Just finished the 6 Driving Experience ? really top notch and great job done by all BMW folks in Spartanburg and their providers (Marriott, Grove Park Resort and Spa, and La Bastide). The level of service and ease at which all these service providers performed their respective tasks was really evident and premium class. About 15 owners with partners there. Several from California. I was highest on the age demographic, and our average age had to be high 40s. No more than three females were primary owner/driver. After a night in the local Marriott we went to Performance Center for classroom and then track time. The half day on PC was split between skid pad, short road course (timed laps), and testing 330i, M3, 530i, 745i and 645 with sport package. Skid pad and trips thru the local twisty roads were the highlights of my driving portion. The timed laps (no podium appearance for me - but made honorable mention for fast time ) and test driving other BMWs was good as well. Used my own car for travel between Spartanburg and Ashville (Grove Park) and then to La Bastide next day. We broke away from the group departing La Bastide to return to our own thing prior to returning to Florida. Only one M5 there at Performance Center, but more are coming as they develop their M schools. Also expected in late January 06 is a new / different version of the 6er DE. Using a new fleet of 650s probably in late Jan or early Feb the DE will have MORE track time and the day trip portions will become options. Will go from ? day at the PC to full day. Details will be available later when they have sorted all these things out. 645 owners who are eligible but do not participate until this time will be in the 650s as well. I do not think (my assumption from some of the discussion by BMW folks) that current new 650 owners will be offered the DE until it is in its new form with the 650s.

My wife did not do any driving so I got extra seat time in most of the driving events. We drove up and back approximately 550 miles one way. On two fill ups of over 400 miles on a tank each, I averaged 79.2 mph and 25.44 mpg and 79.8 mph and 25.2 mpg ? I was really pleased.

Got my first ICE indication display (good), first AS Hydraulic fault (bad) which told me to shut down immediately and not drive (a restart reset that and it never reappeared ? I assume the same cold condition caused this) and my first ever iDrive reboot (bad) all by itself same cold day ? and only the one time


I'm ready to go back all thanks to BMW

Sounds like a fun time. Any pix?

For the 4.4L motor, this is very good gas mileage, at least from my eyes.

cobradav, was Bob Burrell your driving instructor? Did you take a factory tour? Did you go to the Biltmore estate in Asheville? Did you have a blast? :P

For the 4.4L motor, this is very good gas mileage, at least from my eyes.
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Yea, I was impressed. These were calculated as iDrive had them about 1.5 mpg higher. No AC on which I have found in 70/30 hwy/citi driving makes about 1.5 mpg difference.

No, Jim Millard was lead (and my skid pad instructor). Also had Larry Parmele, Ben Burrell and Mike Renner. I think a couple others stepped in here and there but never did see Bob. We skipped out prior to the opportunity for factory tour. Did Biltmore prior to arriving in Spartanburg/Greenville area while staying with friends in NC. Bought about 12 bottles of wine there. Jim was lead in our caravan to Grove Park (Ashville). I was right behind him. Used him as the excuse that I HAD to go fast so not to loose him in the twisties - god, what fun. We had to slow now and then for the others to catch up :lol:
Wife just called (out late) she was at dinner with #2 son telling him all about it. We are thinking of going up for the Valentines Drive next year. Not sure of timing but hope Biltmore would be in its Spring getup.

My bad -- I typed "Bob" but I meant "Ben" Burrell. He's a lot of fun, isn't he?

Sounds like you had fun. I can't wait to go back there one of these days as well...

....thanks for the write up cd, sounds like great fun....since I wont have a chance to go before spring, i hope i'll have the new course with even more time on the track, and the twisty road trips sound like a blast...i too agree that the 4.4 gets great mileage for the power it has, a good balance imho, .... glad you enjoyed :thumbsup: