[bmwexecutive]

Three chapters in total--

Chapter 1

It has been incredible just arriving here. I saw a big BMW ad for a 650i leaving the airport and saw a BMW X5 on display inside the airport at baggage claim (the only car inside the airport at that)!



So as soon as I got down to baggage claim I found a courtesy phone, called the Marriot, told them who I was and that I was here for Performance Center delivery and they told me that a silver X3 is on its way and should arrive within 10 minutes. Sure enough, 10 minutes later a brand new silver X3 rolled up to take us to the Marriot. I should also mention the wait was very pleasant because it's 65 degrees out (perfect) and large maple trees surrounded the outside.



Once the X3 picked us up, we headed off to the Marriot and arrived there around 10 minutes later. The guy who picked us up (forgot his name) was very helpful and answered most of our questions. He said about 6 people will be doing PCD tomorrow including AComp from this board. At the Marriott, check-in was super fast. They really make you feel like a VIP!

So, I'm now here at the Marriot -- great hotel by the way -- and will be relaxing for a couple of hours before heading down to dinner. As I type this I'm sitting just yards from Michelin's NA headquaters. In fact, it almost seems as if the Marriot is situated on Michelin's campus. Greenville is truly a gorgeous city. Lots of maple trees and fresh air.

Can't wait for tomorrow!!!!!

[bmwexecutive]

Chapter 2

"Wow!" After taking delivery of my new 330i last Wednesday I promised myself I'd never take standard delivery at a dealership ever again -- it was that good. Now to the start of my journey on May 10th.

At 7:45am there were 6 of us that boarded the Marriot shuttle to the BMW Performance Center. The drive was about 15 minutes and upon arriving there we were greeted our delivery specialists and driving instructor (Donnie). Before I knew it were we walking down the hallway to the driving classroom where Donnie layed down the basics about what to know when we're out on the track. We also had to sign a liability waiver while we were there. After that, we moved outside and got into (3) 330i's with a radio attached the driver's door.






Donnie led us out on the track (he was in an X3 or X5 -- can't remember) and we began with the slaloom. We went around the course once slowly to get a feel for it and then Donnie pulled aside, got out of his X3 (or X5) and started telling us when to go, when to hit the gas, and what to do basically. It was great. I don't remember exactly but we had to have been going threw the slaloom at over 50MPH. This is where we really got a feel for how well the car handled. Each person got about 15 laps before trading off the next person with you.

Next was the ABS braking. To make a long story short: We started at 40, then 45, then 50 and finally 55 and on all of them after getting to the cones setup down where the driving instructor (Donnie) was standing, we slammed on the brakes as hard as we could and felt ABS engage. Very fun stuff.

Then came the slick pad -- the funnest part. For this, Donnie sat in the passenger seat and the person you're taking delivery with gets out and watches (until it is there turn). We did about 8 laps (small laps though) and all of us spun out at least 6 of the 8 times. Keep in mind, this is with DTC deactivated. Donnie deactivated it so we could get a feel of what it would be like in your average car. Then, we activated DTC and Donnie tells you to go into the turn and while you are in the turn to floor it. At which point DTC kicks in and gives you only the amount of throttle for the amount of traction you have available, making it nearly impossible for you to spin out or loose control. I couldn't believe how incredible DTC was. It really was the most impressive thing I have ever seen on a car.



After this the driving part of the delivery was over and we headed over to the Zenthus (I think I spelled that wrong) Museum. It's not very big but it's pretty cool. They gave me the keys to a Monoco Blue 530i with SMG that I got to drive over there. That was neat too. So we spent about an hour and a half at the museum looking at all of the old BMWs and BMW history and then headed back to the Performance Center (less than 5 minutes away).




Once back, we had lunch (covered by BMW) in a nice conference room with our delivery specialists and our driving instructor. Finally, it was time to take delivery of my car. We walked down the hall and entered a delivery bay. There she was! Beautiful as can be! All of the car manuals were spread out nicely on the table along with the two key fobs and four leather chairs that surrounded the table. It was fantastic! The woman who was my delivery specialist (nickname "Willie") went over every feature (even though I knew of most of them already) and described how to use everything. We even setup the BMW Assist and Sirius radio.





The only problem I had was a scuff of somekind in the leather of the right front passenger door. After everything was explained to me, Willie (real name Theresa) drove my car around back and 5 minutes later came back with the leather all fixed.

About 10 minutes later, Willie opened the bay doors and I drove off. I pulled over right before leaving the Performance Center to take these pictures.





Chapter 3, the drive home, will come in the next two days. Stay tuned.

Oh and look what I found there:

[bmwexecutive]

Chapter 3

The drive home was without a doubt an interesting and even a fun one. We left the Performance Center in Greenville, SC at around 4:30PM headed for home in Clearwater, FL (near Tampa). Just 40 miles out from the Performance Center I took her up to 98MPH (have to stay under 100MPH for break-in) although the picture only shows about 93MPH.



After driving through a freak storm with pouring rain for over 150 miles south-ward, I decided I'd call BMW Assist and find out when the rain was going to stop headed south on I-4. The guy said he'd check for me and about a minute later told me that we'd be in the storm for another 45 miles or so. As suggested, 50 miles later and at about 10:15PM the rain stopped. We decided we'd crash at the hotel instead of driving all threw the night so we called BMW Assist again and asked if they could find a Mariott for us (we were near the Georgia/Florida line at this point). Our options were either a Mariott Courtyard 37 miles away, or a Mariott 124 miles away in Gainsville. We went with the Courtyard just a half hour away. While giving us directions somehow we lost contact with BMW Assist and next thing I know my cell phone rings and it is the guy from BMW Assist. Pretty cool. So he gave us directions and we got to the Mariott. Only problem is, they're booked solid and have no rooms.

