[Bimmer22]

Tried searching on this topic without much luck.

Anyone out there have first hand experience attending a BMW Driving School?

Any recommendations or experiences you'd like to share?

I'd love to learn/test the true limits of my car one day (in a responsible way of course).

[tom333]

holy crap!

The performance center and M school in spartanburg is Disney world for adults. I went to a one day school with my dad and we laughed all day. The instructors are a blast and they have several one liners that are hilarious.

This summer, if im lucky ill get a ride in the ring taxi at the Nurburgring. They have classes at that facility, taught in english, with Z4 M coupes that look insane and aren't very expensive. Someday my dream is to do a course at the ring and since they used to use M3's, I think in 2 years maybe they might use the e92 M3.

If you're thinking overseas, check websites and you're a lucky bastard.
If you're thinking south carolina, go for it in a heartbeat. Worth the flight and price.

When I went we drove M5's and Z4 M's but the staff was breaking in M6's at the time.

[Chris.G]

Oh man you making me feel like flying to the states now!

[tom333]

I'm sorry but you have a great place to drive. I spent some time in Melbourne and Sydney a few years ago and what a beautiful place.

Sorry to hear about the new speed limits on the long, cross continent highways.

But I would say just try to get your hands on an M5 and a track (easier said than done) but you could be anywhere with anyone and that experience would be great fun.

The marketing people say it's a track star in a business suit, but the truth is that it really blows your mind and is like a Ferrari (ya know sort of) in a luxury sedan suit.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Bimmer22

Tried searching on this topic without much luck.

Anyone out there have first hand experience attending a BMW Driving School?

Any recommendations or experiences you'd like to share?

I'd love to learn/test the true limits of my car one day (in a responsibly way of course).

I went to their 1 day school and it was a blast. I was dead tired at the end of the day, and the instructors were great.

I've heard the 2 day M-school is really fun too but thats a couple of grand.

[tman]

I'm hoping to get one for my birthday

[TEAShea]

The best bet might be for you to do the driving schools put on by the local BMW club chapters. The chapter I belong to puts on two drivings schools a year. In addition, the local Porsche club puts on two a year. These are held at the MidAmerica MotorPlex or the Motorsport Park Hastings. These tracks are each about 2.4 miles in length. The events are very well run and use certified driving instructors. These high performance driving schools are two days long (plus an extra day for the instructors to drive and have fun).

There are usually about 40 cars, divided into three or four groups. There is some classroom instruction for the novice group. An instructor rides along for all groups except the most advanced. The instructors are excellent. The cost for two days less than $300 - a great bargain. The events are very safe - there has never been a "crash" at one of our events. Occasionally a car spins or goes off track, but these tracks have wide run off areas.

Many local chapters put on similar drving events. Joint your local chapter and check it out.

TEAShea
from Nebraska

[MBrown1003]

I took the 2-day M5 Driving Experience about a year after I got my M5. It was so much fun that I decided to do the Performance Center Delivery for my E92...no question in my mind that it's worth it.

[voltron1011]

Teashea, do you have to supply your own car for this event? $300 for 2 days souns like a Gonga-deal!!

[Bimmer22]

Where can I find out more information about my local chapter?

[6SpeedMan]

My friend did the one day M school and he said it was amazing. He has videos of him drifting M5 and M3

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by Bimmer22

Where can I find out more information about my local chapter?

You have to join BMWCCA - http://www.bmwcca.org/

[2e9x's]

I have done a number of BMW CCA schools and they are amazing! By all means start there.

Yes, you do use your own car. Depending on your experience level and bravado, please be prepared to put in a set of brake pads and some new tires. I have done schools in the X3 and never needed either, but track work does put some additional stress on the tires. You might want to consider a BMW CCA auto-x for your first experience...cheaper, less strain on the car and a much safer environment to learn your car.

[nimamilani]

where in southern california?

[Joop!]

Here's a link to the official BMW Fahrer Training (english speak):

http://www.bmw.de/uk/services/Fahrertraining/index.html

[BenMW]

The performance delivery center offers a BMW 101 course for 500 includes hotel, breakfast lunch dinner, to and from airport and hotel rides.

2 hours track time the rest is learning about your car and touring the plant in SC

[TrackJunkie]

You should find a chapter with this

http://www.bmwcca.org/members/AM/Tem...ion&regionID=1

I have been doing the ones local to Detroit for several years and they are fantastic.

My E90 has already had brake pads replaced under warranty at 16,000miles

[-JLT-]

any local driving events (school) in Chicagoland areas?

[sblument]

for chicago area:

http://www.windycitybmw.com

we have three driving schools a year plus six autocrosses. I've been to one driving school and three autocrosses so far, all a blast.

The driving school I went to was held at Putnam Park racecourse in Mt. Meridian, IN, about a three hour drive southeast of Chicago.

[E30M3Driver]

Originally Posted by Bimmer22

I'd love to learn/test the true limits of my car one day (in a responsible way of course).

You said the magic words. Either the BMW or BMW CCA schools are a great place to start, though I highly recommend the local CCA schools. I have been instructing with our local club for over 10 years and it is a great learning experience. Learning/using your and your car's performance IMO is part of the total BMW experience.

I took the 1-day M5 school in Spartanburg and the concepts are the same as what you will find in what your local chapter schools offer. It just all depends on whether or not you want to do it in your car. For max. learning, I suggest seat time in your own car or at least an identical car owned by BMW, however it is also fun to drive something all together different once you have experience.

Nearly every region in the country has a local chapter club and puts on events 2-4 times a year. Unlike some other performance schools, the BMW schools put the emphasis on learning and instruction, not racing or race driving preparation. An often over-looked benefit of these events is not just you driving, but riding with an instructor in their car. That is usually an eye-opening experience for many students when they see what a variety of cars can do at the hands of an experienced driver. For example, on my most recent rides in my E90, students kept asking me if I had R-compound tires on - nope, just stock RFT's-they couldn't believe the level of grip I could produce out of those.

Run, don't walk to your local chapter web site and sign up for the next driving event. Whether it is a car control clinic, an autocross, or track-based driving school, you are sure to have a blast.

[Bimmer22]

I'm excited already. Thanks for the info guys.

I suppose all of you subscribe to Roundel as well?

[astra]

Originally Posted by tom333

I'm sorry but you have a great place to drive. I spent some time in Melbourne and Sydney a few years ago and what a beautiful place

i suppose, that anyone who doesn't have to put up with un-acceptably harsh and broken road surfaces, and dangerously narrow main roads (not to mention the roadworkers who seem to take delight in agrivating you), is entitled to say this... we pay the price for nice scenery