running sponsored Continental tires.

The second half of the Performance Package got us into G82C (RWD) and full speed lapping on Thermal Raceway. Now THAT is an experience. Going 120 into corners on throttle then stabbing the brakes diving into an apex is mind blowing. The Carbon Ceramics are super strong though mine started to squeal pretty loudly, which is normal and calmed down a bit after a cool down lap. The grip in these cars along with just how good the traction control is, is really eye opening. All of the complete nonsense about weight is thrown out the window when you’re on track, the G platform is just that good. And unless you're a professional driver or were a professional driver with a ton of money, a CS or CSL is total overkill (G87 or G82) for the street and really most tracks.

If you have questions, let me know. I'm actually really glad I got the M Drivers Package, it's a game changer.

[xxyion]

Looks really fun. I also specced the carbon package and will be getting the M Drivers package with it. How long do you have to schedule an event? The problem for me is that i live in NorCal and so Palm Springs is quite the detour for me and will need to book time to do it which wont happen in 2024 unfortunately. I would love to do it though as i did do the Porsche Delivery Experience when i bought my GT4 and i basically told myself that if a car company offers something similar i would do it.

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by xxyion

Looks really fun. I also specced the carbon package and will be getting the M Drivers package with it. How long do you have to schedule an event? The problem for me is that i live in NorCal and so Palm Springs is quite the detour for me and will need to book time to do it which wont happen in 2024 unfortunately. I would love to do it though as i did do the Porsche Delivery Experience when i bought my GT4 and i basically told myself that if a car company offers something similar i would do it.

Like 3 years I think. There was a guy in my clas with a F87CS that he bought it 21.

[xxyion]

Originally Posted by Bumpinjeep

Like 3 years I think. There was a guy in my clas with a F87CS that he bought it 21.

oh amazing. Thats perfect then. I'll prob try to sign up for mine in 2025 then. Thanks!

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Great review! Can't wait to do it. Glad it was fun.

Did they have a skid pad (wet)?

Skid pad was wet for the 340i but dry for the G87 (for obvious reasons).

[yuzu]

Looks awesome. I'm probably gonna do this next year. Almost certainly gonna upgrade to 2 day M school. What do you mean when you say they threw in the one day?

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by yuzu

Looks awesome. I'm probably gonna do this next year. Almost certainly gonna upgrade to 2 day M school. What do you mean when you say they threw in the one day?

They threw in the Driving School (M Lite cars around the track), really fun experience.

Originally Posted by M2siast

Cool! So 2 skid pads. Amazing!

Sorry, what's the obvious reason that's not so obvious to me?

The 340i needs a little more to get the back end loose, the G87 on a slick surface is really easy to get going and control the slide. The 340 exercises was for car control, the G87 on the other hand is a little drift machine if you can tame it.

[Geighty7]

Awesome review! I opted in for the M Performance package add on to my 6MT M2, CF everything EXCEPT buckets (I did not find center piece comfortable for my legs and build, but the seats do look cool).

I was thinking about signing up for the January spots in Thermal (I live about 2 hours away). Do you know if all the cars you drove were standard to the M Perfeomance school, or do they rotate cars? I have heard of people driving everything from F87’s to G82’s. I also read that they use the M5c for drifting course?

I really dont mind what I drive, just curious about it. Do the instructors care about how hard you push their cars?

Thanks!

[yuzu]

Originally Posted by Bumpinjeep

They threw in the Driving School (M Lite cars around the track), really fun experience.

The 340i needs a little more to get the back end loose, the G87 on a slick surface is really easy to get going and control the slide. The 340 exercises was for car control, the G87 on the other hand is a little drift machine if you can tame it.

Yeah I understood that part, did they tell you that when you called to book it?

[c1pher]

How did you receive the info? My dealer said I should receive something in the mail from BMW but it's been almost two months and I haven't gotten anything.

[JG13]

Sounds like a blast. I was a bit skeptical that it was worth the cost but now I can't wait.

[WhiteRqbbit]

I'd be curious what type of driver settings they are using. I have been fiddling with some of the settings, just around the streets. Engine wise, I wasn't sure what the real difference between sport and sport+ was .... I haven't RTDM

[BackOnBlack]

I signed up for the 1-day M school too, March of 24. However, they provided me the opportunity to do the 1-day car control clinic. I thought "Yes, sure, I'll give it a try," and kept my expectations low.

Although in this specific class we used the 240ix and M340s, the exercises were very similar to the 1-day M school, including the timed autox competition. I have some track experience, and these exercises were still eye-opening in terms of driving techniques and vehicle capabilities. The instructors were also very pleasant, lunch was superb. There is nothing I could point to that would be negative. Well worth the money and more.

