The BMW Experience

[Q]

Was back home in SC last week for a get together with some college friends and we headed to the BMW factory in Greer, SC for the newly created "BMW Experience". What this amounted to was:

1) 1 hour to walk around the BMW Museum. This was so-so. The cars and engines at the museum were pretty sweet...but 1 hour was more than enough time.
2) 1+ hour tour of the factory. I had actually seen the factory years ago when it was making Z3 roadsters...but it was cool to see it now making X6 and X5's. This was interesting...but not what I was really waiting for.
3) 1 hour driving X5's through their off road driving course. This was great. We drove through water up to 22" deep, put the vehicle sideways over some pretty crazy terrain. I was actually fairly impressed with what the X5 could do being barely more than what looks like a typical CUV.
4) Finally, what I really went for...laps around their track in 5 different BMW cars. The cars were the following: BMW X6 M, 335d, 750i, M3, and 135. This was great. They let you drive each car 3 times around the track and let you go as fast as you wanted/could. Unfortunately all the cars were auto's (well the M3 was DCT), but it was still a lot of fun.
5) A hot lap around the track in a BMW M5 driven by a professional race driver. This was insane...they had the car sideways almost the whole time.

Overall the whole experience was awesome...especially for $99 (plus $30 for the optional hot lap in the M5). Just wanted to throw it out there for anyone traveling through the area...well worth your time/money.

$99? Seems like a great deal -- might make an afternoon of that with some friends! I need to learn stick though 😀

 

[GoatMonkey]

What happens if you wreck or damage a car? Does it come out of your insurance?

 

[PricklyPete]

What happens if you wreck or damage a car? Does it come out of your insurance?

Details, details. They make you sign a waiver...I didn't read it carefully though. I'm fairly certain they cover the car insurance, but you would definitely want to ask when you call up.

 

[PricklyPete]

$99? Seems like a great deal -- might make an afternoon of that with some friends! I need to learn stick though 😀

None of the cars were stick in the $99 deal...so no need to learn before you go. You do need to learn though...and then buy a proper manual car. 🙂

 

[aolj]

I went today and it was a lot of fun!

I got to drive these cars though.

Z4
550i
X5 M
135
750
650

The hot lap was really awesome. Well worth the money I'd say.

🙂

 

[TehMac]

That sounds great man. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

 

[Imported]

Great deal. I did a similar Audi one at Infineon.. but it was twice as much and not nearly as long it seems. We had about about 10 minutes autocrossing a TTS (which I adore.. I'd love to get a TTS now) and then 20 minutes of track time driving the R8 around Infineon and another 20 as a passenger.. then a hot lap with the instructor in an S4.

 

[PricklyPete]

I went today and it was a lot of fun!

I got to drive these cars though.

Z4
550i
X5 M
135
750
650

The hot lap was really awesome. Well worth the money I'd say.

🙂

Nice to see someone else enjoyed it. Interesting that they used a different mix of cars. Which was your favorite of the bunch?

 

[Doggiedog]

Wow! That sounds awesome. If I'm ever down there, I would love to give it a try.

 

[thescreensavers]

wow for 99 bucks to hot lap a few cars is damn worth it.