[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Ultimate Driving Experience events launch nationwide March 21

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BMW’s Ultimate Driving Experience, Offering Dynamic Behind-the-Wheel Driving Programs with over 90 BMW Vehicles, Launches March 21 in Atlanta, GA.

The nationwide tour through 10 events in nine markets runs from March through November, 2015 and will feature BMW’s Teen Driving School at no cost.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 16, 2015… BMW is launching the Ultimate Driving Experience, a nationwide tour that will offer dynamic behind-the-wheel driving programs through 10 events in nine markets for a total of 90 event days. A popular component of The Ultimate Driving Experience will be the Teen Driving School, which is an extension of the BMW Teen Driving School curriculum taught at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC. The first Ultimate Driving Experience kicks-off March 21- 29 in Atlanta, GA at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The tour will consist of 10-nine day events across the U.S. in the following markets; New Jersey at MetLife Stadium (April 11-19); Miami, FL at Hialeah Park (May 9-17); Washington, DC at FedExField (June 6-14); Seattle, WA at Emerald Downs (July 25 – August 2); Los Angeles, CA at Santa Anita Racecourse (August 15-23); Phoenix, AZ at Phoenix Raceway (September 12-20); Dallas, TX at Lone Star Park (October 3-11); Chicago, IL at Arlington Racecourse (October 24-November 1); New York at Citi Field (November 14-22). All programs, with the exception of the Teen Driving School, are for those 21 years of age and over with a valid driver’s license.

Schedule summary:

Atlanta, GA - March 21-29
East Rutherford, NJ - April 11-19
Miami, FL - May 9-17
Washington, D.C. - June 6-14
Seattle, WA - July 25 - August 2
Los Angeles, CA - August 15-23
Phoenix, AZ - September 12-20
Dallas, TX - October 3-11
Chicago, IL - October 24 - November 1
Flushing, NY - November 14-22

The Teen Driving School is a fully interactive, 2-hour teen driving course featuring the BMW X1 and 228i that will be offered at no cost. The Teen Driving School will provide an introduction to driving theory and improving driving skills through classroom instruction, driver awareness activities and hands-on driving exercises. A main focus during the Teen Driving School will be creating awareness about the consequences of distracted driving with special emphasis on texting while driving and how it affects not only teens – but everyone who drives a vehicle. Eligible drivers under the age of 21 with a valid learner's permit or driver’s license can register for the school.

“We are excited to once again be providing BMW fans and driving enthusiasts across the country the opportunity to get behind the wheel, “said Kevin Philips, Head of Retail and Experiential Marketing, BMW of North America. “The free, 2-hour Teen Driving School program is a key element of the Experience, allowing new and inexperienced drivers to learn invaluable tools relating to safe driving and the dangers of distracted driving.”

The Ultimate Driving Experience will feature over 90 BMW vehicles, from BMW i to BMW M. Attendees will have access to a truly immersive experience including:

• Dynamic Drive Experiences are professionally guided demonstrations of the BMW 535i Sedan and X5 xDrive50i that include Hill Descent Control, which is a BMW electronic function that allows for safe descent and proper vehicle balance on uneven surfaces, and Skid Pad, showcasing vehicle control on wet surfaces;
• Street Drives that allow for 20-minute self-guided test drives per vehicle of a range of BMW vehicles including the BMW 2 Series, 4 Series, 6 Series, X Models and the all-electric BMW i3;
• Autocross, a 2-hour challenging, closed-course driving program featuring the BMW 3 Series, 4 Series and X4, that pairs attendees with BMW’s Professional Driving Instructors for a dynamic experience that highlights advanced driving theories, defensive driving techniques and culminates in a pulse-pounding laps around the track;
• Car Control Clinic, a full-day driving school that allows drivers to get behind the wheel of the powerful M4, M3 and M235i for an adrenaline-filled day of driving with individual instruction from BMW-certified Professional Drivers. Drivers will develop a sharper understanding of BMW’s responsive handling and performance while learning advanced driving theory. The Car Control Clinic is offered for a fee of $750.
• Additionally, The Ultimate Driving Experience will feature a main pavilion with interactive displays.

For more information and to register for The BMW Ultimate Driving Experience visit: http://www.bmwusa.com/ude or call 800-558-4BMW (4269). Location and dates subject to change.

[Golden Arrow]

When was this announced? There's already a wait list for all of the autocross events with the 3/4er in Atlanta on the first day.

EDIT: oops, I see the press release was issued 16 March. I guess there's a lot of interest!

[hoyasaxa]

I can only see GA and NJ on the registration page

Edit: I guess registration for the others isn't open yet but you can request a notification when it opens.