Now, I am looking forward to the actual M school even more. We will be driving the M5s, M3/4 and M2. Also, I am told, the new G8x cars will be there and all will be XDrive, except the M2s.

[rk95]

I think this was asked elsewhere too - any idea if we can bring a +1 for the schooling? Not asking about hotels/etc.

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by Geighty7

I was thinking about signing up for the January spots in Thermal (I live about 2 hours away). Do you know if all the cars you drove were standard to the M Perfeomance school, or do they rotate cars? I have heard of people driving everything from F87’s to G82’s. I also read that they use the M5c for drifting course?
I really dont mind what I drive, just curious about it. Do the instructors care about how hard you push their cars?
Thanks!

So they swapped out the F series cars for G series. Though i did see a F87 parked along a row of G80/2/7s. The instructors tell you to drive the shit out of the cars, one of them said, "if you can snap the brake pedal off of it, I'll buy you the car."

Originally Posted by yuzu

Yeah I understood that part, did they tell you that when you called to book it?

The person I spoke with over the phone didn't really explain or really probably know what each school did. No worries, I enjoyed the car control school as well. Didn't really hold a candle to the M Drivers package though.

Originally Posted by c1pher

How did you receive the info? My dealer said I should receive something in the mail from BMW but it's been almost two months and I haven't gotten anything.

Your sales guy emails them and they email you with the details. In my group, I had the head of the program in Germany, we actually had the same conversation about how I got into the class. They had a whole team from Germany there.

Originally Posted by WhiteRqbbit

I'd be curious what type of driver settings they are using. I have been fiddling with some of the settings, just around the streets. Engine wise, I wasn't sure what the real difference between sport and sport+ was .... I haven't RTDM

Sport+ for everything or Sport for the items that didn't have Sport+. That was for M1, for M2, same settings but manual mode.
Now for the actual race track, they actually went in and changed the settings around while prepping us on the walk-around.

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by rk95

I think this was asked elsewhere too - any idea if we can bring a +1 for the schooling? Not asking about hotels/etc.

You can sign up as many people as you want, I don't think you can have a +1 otherwise because you have to share the car with someone. I was the odd man out and got a car for myself the whole time.

[jhstjh]

Do you get to choose what program to participate with M Drivers Package? I've already done the One-Day M School before, so I was hoping I can enroll in some more advanced program, even if it means I need to pay a bit to upgrade.

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by jhstjh

Do you get to choose what program to participate with M Drivers Package? I've already done the One-Day M School before, so I was hoping I can enroll in some more advanced program, even if it means I need to pay a bit to upgrade.

Yes, there's the advance M school (2 days and on different tracks within Thermal Raceway, there's 3 total) and hell, you can even do the GT4 experience.

[BackOnBlack]

Originally Posted by c1pher

How did you receive the info? My dealer said I should receive something in the mail from BMW but it's been almost two months and I haven't gotten anything.

I reached out to the M Performance Center (MPC) directly. Provided my VIN to them, which they had to check with my purchase order. Two days later they called me back to schedule the days. You do not have to wait for your sales person. Their number is 888-868-7269.

Originally Posted by M2siast

It’s just throttle mapping and exhaust control. It fools you into thinking the engine is more responsive, since you need less pedal to get more throttle.

The way they explained it to us at the MPC is by using a chart similar to:

Originally Posted by jhstjh

Do you get to choose what program to participate with M Drivers Package? I've already done the One-Day M School before, so I was hoping I can enroll in some more advanced program, even if it means I need to pay a bit to upgrade.

You can. As I understand, you can use the 1-day M school to get $1700 credit for another school.

[apez]

Originally Posted by BackOnBlack

You can. As I understand, you can use the 1-day M school to get $1700 credit for another school.

This is really interesting. Seems like getting used to sport with linear response and always using that would be the way to go.

[BackOnBlack]

Originally Posted by apez

This is really interesting. Seems like getting used to sport with linear response and always using that would be the way to go.

For me, the comfort setting works well during city and urban driving. On the interstates and track the Sport setting is the way to go, but while autoxing Sport+ is my go-to setting.

I am glad that BMW gives us these options

[jhstjh]

Originally Posted by BackOnBlack

For me, the comfort setting works well during city and urban driving. On the interstates and track the Sport setting is the way to go, but while autoxing Sport+ is my go-to setting.

I am glad that BMW gives us these options

I used to Sport+ all the way for the "sportiness" but after a few track days I dialed it back to Sport. It's just easier to modulate without upsetting the car. I also see people track with Comfort/Efficient Engine mode for finer control. Have not tracked the M2 yet. The break-in period is too long..