*The exclamation point on the dash was just letting me know that I'm over the 75MPH speed limit chime that I programed at the Performance Center --- at first I thought it meant something was wrong but quickly figured it out when it went away after I dipped below 75MPH*


They recommended another hotel to us "Sleep Inn & Suites" just a mile away. We drove over there and got a room to stay the night. Nothing fancy and definetly not the Mariott, but it served its purpose of giving us a place to stay the night with Cable TV. :thumbup:

The next morning we got up about 10AM and left the hotel by 11AM. Stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch/breakfast at about 12:30PM and then continued back towards Tampa at 1:30PM.

*Parked at the Sleep Inn & Suites*


About 10 minutes later, I look in my rearview mirror and what do I see? A State Trooper with his lights on. I quickly look to my right side to realize no other car is there and then it sets in that I'm nailed. So I pull over onto the rumble strips and put the car into park. Officer comes up to the window and asks for my license and tells me I was doing 86 in a 70 zone. Didn't say anything because it may of come off as just talking back to the officer, but everyone to my side and in front of me was going at least 4MPH faster. So back the getting my license. Yeah, he asked me for my license so I told him it was in my luggage in the trunk because that's were my wallet was. So he tells me to step out and get my wallet. I get my wallet and what do I find in the ID slot --- nothing. No license. I look in the glove box --- no license. I tell the officer I'm having trouble finding my license and he just asks me for my name and address so he can look it up in his computer. *The reason my license wasn't in my ID slot in my wallet was because my delivery specialist needed to look at it back at the PC so it was sitting on the table and when we left we put everything on the table into a white plastic bag.* Finally, after continuing to rumage through stuff to find my license, I find it. I then walk it up to the State Trooper's car and hand it to him.

As he's doing whatever a cop does when you get pulled over, we saw three more people get pulled over by three different state trooper's within 500 feet of us. It was a complete freakin' speed trap. Never seen so many cars pulled over in a one mile radius in my life.

Anyway, about 5 minutes later he comes back with a printout and tells me that he's only going to give me a warning and to be careful and drive safe. Happy day!!

I even shook the guys hand I was so grateful. Saved me at least $200, a couple of points on my license and an increase in insurance rates. Because he let me off with a warning I felt obligated to do the speed limit the rest of the way home. Good thing it was only 100 miles more.

So before crossing the bridge from Tampa over to Clearwater we stopped in at Tampa International Airport to pickup my dad's car (which we took to the airport to fly to Greenville) and then drove back home. Although, before driving up to the house where my family was waiting to see my new car, we stopped at Coachman Car Wash to get her cleaned up after the 650-mile drive.

It was pretty odd driving back to a place I flew out of but didn't fly back into. Never done it before. It was cool though.

*Almost home*


Overall, the trip was simply incredible and something I'd love to do again and would recommend very highly to anyone considering normal dealer delivery. PCD truly was an experience that I'll remember as long as I live and is an experience that is almost priceless.

*Home at last*

[bimmer4me]

Another Perfrmance Center Delivery fanatic like me!

[cobradac]

Very nice write up I meet "Willie" during our 6er DE as she was helping out on one of the day trips. They get to rotate thru various functions. I see you live on the West coast side of the East coast

I'm headed back up there (BMW land) for the Sharkfest 2006. BMW offered up their facilities. About 130 e24 Sharks and about 10 of us new e63 Sharks will be there over this weekend for our event. Maybe some of you might be doing a PC delivery and catch us on the lawn showing off.

[James Bond]

A very exciting and interesting story about your new Bimmer, bmwexecutive - always the best drive with your lady and without
any incidentes.
Here in Germany it´s not accepted to make similarly like yours - in general you make a business with the dealer, he makes the order and
six or eight weeks later you get an call, your car is ready to pick up.
If you´re lucky, the salesperson give a bottle good wine or sparkling wine and a more or less good instruction into the cars options...and
than it was it.

[MoreCowbell]

excellent write-up!!! Thanks!!!

[hotsand5]

yeah a really good write up. I would encourage anybody looking to buy their next BMW to do a performance delivery or Euro delivery. I did the Euro and it was amazing. Welcome to the community bmwexecutive.

--Jamesbond, you cannot do a delivery pick up at the plant in Leipzeg, Germany?

[James Bond]

Originally Posted by hotsand5

--Jamesbond, you cannot do a delivery pick up at the plant in Leipzeg, Germany?

No, not yet - but BMW will build a separate building in this or next year, so you can make a little seeing tour before you get your own,
new BMW - as I remember it should call "BMW-Welt" (BMW-world).

Presently you can only get your new BMW about a dealer.

[LEDZEP]

Great write up. Thanks for sharing the experience. I think I'd like to do PCD next time.

[bmwexecutive]

Ah, memories.

Can't wait to do PCD again hopefully late this year taking delivery of my E92 M3.

[STE92VE]

Nice write up. It seems anyone who has done PCD has the same wonderful experience. Can't wait to experience it myself.

[bronco]

Dude, nice write up!!!