[rymiller73]

Originally Posted by hoyasaxa

I can only see GA and NJ on the registration page

Edit: I guess registration for the others isn't open yet but you can request a notification when it opens.

Ditto, +1

[Doctor///M]

Dang, Houston didn't make the list. :

[03BeastCharmer]

Originally Posted by Doctor///M

Dang, Houston didn't make the list. :

Houston already had an event late last year.

[EzequielR]

Sounds like fun!

[E90M3velocity]

Hopefully they will squeeze a san francisco event for this year like what they did last year.

[aajami]

That's got to be the world's worst Photoshop.

[joeyb26]

registered for NJ for April 14th at 8:30am for the 3/4 series!

[Wilsel]

I got something in the mail 2 weeks ago, and was able to make my reservation. Hopefully it's more than a couple of autocross laps like Mazda's event was. I only had the option of 4 series or X4. Would have preferred the 2 series.

[Cyberdemon]

Has anybody received the UDE credit/incentive code without actually showing up? Looking to pull ahead the lease soon but if I can avoid the hike to jersey for a waitlisted autoX spot in an X4 (why would I want to autoX an X4?) that would be wonderful.

Or I'll paypal someone in Jersey $20 to show up and sign in. ;-)

[YMB-M3-J2]

It has all the dates for the year if you click "all dates"but you can't register for them but you can sign up for email notification when registration opens.

[Alpine F31]

I cant register for the LA event yet. I'm on the "notify" list.

[Adamr916]

Too bad they only have the ATL and the New Jersey ones up so far.

[Murph335]

M3 m4 are only in the car control clinic. Lane change at speed 60mph, braking, heel toe just parking lot stuff? Bondurant school does this in vettes all the time here in phx.

Can i skip all that and pay $750 to drift the m on video and hit 1 of 3 road course there?

Cadillac V lab was all track time and free!

[Takumi587]

Just attended the UDE VIP event last night and it was awesome! You get to drive all the ///M Models around town.

Me and my buddy test drove the M6 GC, X5M, M3, M4 and M4 Convertible. Then we got to do 3 autocross laps with an M4 Coupe.

If you have time then sign up and go!

Forgot to mention they had Chef Jet Tila as our cook for the night and that was just awesome as well.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Takumi587

Just attended the UDE VIP event last night and it was awesome! You get to drive all the ///M Models around town.

Me and my buddy test drove the M6 GC, X5M, M3, M4 and M4 Convertible. Then we got to do 3 autocross laps with an M4 Coupe.

If you have time then sign up and go!

Forgot to mention they had Chef Jet Tila as our cook for the night and that was just awesome as well.

How do you get invited to that event?

[SSM5]

I was there as well. I lapped the M3. The B6 was amazing with X drive and 600Hp. Really liked the seats in the X5M. Invite was by email.

[mullini]

I went Saturday the 22nd (just regular UDE, not VIP). I drove X4 35 and my partner was in the other group (328D and 428). I was 4th in our group with a time of 40 sec. Winning time was flat 39 sec. Despite the X4's more powerful engine, the winning times in the 428 group were all in 38 range, as I recall. Either we were crappier drivers or size and agility count for a lot .

Man, sitting in the back seat while the other drivers go around the course made me seriously car sick, especially after I foolishly chugged half a diet coke between test rounds. I almost passed on the track run but started to feel better.

There were a lot of squealing brakes from the teen course They were mainly in X1's (my BMW, by the way).

Test drove 228 convertible, very fun, but then the 640 convertible - oh man. That's a big sweet beast. Guy ahead of me on street drive was in 650 convertible. He let it roar down Huntington Drive. He was lucky no cop was close by!

Went last year and I don't remember the driving instructors pushing the $1000 discount as hard as they did this year. Had a feeling - just a feeling, nothing to back it up - that they're concerned if more sales don't come out of UDE, it might be discontinued. One guy said (paraphrasing) - "go to BMW and buy a car. I don't want a real job."

Unfortunately our discounts will go unused. Not in market again until January 2018. By the way the discount code came by email already, but the small print says "valid on select 2014 or 2015 models." I assume that's just outdated language.

i8 was in waiting area. Sexy car but I could not live with it, just due to the difficulty getting in and out (oh and also due to the fact I'm not spending 100K on a car). I thought a Lexus ES I drove recently where the seat moves automatically when you open the door to exit, to make it easier to get out. The i8 seat should raise up and tilt to the street. Half kidding.

[C5driver]

We were at the CCC on Thursday with the M235, M3, and M4. Driving these cars at 9/10ths was worth the price of admission.