BMW Ultimate Driving Event

[AGAV13]

I am attending the BMW UDE on Tuesday 6/17/14 in Foxborough, MA doing the autocross event in the M235i. Has anyone been to this yet? I am excited to test how the car feels against my 135is. If you have been how was it? Will post by experiences later.

[B777flyboy]

Sweet have fun. Actually going this morning to the autocross and driving the m5.

[BLU135i]

Unfortunately It's only during the work week and i would be driving up from Newport. Wish it was in the weekend.

[I35it]

Way fun!!!! When I went they had the M6 and M5 for us to destroy!

[meg180]

I'm registered for the NY event! I can't wait to autocross the 2.

[3002 tii]

I'm signed up for NJ/NYC on 7/20. Scheduled to test drive the i3 at noon and then auto-x a 2 series at 1:30

[Huecifer]

Did one in Pittsburgh this weekend and it was a joke. They showed us a video about X-Drive first and how smart it was and how much better than the competitors it was... Their proof? They put and X3, GLK, RX, and Q5 on top of 3 rollers with the 4th wheel (rear) on pavement, then showed how long it took each of the cars to get off the rollers. The BMW was *slightly* quicker than the rest, but it took all of them 5+ seconds to do it. Put a Subaru or something with REAL differentials on those things, and the car won't even flinch, it'll just drive right off... what a joke.

Then, for the autocross, they only provided cars with X-Drive. Yippee. There were no 335s, one 535, and one 640i. After the autocross, I just parked my car instead of taking it on the "road coarse" because I didn't really feel like driving a 320ix for a couple miles around the city. Oh, and we got a mug.

Edit: I also signed up to drive a 235 online while registering, and while there was one sitting there, they told me "This is an X-Drive only event". That would have been good to know, you know, when I was signing up. I wouldn't have wasted my time.

[Converted1]

Going to the 7/19 autox in NJ. Registered for a 2.

[RoundelM3]

Haven't received any word about this from my local dealer here, but I did go and drive the i3 a few weeks ago. Pretty amazing car, although it doesn't suit my purposes. Hope we get an Ultimate Drive event here soon!

[TwinTurboXI]

Originally Posted by Huecifer

Did one in Pittsburgh this weekend and it was a joke. They showed us a video about X-Drive first and how smart it was and how much better than the competitors it was... Their proof? They put and X3, GLK, RX, and Q5 on top of 3 rollers with the 4th wheel (rear) on pavement, then showed how long it took each of the cars to get off the rollers. The BMW was *slightly* quicker than the rest, but it took all of them 5+ seconds to do it. Put a Subaru or something with REAL differentials on those things, and the car won't even flinch, it'll just drive right off... what a joke.

Then, for the autocross, they only provided cars with X-Drive. Yippee. There were no 335s, one 535, and one 640i. After the autocross, I just parked my car instead of taking it on the "road coarse" because I didn't really feel like driving a 320ix for a couple miles around the city. Oh, and we got a mug.

Edit: I also signed up to drive a 235 online while registering, and while there was one sitting there, they told me "This is an X-Drive only event". That would have been good to know, you know, when I was signing up. I wouldn't have wasted my time.

I had generally the same expierence as you at the Pittsburgh event. The course was a joke as were most of the cars they brought for us to drive.

I was upset the 235i was not one of the track cars. I still had some fun in the 435i xdrive coupe and 535i xdrive. Walking away from that event though, I'm extrmeley dissapointed with how the truly modern BMW's are driving now. No steering feel, no connection to the road, No soul.

[Qunadry]

Has anyone been to one of these events where a manual transmission car was part of the fleet? I have never seen a manual transmission in my dealers inventory. All of my cars had to be factory ordered to get a manual, as well as not having navigation, comfort access, heated steering wheel, etc.

[FactorX81]

No I don't think they ever bring manuals. They don't even have manuals at the performance center.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Nice!!

[AGAV13]

I had a blast, I did it this past Tuesday and there were only about 30 people in total at the time which was perfect. Got there early and there was an M3 and i8 in a tent which were available to sit it. They were both glorious. After that they had an xdrive event set up which was a big hill on a trailer which they drove an X5 up and down to showcase xdrive. They also had an skid pad to show off the traction control systems. The autocross was okay but it was still fun to thrash around a 228i with the track pack on the course, it was very nicely set up. I had about 10 minutes of driving time. After the event they told us that we would be receiving a voucher from BMW for $1000 of a BMW. After the autocross I test drove a Z4 35is, 640 convertible and 650 convertible w/ MSport. The drive was fantastic, it was just over 12 miles long. Also, there had to be about 8 M3's, 2 M4's, 10 M235i and an X4. The sound the M3's were making were orgasmic, they were launching over and over again non stop for an hour. I wish I had signed up for the Car Control Clinic but for the cost it would not have been beneficial to me however I would have lived the experience of beating in a brand new M3. I have a ton of pictures I will try to post later. I was there for about 5 hours and had a blast. I highly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity.

[AGAV13]

Originally Posted by Qunadry

Has anyone been to one of these events where a manual transmission car was part of the fleet? I have never seen a manual transmission in my dealers inventory. All of my cars had to be factory ordered to get a manual, as well as not having navigation, comfort access, heated steering wheel, etc.

No I specifically asked and they said they never bring manuals to these events. They are too worried about the transmissions and for insurance purposes.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

I'm signed up for NJ/NYC on 7/20. Scheduled to test drive the i3 at noon and then auto-x a 2 series at 1:30

same here! will be there at the NJ one on the 20th at 1:30 for autoX

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

same here! will be there at the NJ one on the 20th at 1:30 for autoX

Sorry, going to have to bail. Going to my nephew's bday party that day. I rescheduled mine for Weds after work.

[Overpar56]

So how does one find out local events and get an invite? I did a quick search and not much popped up. I'm sure they do major cities like NYC/NJ, Chicago and LA but us poor folks in the eastern half of the Midwest (AKA Outer Mongolia) don't get them?

Just curious as I'd drive to one if they had one in Ohio.

[AGAV13]

I got an email from the BMWCCA notifying me of one in my area. They told me they are going down the east coast then moving across the west throughout the summer and fall ending in LA where I believe they said they will be there for 21 days or something like that.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Overpar56

So how does one find out local events and get an invite? I did a quick search and not much popped up. I'm sure they do major cities like NYC/NJ, Chicago and LA but us poor folks in the eastern half of the Midwest (AKA Outer Mongolia) don't get them?

Just curious as I'd drive to one if they had one in Ohio.

I get email notifications from my dealer (the one and only benefit of being on their annoying email newsletters). But just frequently check https://ude.bmwusa.com/. Often times you can register despite not having a "code"

Also if you're really itching to get on track, you should just hit up a HPDE with your local CCA. Not sure how far Mid-Ohio track is from you but I heard that's a pretty good track.

http://www.buckeyebmwcca.org/driving-school/

CCA and other clubs:
www.motorsportreg.com (filter for Driver School and zip code radius)

[Overpar56]

Mid Ohio is about 3 hrs from me. I thought about joining BMW CCA. Mid Ohio is a pretty good track. I've been on the spectator side a lot of times doing photography but don't know it from the drivers side. But I rather beat up a BMW vehicle than mine.

Thanks for the info though.

[Chunner]

I'm scheduled for the Autocross event on July 18th at Metlife stadium in NJ. Should be fun...