Performance Center Delivery

[ennislaw]

Totally awesome experience! And it complimented the ED in Nov perfectly. ED seemed to be about BMW; PCD is about your specific car. I highly recommend both! The ride with the BMW Performance pro driver, wherein we traveled most of the course sideways, was incredible! I was giggling like a 11 y.o. girl for about 10 minutes after the ride.

Here is a shot of me driving a the silver 135i (with auto) around the first concourse. I like this photo because it looks like I'm ahead. LOL! The red 335i had an Audi driver instructor who was accompanying the M3 owner, who is a BMW Club President with plenty of track experience (not this first trip to PC), so I didn't feel too bad.

pge

[JimD]

I took PCD on my 128i convertible 7/21/09. My son and I enjoyed it a lot. The Performance Center is only an hour and a half drive from my house. No brainer for me.

Jim

[Andrew0161]

Question to the forum: I'm planning to take delivery in SC at the BMW Performance Center. I live in Iowa, which requires a front plate. I do NOT want any holes in my front bumper - if I have to I'll buy an aftermarket mount. Do I need to worry about BMW installing a plate before I take delivery in SC? Also, do I go to the dealer when I get home to pick up my permanent plates? How does that work? I'm pretty sure this is the first Performance Center Delivery for my sales associate....

Anything else anyone can tell me about how this works? For example, how far in advance will you know what day you are going to be picking up your car? I need to purchase a couple of airline tickets, etc.

Thanks in advance to all who respond!

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by Andrew0161

Question to the forum: I'm planning to take delivery in SC at the BMW Performance Center. I live in Iowa, which requires a front plate. I do NOT want any holes in my front bumper - if I have to I'll buy an aftermarket mount. Do I need to worry about BMW installing a plate before I take delivery in SC? Also, do I go to the dealer when I get home to pick up my permanent plates? How does that work? I'm pretty sure this is the first Performance Center Delivery for my sales associate....
Anything else anyone can tell me about how this works? For example, how far in advance will you know what day you are going to be picking up your car? I need to purchase a couple of airline tickets, etc.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!

Yeah, sounds like your CA isn't on the ball, but then I did an ED and had my NC tag and registration via FedEx way before I left for the PCD. Your dealer should do the state tags if s/he charged you for the tags, otherwise you'll need to do it yourself. PCD will give you a temporary SC license permit, if you don't have your tags, so that should get you back home. Just make sure you have your sales agreement, insurance stuff, etc, in case you get stopped on the way home.

Fortunately I only live about 3 hours away, because I did't get a lot of notice for the PCD date, apparently they're swamped all the time. From your first date, you should be able to reschedule within 10 days afterwards, but that's the limit, so I'm told. Thursday & Fridays are really popular as I understand it.

pge

[JimD]

I would go to the Performance Center forum on Bimmerfest and send a note to Jonathan who works at the Performance Center. He and Donnie, one of the instructors, post on that site fairly frequently. There is lots of good information so if you look at some threads you will get Jonathans screen name and you can send him a personal message with any issues, like the license plate. The performance center is very cooperative so your odds of them leaving the front plate off the car for you to install on an aftermarket mount are pretty good. If you can get the mount to them, they may install it for you. My delivery specialist was willing to help with any of this kind of stuff if it wasn't already taken care of. Willie pointed out a very small nick in the paint and offered to get that touched up while I waited. They did a good job.

I think I had to bring my plates because my CA did not get them sent in time. Better is for the CA to send them to the Performance center. In your case, however, it could help ensure that they don't get installed for you to bring them. Only takes a very little time during delivery to put them on. They will spend a couple hours with you if you want them to.

I got a note from Willie, a nice lady, when my CA had not sent her all the paperwork she needed. And she provided me a copy of what she needed. Jonathan can help with your date. Willie later was my delivery specialist. She knows BMWs.

You will enjoy PCD and the Performance Center will do what they can to make sure you do. If you have questions, it is OK to ask your CA but if the answer doesn't sound right, I would check with the Performance Center.

Also recognize the Performance Center is about an hour south of the tail end of the Alleghany mountains. I do not know how much time you will have but there are some nice driving opportunities within a hour to 4 hours or so. For instance Tail of the Dragon (google it) is maybe 4 hours away. Ashville is 2-3 hours away. The Biltmore house is near Ashville. The ocean is about 3 hours east of the Performance Center. There are, in other words, nice vacation opportunities nearby if you have a little time. Flying in, you can fly to Greenville but Charlotte and Columbia are only a couple hours away. The Marriott Greenville will not pick you up at these alternate airports but if the fares are low enough it could pay to get a car and drive the last little bit.

Good luck and post her or on Bimmerfest if you have more questions.

Jim

[Andrew0161]

Thanks for the feedback. I will check out Bimmerfest. It is going to be a 2011, so I have some time - but I figured I'd get the ball rolling on this stuff now so as to avoid any last minute suprises...

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by Andrew0161

Thanks for the feedback. I will check out Bimmerfest. It is going to be a 2011, so I have some time - but I figured I'd get the ball rolling on this stuff now so as to avoid any last minute suprises...

Just like ED, the PCD is an awesome experience and both compliment each other!!

pge

[willwin2day]

We do not drill holes for the front plate unless the customer is standing there with those instructions. Then, I ask a 2nd time, "Are you sure?" :-)

All the best,
Donnie Isley
BMW Driving Instructor

[JimD]

Welcome to 1addicts, Donnie.

Donnie is a GREAT instructor. They all know how to drive but Donnie has a very good memory for names plus just a very pleasant personality. He's also very adept at drifting a M3 around the course, while talking in a calm voice. Lots of fun.

Jim

[escobar929]

so badass, def doing it on my next bimmer