[e90driver]

So I got my latest issue of BMW Magazine and inside was a leaflet about BMW Driving School in NC/SC. There is not much info on the web and no price is listed—But I do see an M driving school offered using the new M5, the “old” M3 and when available, the new M6. This is my chance to drive an M to its limits with pro drivers by my side. I call BMW and ask about the school, and here’s the kicker -- $2,600 for a 2 day course. WTF?! Have any of you guys participated in BMW’s driving school and if so, should I even think twice about shelling out ½ year of car payments to get to drive M’s for 2 days? I would rather put that money away and save up so I could get the M3 someday and drive it all I like…

[northerncalguy]

Agreed. Take a local driving course, learn the basics and save the $$$ for the new M3 body style.

[ZenDriver]

Most of the factory driving schools are WAYYYY overpriced. The only exception to this is when Porsche or BMW offer Nurburgring schools which are usually worth $1000k per day because the 'Ring costs a whole lot to rent and the quality of instruction is phenomonal.

There are some nice things about the factory driving schools- you don't need to worry about the mechanical condition of the cars, they are extremely safety oriented (good) and the quality of instruction is high.

On the downside, the $/seat time ratio is extremely low, you usually need to travel to them and (for the BMW M school) the classes are all about static drills using flat pavement and cones with an autocross type event at the end to put it all together.

The latter is the biggest problem with these schools. Static drills (i.e. drive between those cones as fast as you can, then brake to avoid the other cones while turning sort of drill) is that the speeds are very low and the situations they represent are far too clean. Good driving schools will use static drills to highlight car control techniques, but the majority of time spent in the car will be spent on an honest to god race track, driving a vehicle in anger.

[maq]

I agree $2600 is a lot of money, but can't say it isn't worth it. It includes 2 nights at a 5-star hotel (all meals included), a bunch of gifts (and helmuts) and they pick you up/drop you off with a fancy BMW at the airport. You don't need to pay a buck and everything is planned out for you. Plus you get to drive a bunch of different M cars that are not yours (and you can do things you can't do on a dealership test drive).

If you attend a typical BMW CCA DE weekend, the entry fee is usually something like $300-500. Then things just add up, gas, hotel, food, water/drinks, helmut (if it's your fist time), tires, brake pads...etc And in the end you don't get as much of seat time. Not to mention CCA instructors skill levels vary big time.

It's definitely not a bad choice for first timers IMO.

[Papa13]

I am thinking about taking this course.. i think it would be rad. Plus it lowers your insurace by 10% if i am not mistaken. Anyone know for sure? So over the long run you safe money and you get to "DRIVE" and i mean "DRIVE" some of the sexiest cars on the road.

[sunchild]

this lowers insurance rates? this thing could pay for itself in time...

[e90driver]

Lower insurance rates? I will have to look into this, as sunchild said, it may pay for itself or at least help me rationalize it...

[gtaste]

If you are BMWCCA member, it will cost 500 a day for the M school..

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by e90driver

So I got my latest issue of BMW Magazine and inside was a leaflet about BMW Driving School in NC/SC. There is not much info on the web and no price is listed—But I do see an M driving school offered using the new M5, the “old” M3 and when available, the new M6. This is my chance to drive an M to its limits with pro drivers by my side. I call BMW and ask about the school, and here’s the kicker -- $2,600 for a 2 day course. WTF?! Have any of you guys participated in BMW’s driving school and if so, should I even think twice about shelling out ½ year of car payments to get to drive M’s for 2 days? I would rather put that money away and save up so I could get the M3 someday and drive it all I like…

I took their 1 day course and it was a blast. The 2-Day M course is great. Day 1 is spent at their track and Day 2 is spent at Michelin's North American proving ground and/or Charlotte Motor Speedway. The instructor told us BMW is the only manufacturer allowed to drive on Michelin's track.

The unlike the 1 day school, the 2 day event has a lot more racing.

The instructors at BMW's school are very professional and if I remember correctly all have over 15 yrs racing/autocross experience.

:rocks:

[Bimmerista]

Originally Posted by e90driver

So I got my latest issue of BMW Magazine and inside was a leaflet about BMW Driving School in NC/SC. There is not much info on the web and no price is listed—But I do see an M driving school offered using the new M5, the “old” M3 and when available, the new M6. This is my chance to drive an M to its limits with pro drivers by my side. I call BMW and ask about the school, and here’s the kicker -- $2,600 for a 2 day course. WTF?! Have any of you guys participated in BMW’s driving school and if so, should I even think twice about shelling out ½ year of car payments to get to drive M’s for 2 days? I would rather put that money away and save up so I could get the M3 someday and drive it all I like…

Sounds to me like you're answering your own question.

[e90driver]

I called insurance, and if the driving school meets certain criteria, (He said he had no problem offering me the discount for the M school) I would get a 16% savings on my insurance. He even said such a discount would apply if I attended the regular 2- day BMW school.

Something tells me I'm going to be dreaming M's in my sleep...