Driving at Nurburgring - anyone had the chance to do so ?

[Merlin_83]

Hello everyone,

First off - I think the whole Bimmerpost site is great ! I have been combing through various sub-forums and threads and learning a lot about this amazing car we are all so lucky to drive So great job to the person(s) who manage and admin the whole thing

So, as the thread title states - has anyone had the opportunity to drive the track at Nurburgring in Germany ? Perhaps people on the forum who live in and around the area are lucky enough to go. I think the track is open on some weekends for open lap sessions, I have watched a great video on YouTube that is titled Best of BMW Sounds, the video is about 16 minutes long and was filmed at the 'Ring'. Such a great video ! I have watched (mostly listened) to it nearly every morning this week, while driving my winter car (Lexus IS 300). The cars featured look and sound AWESOME !!

Cheers,
Merlin

[AM150]

I was lucky enough to drive my M3 on the Nordschleife when I took euro delivery on the car back in 2011.

Let me start off by saying that I enjoy doing HPDE's in the US and have driven on a number of different tracks in the midwest.

The Nordschleife was a good experience and something I'm very glad I did but as far as a track experience it wasn't great for a few reasons. The main ones being having so much to learn. A brand new car that I didn't know (and a trunk full of luggage), a track I didn't know, and track etiquette/rules that are very different to those typical in the US. So it was really two laps of not pushing very hard at all (I happily followed a miata around on my first lap) and a feeling of relief that my car and I came out of it unscathed.

With all that said I would do it again given the opportunity.

[Kurt_OH]

I took Euro Delivery of my 2011 E90 M3 in November 2011 and headed straight for the 'Ring. We spent the night at the Am Tiergarten Hotel, and dined at the Pistenklause.

The hotel was nice/large and the restaurant was delicious and fascinating. This facility is operated by the family of Sabine Schmitz.

The next morning we headed to the 'Ring and feared we'd never get on due to fog. But eventually we did, along with an F430 Scuderia and an R8 among other nice hardware. We did just a few laps, rather cautiously - like AM150 said, new car, full of luggage and in my case wife and son, new track ... not conducive to race pace - and enjoyed every moment of it. However, I could certainly see that at race pace this is a VERY tough track.

Anyway, whenever I end up returning for more Euro Deliveries, I'll definitely do both the hotel and track each time.

I've also headed to France after each of my prior two Euro Del's, to a different wine region. This is also quite fun and I can't state which of Beaune or Reims I prefer. Absolutely stunning food and wine in both.

[kaleb]

I did two laps in a track-prepped rental with http://www.rent4ring.de/en/.

It was a great experience and I'm really glad I did it. In many areas of the track I felt like I knew what I was doing because of so many laps done in Forza. I was surprised, however, at how easily I got lost and had no idea where I was on the track at other times haha. The elevation changes are also surprising. I loved it.

The biggest problem for me was the traffic during the public session. Mostly, the fear of killing someone on a motorcycle. Crazy.

Worth it though.

[Bomb617]

I did twice (2011 and 2013), both time during ED

[VMcV3y]

Not yet, but soon.

In January 2012, I did a Euro Delivery on the M3; but as you can guess, most of Germany was covered in snow and the 'ring was closed.

This August 2014, my daughter and I are picking up her 320i at the BMW Welt. We will hit the Stelvio Pass, and then the Nurburgring. Yes...it's not a screamin' M3, and it will be a de-tuned 328i engine, but still; very pleased to get to drive on it.

I'm sure that more than once I will say "Wish I had my car here!" LOL

- V

.

[tinman831]

Very few people here in the States have experience driving on the Ring, especially going all out. But just to be able to say that you drove your very own car on the track (ED) would be worth it to me even if I couldn't go as fast as I normally would.

[Staszek]

Took ED in Aug of 2013 and made it to the Ring!!

[Sebringjetta]

i hate you^^^^^^^^^^^^^ i want to do this so bad!!!!!!!!!

[03BeastCharmer]

Did one lap during Euro Delivery back in 2012. Great experience even when you're getting passed by local drivers in minivans.

