BMW Experience Ride And Drive Training: X6, 1 Series and M3

Ty Vil · 05-14-2008, 02:19 AM

A few weeks ago I lucky enough to be able to attend BMW's Ride and Drive training for the 3 new models they're launching this year (X6, M3, 1 Series) as well as Diesel Technology.

BMW really puts on a remarkable training seminar lasting all day. When we arrived in the morning at the main tent we were divided into 16 groups; fed breakfast and sent on our way.

There were 8 distinct 45 minute modules through out the day; most of which consisted of a driving portion and a classroom/learning portion. The classroom portions were quick relevant to the information to what we were to experience driving and just what was needed.

The driving portions of each module were of course more fun and what you want to hear about. Each driving portion was an auto cross style setup to demonstrate the characteristics of the car we were driving. We also in each driving portion were able to drive the new BMW as well as the competition in each category. Various auto-x courses were setup depending on the car and what was being demonstrated; the diesel course had long straight aways to demonstrate acceleration; the X6 course had a water skid pad to demonstrate stability; and the M3 and 1 series courses were set up to demonstrate agility and handling.

BMW obviously put much time, money and effort into running this training and to say the least I was very impressed! I can't wait until the next Ride and Drive training. I've included the pictures here I took throughout the day showing the various modules and some of the sights I was fortunate enough to be see.

Pics:

http://www.pacifier.com/~quest/bmwexperience/

Oregon · 05-14-2008, 02:32 AM

Hey Ty,

Thank you for the report. About 10 days ago, speaking with some of the guys from my dealer, they had just returned from the event and were still quite 'fired-up' with their experience, particularly impressed were they with the X6 and M3. Pertinent to this forum, they all raved about BMW's performance exhaust for the 1. Your photos bring connection to both their account and your's.

Thanks.

Ty Vil · 05-14-2008, 02:39 AM

The sedona red 135i on the auto-x had the performance exhaust; it definitely sounded much better!

Bizall · 05-14-2008, 04:06 AM

Very nice/lucky guy. Out of curiousity, how did you feel about the X6?

professor · 05-14-2008, 04:13 AM

yes, i'd be keen on your impressions of the x6 as well. i've heard some really extreme opinions on it so far.

plien69 · 05-14-2008, 09:26 AM

So, from your pics, I see that BMW chose as competition for...
E90 M3: Lexus IS-F?
E92 M3: S5
135i (+Performance): Subaru WRX, G37
128i: C300, IS250
128 vert: Eos, A4
X6: Cayenne, FX45

Any others? Can you offer impressions of each respective BMW vs. the competition? Thanks!

ArBrnSnpr · 05-14-2008, 10:42 AM

Nice pics, the new M3 looks great next to the A5, (or was that an S5?)

Stew · 05-14-2008, 10:54 AM

So I was browsing your pictures and when I got to the peacocks I thought, "hey, I bet thats in Arcadia", then when I saw the tent it looked like Santa Anita race track/mall...heh pretty cool! How does one get invited to an event like this? Buy a lot of BMWs?

S54dan · 05-14-2008, 11:02 AM

I went about a month ago, and it was a great experience! Both the training and the driving were excellent.

PrimoM3 · 05-14-2008, 11:31 AM

Ty- looking through your pictures, I noticed that the rear shot of the 1 in Tii livery does not show up. The picture is titled "img_1046.jpg" and I'd love to see it if possible.

Thanks and best,

aesthetect · 05-14-2008, 05:32 PM

that really sounds like a treat. what was the diesel model you got to test? any opinions?

NJKSC27 · 05-14-2008, 05:38 PM

wow you lucky bastard! Do i see an S5? Lex IS-F?
that sedona looks geat

NJKSC27 · 05-14-2008, 05:43 PM

i also see a NON sport G37. interesting they would even compare a non sport

Space gray · 05-14-2008, 08:15 PM

Did you drive the 335d?

defcon1racing · 05-14-2008, 08:30 PM

I am a automotive training consultant. Many of my friends (fellow trainers) staffed both the West Coast training and the East Coast (@ the Performance Driving Center). Based on Ty's location and Dan's location, I'd say they attended each respectively.

