Roleez

Thought I'd share my thoughts about the complimentary M Experience at the BMW performance Center as I sit at the terminal at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport for my flight home to the Bay Area. In a nutshell, it's well worth it. BMW pays for hotel, meals, and the class. You just pay airfare. It's only a 1-day deal (it is NOT M-school) where you literally beat the sh#t out of the new M3 DCT, M5 SMG, and M6 SMG on a series of braking, autocross, and timed lap exercises. And since it's raining like mad here, they'll teach you to drift the M5 around their circular skidpad. Not as easy as it looks but I managed to hold a drift halfway around the circle! They'll even preach their preferred M setting for performance driving: P500 (NOT P500S), MDM, and EDC1. I learned that MDM gives you small drift angles (10 degrees or so) and still cuts in when you're too aggressive. But in the rain, it'll still let you drive spiritedly without fear of sliding off course. But for the brave ones, DSC off is downright scary yet thrilling in the rain.

If you new M owners still haven't taken advantage of the complimentary class, you seriously don't know what you're missing. Especially when the staff drives YOU around the track at the end of the day to show you what the M5 can REALLY do! ''You think you know ... but you have NO idea...''

info@trinityautosport

sounds like a lot of fun

melimel

sounds INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uzzle

That would be nice to take a class like that. Wouldn't mind drifting in a M3 or M5, might be better than my old 240sx.

shaferrj

you have to be an M series owner to qualify??

Roleez

New M5 and M6 owners are allowed to take the complimentary class; M3 owners are (unfortunately) excluded.

JayEll

sounds great..
so what was your verdict? M3 more fun? Or can we enjoy our M5 just as much?

p.s. our avatars are looking very similar

Roleez

I'll be honest, the M3's handling was (obviously) WAY better. More tossable, responsive, accurate. Then you step into the M5 or M6 and you immediately notice how much heavier the car is, especially the body lean when pushing through the corners. And to add insult to injury, the M-DCT in the M3 is worlds better than SMG3. The instant you pull the upshift paddle, BAM ... your gear is selected. Pull the paddle on the SMG3 (S5/MDM/EDC1), and you get the slight lag before the gear engages.

Regardless of the impression the M3 left, I truly have rekindled the fire that led me to get an M5 in the first place. When BMW says it's a Race Car For Five, they weren't kidding! When you push the M5 on a track, it rewards the finessed driver, not an aggressive one. I can finally say, ''Now I know what my car can do!'' I think I'll be going for a drive now.

JayEll, nice avatar. I took mine when the sky turned orange red during a huge brush fire this past summer as the sun tried to peek through.

Roleez

PICS!

The X6 at the Greensville-Spartanburg (GSP) International Airport baggage claim area




The BMW Performance Center, just 5 minutes away from GSP




A couple 650i coupes in front of the twin delivery bays where a 335i sedan and 328i coupe await their new owners


The BMW K1200S in the lobby ... I love speedbikes!!


The start of braking exercises in the rain with the M6




Instructor in the 550i on the 2-way radio giving us instructions

Roleez

About to start the first handling race in the M3 DCT (and updated iDrive) ... with DSC off










Drifting lessons in the M5


End of the day: a hot lap on the track with an instructor behind the wheel!