New Owner's Track Drive Experience & M Driving School

[mikeym40]

Since purchasing my 2022 M40i, I was offered the complementary track dive experience in SC or CA. Has anyone done this and is it worth it? I have family in both Palm Springs and in North Augusta-SC and was going to plan a trip from NY. In addition, I was thinking of also adding the m driving school but not sure it's worth the $1500.

Thanks all.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by mikeym40

Since purchasing my 2022 M40i, I was offered the complementary track dive experience in SC or CA. Has anyone done this and is it worth it? I have family in both Palm Springs and in North Augusta-SC and was going to plan a trip from NY. In addition, I was thinking of also adding the m driving school but not sure it's worth the $1500.

Thanks all.

The new owners track drive is kind of boring. It runs maybe 3 hours long. 2 people in each vehicle.
The 1 day M school is fantastic. Well worth the $1500 price. Includes a nice lunch. You drive the car by yourself.

[pseto]

I've done both locations and you can't go wrong with either one. A lot more BMW/car stuff to do in Greer/Greenville with BMW CCA and Manufacturing there, but Palm Springs is the place to go if you're bringing GF/wife/whatever.

M school is a must at either location, will worth the cost to flog their cars all day. If you're not a BMW CCA member, you need to join now. The standard 15% discount will pay for your membership alone for several years.

[BobBMWX3]

I am also interested in what comes in the default "complimentary" track day experience. The details on the site are hard to tell. Do you get to drive? Do you get shown how to do some "non-every day" driving techniques"? Do you get shown how to get the most of the driving modes (shifting points, rev patterns, etc)?

I am not really interested in a full track experience. I would just like to drive fast and learn a little more. If I can get that in the "free" package, that is what I would like.

[mikeym40]

Originally Posted by BobBMWX3

I am also interested in what comes in the default "complimentary" track day experience. The details on the site are hard to tell. Do you get to drive? Do you get shown how to do some "non-every day" driving techniques"? Do you get shown how to get the most of the driving modes (shifting points, rev patterns, etc)?

I am not really interested in a full track experience. I would just like to drive fast and learn a little more. If I can get that in the "free" package, that is what I would like.

Yeah. The website is cryptic, and they don't say too much on the phone. This will be a bit of a travel for me, so want to take full advantage. Will call again.

Let me know if you hear of anything else.

[Theruleslawyer]

How does insurance work at the m school? That another couple hundred? Do they eventually let you out alone, or is it lead follow the whole time?

[BeEmVe]

We did the 2 day school in Palm Springs. Learned a lot and had fun. Did it with my spouse. Somewhere is a report on the fun.

[happyjack]

i took delivery of my M2C at the performance center in greer. at that time, my instructor and the delivery associate both told me that the "complimentary one-day program" would not be significantly more than the experience that i got doing PCD. maybe they're encouraged to upsell the other programs, but both of them said i should take the option of using the $849 as a credit and do the one-day M School instead.

in looking at the complimentary program description i am leaning towards taking their advice and booking the M School for my son and me, so we can get some real track time. the "handling course" that's mentioned in the complimentary program is the closest thing you'll get to "track time" as you're probably envisioning it...but it's really not much bigger or longer than an autocross-type course. the only full course laps that we got at PCD was with the instructor driving (aka hot laps). maybe the full-day complementary program also gets you some 'lead-follow' time on the big track...but i dont see it in the program description.

don't get me wrong, the PCD experience is awesome and i'm sure the complimentary one-day program is loads of fun if you've never driven on a track. however, if you've had even a single day of track time, i think you'll be a bit underwhelmed by the complimentary course if that's all you do. the factory tour is great / super interesting, and the museum is really nice as well, so there are other factors that would make the trip to greer worthwhile...but not necessarily worth getting on a plane.

separately, the instructors and people who run these programs are really top-notch and their love of cars, driving, and bimmers in particular is evident for every event i've ever done through BMWNA.

Originally Posted by Theruleslawyer

How does insurance work at the m school? That another couple hundred? Do they eventually let you out alone, or is it lead follow the whole time?

i could be wrong, but i believe you only drive program-owned cars for any other these courses. everything is included in the purchase price of the course.

[FrankMstein]

Originally Posted by happyjack

i took delivery of my M2C at the performance center in greer. at that time, my instructor and the delivery associate both told me that the "complimentary one-day program" would not be significantly more than the experience that i got doing PCD. maybe they're encouraged to upsell the other programs, but both of them said i should take the option of using the $849 as a credit and do the one-day M School instead.

in looking at the complimentary program description i am leaning towards taking their advice and booking the M School for my son and me, so we can get some real track time. the "handling course" that's mentioned in the complimentary program is the closest thing you'll get to "track time" as you're probably envisioning it...but it's really not much bigger or longer than an autocross-type course. the only full course laps that we got at PCD was with the instructor driving (aka hot laps). maybe the full-day complementary program also gets you some 'lead-follow' time on the big track...but i dont see it in the program description.

don't get me wrong, the PCD experience is awesome and i'm sure the complimentary one-day program is loads of fun if you've never driven on a track. however, if you've had even a single day of track time, i think you'll be a bit underwhelmed by the complimentary course if that's all you do. the factory tour is great / super interesting, and the museum is really nice as well, so there are other factors that would make the trip to greer worthwhile...but not necessarily worth getting on a plane.

separately, the instructors and people who run these programs are really top-notch and their love of cars, driving, and bimmers in particular is evident for every event i've ever done through BMWNA.




i could be wrong, but i believe you only drive program-owned cars for any other these courses. everything is included in the purchase price of the course.

Yes, you drive their cars not yours.

[mikeym40]

Leaning toward CA, but are hotels really like an hour away. Might keep the wife and kid home so, should I book SC?

[FrankMstein]

There isn't much in Spartanburg. Pretty boring. I'd go to CA. and I live just down the street from Spartanburg.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by mikeym40

Leaning toward CA, but are hotels really like an hour away. Might keep the wife and kid home so, should I book SC?

Hotels are 15-20 minutes away. Check Indian Springs, not Palm Springs. There is plenty to do for the wife and kids. They can drop you off in the morning, watch for a bit then go to the outlets for shopping, or back to the hotel pool. I've stayed at the Miramonte which has a nice pool and restaurant. You can certainly go more upscale but I found this a pretty good option for the price.

I would definitely go for the 1 Day M School as the "Track Day" is pretty light on actually learning how to drive fast but more of an opportunity to drive fast. The drag races are pretty boring besides learning how to stop within the stop boxes, and there is no useless drag racing at M School.

[harryneyt1]

BMW M School is the premier educational program for enthusiasts, instructors and professional drivers. Learn to drive your BMW M car like an expert with the aid of an instructor and fellow students with similar abilities.

[snareman]

I did a combo PCD into 2 Day M school a few years ago. M school isn't cheap, but its a TON of driving for the money. Be sure to take something for motion sickness if you are prone to that if you do it. Its Challenge by Choice as they say, but my stomach wasn't quite up for that much of a challenge.

[Onizukachan]

Originally Posted by sofiaoluwato

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