I've heard very good things about the 1 Series from my friends, many of whom are professional drivers. I tried to get myself on the event staff as my next car will most likely be a 135 or a M3, but was unsuccessful.

Both events had a 135 with several BMW Perfromance parts. I'm glad to hear the positive comments about the event and I will send a link to this thread to the trainers and facilitators that I know who were on staff.

As a side note, all manufacturers do some type of product training. There are many different training philosophies out there and different products require different training approaches. The "ride and drive" type training that BMW did for these vehicles is certainly one of the more fun types of product training.

I am currently working with a couple of trainers who were on the BMW program, so if you have any specific questions, I can try to ask them; just post them here.

Best Regards,

Ty Vil · 05-16-2008, 01:11 AM

Hey everyone; I haven't forgot about this thread. I've just been working 12 hour days but I'll reply to individual questions VERY soon!

Thanks for your patience.

05-14-2008, 02:19 AM	#1
Ty Vil Captain 31 Rep 913 Posts Drives: ///M4 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ (by way of Portland, OR) iTrader: (0)	BMW Experience Ride And Drive Training: X6, 1 Series and M3 A few weeks ago I lucky enough to be able to attend BMW's Ride and Drive training for the 3 new models they're launching this year (X6, M3, 1 Series) as well as Diesel Technology. BMW really puts on a remarkable training seminar lasting all day. When we arrived in the morning at the main tent we were divided into 16 groups; fed breakfast and sent on our way. There were 8 distinct 45 minute modules through out the day; most of which consisted of a driving portion and a classroom/learning portion. The classroom portions were quick relevant to the information to what we were to experience driving and just what was needed. The driving portions of each module were of course more fun and what you want to hear about. Each driving portion was an auto cross style setup to demonstrate the characteristics of the car we were driving. We also in each driving portion were able to drive the new BMW as well as the competition in each category. Various auto-x courses were setup depending on the car and what was being demonstrated; the diesel course had long straight aways to demonstrate acceleration; the X6 course had a water skid pad to demonstrate stability; and the M3 and 1 series courses were set up to demonstrate agility and handling. BMW obviously put much time, money and effort into running this training and to say the least I was very impressed! I can't wait until the next Ride and Drive training. I've included the pictures here I took throughout the day showing the various modules and some of the sights I was fortunate enough to be see. Pics: http://www.pacifier.com/~quest/bmwexperience/
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05-14-2008, 02:32 AM	#2
Oregon NRA Life Member, BMW CCA 30 year member 181 Rep 2,614 Posts Drives: 04' M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oregon iTrader: (1) Garage List 1971 2002 [0.00] 2004 M3 [0.00] 2008 135i [0.00]	Hey Ty, Thank you for the report. About 10 days ago, speaking with some of the guys from my dealer, they had just returned from the event and were still quite 'fired-up' with their experience, particularly impressed were they with the X6 and M3. Pertinent to this forum, they all raved about BMW's performance exhaust for the 1. Your photos bring connection to both their account and your's. Thanks. __________________ Resigned 1ADDICTS Moderator “To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them.” – George Mason
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05-14-2008, 02:39 AM	#3
Ty Vil Captain 31 Rep 913 Posts Drives: ///M4 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ (by way of Portland, OR) iTrader: (0)	The sedona red 135i on the auto-x had the performance exhaust; it definitely sounded much better!
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05-14-2008, 04:06 AM	#4
Bizall Captain 123 Rep 905 Posts Drives: 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northern Virginia iTrader: (0)	Very nice/lucky guy. Out of curiousity, how did you feel about the X6? __________________ 2018 BMW M3 - 12.1 @ 121mph 2014 BMW 335i M-Sport (Sold) 12.4 @ 113mph 2008 BMW 135i (Sold) 12.8 @ 106mph
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05-14-2008, 04:13 AM	#5
professor Major 46 Rep 1,473 Posts Drives: Z4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	yes, i'd be keen on your impressions of the x6 as well. i've heard some really extreme opinions on it so far.
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05-14-2008, 09:26 AM	#6