[CapnKiv]

Now you have me looking at training dates again!

[Yaw]

Would highly suggest doing a closed training session if you really want to put effort into properly driving the track vs. trying to do it during a tourist day. The tourist days are entertaining, particularly in the car park, but are not conducive to learning with a limited amount of time.

[auggiem3]

I'm thinking about making a stop during my next trip to Europe. I looked into a few options for getting on the ring - the most cost effective looks to be renting a ring prepped car - a company called RSR Nurburg has a nicely setup E46 M3 for 4 laps (all inclusive of entrance and fuel) at 500 Euro. They offer a car option for most budgets with stuff starting at 200 Euro for two laps in a renault all the way up to Italian Super Car full day options...

[W///]

Originally Posted by auggiem3

I'm thinking about making a stop during my next trip to Europe. I looked into a few options for getting on the ring - the most cost effective looks to be renting a ring prepped car - a company called RSR Nurburg has a nicely setup E46 M3 for 4 laps (all inclusive of entrance and fuel) at 500 Euro. They offer a car option for most budgets with stuff starting at 200 Euro for two laps in a renault all the way up to Italian Super Car full day options...

I rented a track prepped VW Scirocco from RentRaceCar and had a blast. Did 6 laps if I remember correctly.

[auggiem3]

Originally Posted by W///

I rented a track prepped VW Scirocco from RentRaceCar and had a blast. Did 6 laps if I remember correctly.

How was it? Is the Scirocco front wheel drive?

[W///]

Originally Posted by auggiem3

How was it? Is the Scirocco front wheel drive?

Love it. Yea it's FWD and DSG (on that particular car). If they offered it here, there's a good chance that would be my daily driver, it's a beautiful car IMO. I didn't go balls out or anything, but was having a great time. Not my pic, but it was one of these:

[alee0729]

European Delivery is an experience every BMW owner have. Totally worth the wait getting your car back.

[///M Rakete]

I have done 6 of the BMW Driving Experience 2-day events at the Nordschleife, i.e. the 'Ring.

It's a great setup with a closed track, you share an M3 or an M6 with another driver and get instruction from BMW engineers and test drivers. The track is broken into 8-10 sections and you also do full laps, instructor led however and no passing. The accommodations and food are great and included. It is about the same price or a little more than training at BMW's SC facility, other than transportation to/from Europe.

I love the 'Ring. I almost would move over there. My wife and I have talked about it, she's Austrian and I am a dual citizen so I could work over there.

It's addictive.

It is not the same as doing tourist laps or leading yourself around without the instructor leading (sometimes they will follow). The BMW cars are stock but up to the task but they won't give you the experience of a true track car either.

Good luck, it's a bucket list thing!

[MCPilot]

I am fortunate to travel to Germany for work a couple times per year, I leave a couple days early to hit the 'ring. I have logged 30 laps on the 'ring (10 included the GP circuit). I am still no where near knowing the track - I think the rule of thumb is 100 laps to learn it a lifetime to master.

When I did ED of my ///M3 I drove up to the 'ring only to take pictures in snow in front of the locked gates.

I have always rented from RSR Nurburg - they have cars for every budget, that are in good state of repair, and are nice to work with.

It really is an incredible experience. I have been there when it has been crowded and a couple times when it seemed like I had the whole track to myself - really a special/surreal time. It really is an incredible scene - the parking lot at the Devil's Diner on a busy day is the ultimate car guy scene.

If you are into cars and driving on race tracks, this is a must do bucket list item.

[valeram]

E92 M3 ED last June 2013 done 4 laps. The down side is, you want to do it every year.

[Kurt_OH]

Originally Posted by valeram

The down side is, you want to do it every year.

THIS.

[Cingulus]

If you can please do it. I have done the ring each of the last 4 years and rented cars from RSRNurburg ask for Antony Ashley:

RSRNurburg
Antoniusweg 1a
53520 Nürburg
Germany

ph: +49 (0) 2691 931 952
mob: +49 (0) 1732 400 814
fax: +49 (0) 2691 931 666