Ultimate Driving Event at Meadowlands Stadium in NJ in july

[carzaddict]

For those who live in NY/NJ/CT....BMW is doing an Ultimate Driving event at the Meadowlands in July. One part features a 2 hour autocross with a 2 or 5 series....another part is a street drive...they also have a teen event for anyone under 21.

If you want to sign up, go to: http://ude.bmwusa.com/

Im going to be doing the autocross on July 13 at 8:30am and street drive at 11:30am....it would be cool to get a few members at that time and do a little meet.

Has anyone done one of these before? it sounds like it could be a fun time

[E39lolz]

Would love to take a road trip to my ol' battlegrounds for this. Being lazy and not clicking on the link, cost?

[amzbimmer]

It's free for the autocross. In the car driving clinic, you can take the new M3 for a spin for only $650!

[carzaddict]

just to update this thread, i just got back from the event.

The event was a LOT of fun and very well organized. You check in at the desk...then you can go check out a little waiting area they have set up with an i8 and m4 (you can even sit in them). they have some water and coffee refreshments. Then when its your time for the autocross...you go into a tent set up by Hardon Karmon with all these speakers. There will be an instructor giving you details about what to expect, what to do, what you may experience, etc etc (about 15-20 miin over all)..then its time to have fun.

You get split up into groups of ~15 people and you get taken to the area where they have the track. They had 2 separate tracks...one for the 5's and one for the 2's. They load you up 3 in a car (plus the instructor) and they take you for 1 calm lap followed by 2 fast paced laps. Then its time to switch drivers. Each driver gets 1 calm lap and 2 fast paced laps (in comfort mode).....then the instructor gets back in the drivers seat and does another 2 fast laps (in sport mode)....and each driver gets another 3 laps in sport mode. And then everyone gets out of the car and they start giving you 1 by 1 rides (they give you cameras to record the lap)...totally balls to the wall laps. It had started to rain...so everyone was sliding...it was great. The whole thing takes a little under 2 hours from the start of the demo to the very end.

Its a little harder than it seems, the track is a little tight...lots of bends...no real straight. you're tossing the car left and right. the instructors are cool...they guide you through the whole process...tell you what you're doing wrong and how to fix it.

They also have a skid pad demo...and they show you the difference between how the car will handle (328 RWD) on a soapy wet road with and without traction control. They also had an X5 demo...showing the car using hill descent control. The road course was fun...they had a selection of a bunch of cars...6's, 3's, 4's, 5's, 7's........they have the navigation pre-programmed and they let you go out on your own....the drive takes about 15-20 min (depending on how fast you go)

all in all id say it was a cool experience...definitely cant complain when its a free event...but its nice that they put this much time, effort and money into this. One of the instructors actually noted that they had statistics that show the sales response after doing events like this.....so it seems to pay off.

[toneatles]

Is there parking areas for the event?

[carzaddict]

well the event is held in a parking lot......a huge one.....so yes there is more than enough parking for the event

[DanG]

Nice write up. Too bad there isn't one in my area.

[cotton90]

Thanks for posting, I'm heading down on the 20th. Anything that you would do differently if you did it again?

[krzykk]

Thanks for posting. Just registered for Sat event. Glad that I can be part of it.

[five3three]

Originally Posted by carzaddict

just to update this thread, i just got back from the event.

Which 2 model and which 5 model was being used?

[Maximus_850csi]

Originally Posted by five3three

Which 2 model and which 5 model was being used?

228, 535, 535d

[carzaddict]

Originally Posted by krzykk

Thanks for posting. Just registered for Sat event. Glad that I can be part of it.

nope...theres really not much you can do differently. i gave it my best during the autocross and the instructor complimented me.

the only thing i would have done was keep the car out a littttlleee longer during the street drive. They let you take the car out by yourself and you just follow the pre-programmed set of instructions on the navi...they estimate you'll be gone for about 20 minutes....but they take your number just incase you're out for a little too long.

you can also do the street drive as many times as you'd like. i wanted to drive the Z4 but someone had taken it as soon as i pulled back in the lot with the 6 series. didnt feel like waiting

[bimmerbuff]

This is coming to Citi Field from 10/4 - 10/12 in case anyone can't make the Jersey dates.

[teezee]

There is a also a full range of cars you can drive on a 15 minute or so loop, everything from 3s-7s, i3, Z435is. Definitely a worthwhile visit.

The 2ers we drove had Mperformance parts

[carzaddict]

they will let you street drive as many cars as you'd like (as long as theres not a long list of people waiting).

I wanted to drive the Z4 after i got back from driving the 6...but someone had already taken it as i pulled in and didnt feel like waiting the 15 minutes. they let you go out in the cars alone.....gives you a chance to really open it up

[asimperson]

Is anyone else having trouble registering for this?

Yesterday I tried to use the PIN I was sent and it said an "unidentified error has occurred". Today it says my PIN isn't valid.

Does the PIN get you anything? Otherwise I'll just register normally.

[bimmerbuff]

Originally Posted by asimperson

Does the PIN get you anything? Otherwise I'll just register normally.

I don't think so.

[newoldbeemer]

Yes same here I'm having trouble registering. Yesterday it was saying unidentified error and today its saying Invalid pin.

[wojcikgu]

It's free for the autocross.

[MYovichZ4]

Keep the link handy as BMW is doing these events throughout the US. I'm registered for the Chicago event Thursday and they have now added San Francisco.

Even if you don't have an ID Code (provided by dealership/service request), you can register. My wife signed up after I used the code from our dealer.

http://ude.bmwusa.com/

[Wah]

Don't forget you get a $1000 promo code for a new BMW after attending.

[intoflatlines]

I did the Chicago event last weekend. It was a good time!