plien69 Captain 22 Rep 841 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	So, from your pics, I see that BMW chose as competition for... E90 M3: Lexus IS-F? E92 M3: S5 135i (+Performance): Subaru WRX, G37 128i: C300, IS250 128 vert: Eos, A4 X6: Cayenne, FX45 Any others? Can you offer impressions of each respective BMW vs. the competition? Thanks!
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05-14-2008, 10:42 AM	#7
ArBrnSnpr Private 0 Rep 72 Posts Drives: Join Date: May 2008 iTrader: (0)	Nice pics, the new M3 looks great next to the A5, (or was that an S5?)
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05-14-2008, 10:54 AM	#8
Stew Second Lieutenant 3 Rep 207 Posts Drives: Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0)	So I was browsing your pictures and when I got to the peacocks I thought, "hey, I bet thats in Arcadia", then when I saw the tent it looked like Santa Anita race track/mall...heh pretty cool! How does one get invited to an event like this? Buy a lot of BMWs?
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05-14-2008, 11:02 AM	#9
S54dan I no longer work for United BMW! 309 Rep 3,330 Posts Drives: E46 M3, E46 330i ZHP, E36 325i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (36) Garage List 1994 BMW 325i [8.50] 2005 M3 [9.66] 2005 325i [8.00] 2003 330i ZHP [9.00]	I went about a month ago, and it was a great experience! Both the training and the driving were excellent. __________________ BMW CCA, PCA, & CHIN Motorsports Instructor.
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05-14-2008, 11:31 AM	#10
PrimoM3 Chemofski 54 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: '13 X5M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Coast, U.S. iTrader: (0)	Ty- looking through your pictures, I noticed that the rear shot of the 1 in Tii livery does not show up. The picture is titled "img_1046.jpg" and I'd love to see it if possible. Thanks and best, __________________ '13 Individual Frozen Brilliant White ///M3 Coupe Ordered 2/15/12 \| Euro Delivery on 9/21/12 \| U.S. Redelivery on 12/6/12 \| Motor Dead on 7/15/13 '13 Space Gray/Mugello Red X5///M Pavement Punisher \| Snow Muncher \| Family and Board Hauler \| Roadtripper
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05-14-2008, 05:32 PM	#11
aesthetect form follows function 38 Rep 838 Posts Drives: GC impreza Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: austin tx iTrader: (0)	that really sounds like a treat. what was the diesel model you got to test? any opinions?
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05-14-2008, 05:38 PM	#12
NJKSC27 automobile aficionado 111 Rep 1,021 Posts Drives: Join Date: Sep 2007 iTrader: (0)	wow you lucky bastard! Do i see an S5? Lex IS-F? that sedona looks geat
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05-14-2008, 05:43 PM	#13
NJKSC27 automobile aficionado 111 Rep 1,021 Posts Drives: Join Date: Sep 2007 iTrader: (0)	i also see a NON sport G37. interesting they would even compare a non sport
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05-14-2008, 08:15 PM	#14
Space gray First Lieutenant 247 Rep 337 Posts Drives: 2022 iX 50 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 BMW iX50 [0.00] 2017 BMW M3 [0.00]	Did you drive the 335d?
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05-14-2008, 08:30 PM	#15
defcon1racing grebo guru 3 Rep 64 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	I am a automotive training consultant. Many of my friends (fellow trainers) staffed both the West Coast training and the East Coast (@ the Performance Driving Center). Based on Ty's location and Dan's location, I'd say they attended each respectively. I've heard very good things about the 1 Series from my friends, many of whom are professional drivers. I tried to get myself on the event staff as my next car will most likely be a 135 or a M3, but was unsuccessful. Both events had a 135 with several BMW Perfromance parts. I'm glad to hear the positive comments about the event and I will send a link to this thread to the trainers and facilitators that I know who were on staff. As a side note, all manufacturers do some type of product training. There are many different training philosophies out there and different products require different training approaches. The "ride and drive" type training that BMW did for these vehicles is certainly one of the more fun types of product training. I am currently working with a couple of trainers who were on the BMW program, so if you have any specific questions, I can try to ask them; just post them here. Best Regards, __________________ Shane \| def.con.one Racing
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05-16-2008, 01:11 AM	#16
Ty Vil Captain 31 Rep 913 Posts Drives: ///M4 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ (by way of Portland, OR) iTrader: (0)	Hey everyone; I haven't forgot about this thread. I've just been working 12 hour days but I'll reply to individual questions VERY soon! Thanks for your patience.
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