M Specialist Training at BMW Performance Center. First F10 M5 Hotlaps (Video)

[PatrickC23]

Originally Posted by Jason

Here's something I posted yesterday in response to another member's inquiry regarding Performance Center Delivery.

Here's the official info on BMW Performance Center Deliver (be sure to read the FAQ).

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...ryProgram.aspx

In BMW's words:



And here's some nice Performance Center Delivery journals from our members:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=559225
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=558653
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=543511
http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=487024

That would be me - Im sold on this. Much easier than ED I think to coordinate. Plus no wait after initially meeting my car. The 7% on ED is enticing, but hopefully Ill get a good deal and do it this way with a nice vaca in SC somewhere.

[BMW1986]

Originally Posted by danielt

great post!
you say the M3 was by far the best car to drive, and the M1 was the most enjoyable car to drive.
in comparison, where does that leave the M5 you had a ride in?

The New M5 is more refined then the previous car. It's more aggressive and more composed around corners and fastest out of the gate. The car is firmly planted on all 4 corners! The DCT is night and day compared to the SMG in the E60. It is something that is not to be messed with!

Originally Posted by 09BlkSapphire

Sure it might be more playful on a track but most M5 owners don't ever sniff a track with their cars and the F10 M5 is undisputedly the better overall package now in terms of serving the dual roles of being a great comfortable daily driver and a potential track car.

Most M5 drivers do not track their car for sure. However, it is more suited in terms of luxury and style then the E60. The new F10 is more aggressive for the streets and the back end sticks out much better then the E60. Turn off the DSC and she's the baddest thing you will ever face!

Originally Posted by shanecarmaster1

Sorry for the people who love/own the F10 M5, but the old one seemed to be tons more playful and raw. The new one looks rather numming and boring.

The new car is different then the old one for sure. Some people may like the idea of the "V-10". However, the new M5 get's 30% better fuel efficiency, has a less complex Drivelogic setup, and is more firmly planted.

Originally Posted by Bols

Congrats M consultant! Dream title/job for sure!

That clip of the F10 M5 makes me so unpatient for tomorrow! I got a ring-taxi ride planned and can't wait to finally feel the difference between e60 M5 and e70 x5M with this car!

The X5M was amazing and I personally liked it more then the X6!

Originally Posted by JonNYC

Great video and report. One thing worth mentioning though, IMHO. Having recently done performance center delivery (after a Euro delivery) of an M3 Cabrio, I think it's important to point out to those who say that "now I want to do performance center delivery!" that the standard performance center delivery is -not- the same as what you're reporting/showing.

It's very well worth it (although, again IMHO, nowhere even approaching the fun of Euro delivery (and I did mine in winter-- not always ideal)-- but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience) and it's a great intro to your car, but the actual track time is quite limited compared to my read of what's described in the OP here.

Not that I would think it reasonable to expect M-specialist training to not be much more extensive than a regular delivery at performance center-- just don't want folks to expect far more than they get..

Again, should you do PCD? YES! But if I had it to do all over again, I'd do regular delivery and then take a full day M-school at performance center to get some real time behind the wheel. YMMV!

I will agree the video's were on the private test track. The PCD is more focused on driver orientation with the vehicle under a more closely watched area. If you want to experience the M5 head on...head over to M School!

[GOLFFRR]

Just to give you an idea guys how fast this car is going when Ryan and I were there we were on the same track and we were in the x5M and x6M and the fastest we could get those cars up to was 140 145 so this car is getting to 160 which is insane!

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by BMW1986

Greetings to the M Community!!!

This past Monday and Tuesday, I went down to the Performance Center for the first time. I have been working for BMW for 9 years and I can certainly say it was worth the wait.

Very nice, I watched Episode 7 of the TopGear Season 18 last night when Ritchard H. took the new ///M5 for a spin around the TopGear Track ... were he said "This car is the best in the world right now" or words to that effect.

Thanks for sharing ...

[mblaucoupe135]

What color blue is that M5, cause it's gorgeous?

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by mblaucoupe135

What color blue is that M5, cause it's gorgeous?

Monte Carlo Blue, it's a standard option on the M5 (and X5 M for that matter). Personally I wish that Tanzanite Blue were available for it (it's only available on the 6 Series) because I think Monte Carlo is a bit loud for a car that large and luxurious (would be great on an M3 though!), whereas Tanzanite is a darker, deeper blue in darker lighting so it's more refined and stately, but it has this gorgeous bright undertone in direct light -- perfect match for the refined/beast dichotomy of the M5 IMHO: http://www.6post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495046.

[PatrickC23]

I didnt realize the e60 M5 was SMG - was it the same as the SMG II in the e46?

I had thought DCT was going in the e60 and e 90/92.

[BMW1986]

Originally Posted by Patsc23

I didnt realize the e60 M5 was SMG - was it the same as the SMG II in the e46?

I had thought DCT was going in the e60 and e 90/92.

It was SMG III....SMG I was on the E46 M3, SMG II was on the E46 328/330/Z4 and SMG III was on the E60 M5.

Originally Posted by jphughan

Monte Carlo Blue, it's a standard option on the M5 (and X5 M for that matter). Personally I wish that Tanzanite Blue were available for it (it's only available on the 6 Series) because I think Monte Carlo is a bit loud for a car that large and luxurious (would be great on an M3 though!), whereas Tanzanite is a darker, deeper blue in darker lighting so it's more refined and stately, but it has this gorgeous bright undertone in direct light -- perfect match for the refined/beast dichotomy of the M5 IMHO: http://www.6post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495046.

Monte Carlo Blue looks stunning on the car. At the end of the day an M car is suppose to stand out from the crowd.

Originally Posted by Alter Peter

Very nice, I watched Episode 7 of the TopGear Season 18 last night when Ritchard H. took the new ///M5 for a spin around the TopGear Track ... were he said "This car is the best in the world right now" or words to that effect.

Thanks for sharing ...

The most impressive part of the video was the E60 vs the F10 from a dead stop!

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

Just to give you an idea guys how fast this car is going when Ryan and I were there we were on the same track and we were in the x5M and x6M and the fastest we could get those cars up to was 140 145 so this car is getting to 160 which is insane!

I have video of that as well! LOL

[PatrickC23]

Originally Posted by BMW1986

It was SMG III....SMG I was on the E46 M3, SMG II was on the E46 328/330/Z4 and SMG III was on the E60 M5.

My E46 M3 was SMG II

[Bols]

Originally Posted by BMW1986

The X5M was amazing and I personally liked it more then the X6!

Ring-Taxi was Awesome! Cannot believe what a beastly sophisticated machine this is No one came even close to following us! Didn't take inboard video since I wanted to live every moment as good as possible sitting in front so maybe when I reride it someday sitting in the back We brought up the X5M and it turns out our driver was actually one of the minds behind/creators of the X5M, calling it "his baby". After this he did his best to show us the differences seeing we luckily had a very sunny day

Only downside: It's over way too soon! Girl at the pavillion said "see ya in 10". I doubt we made 9 lol

[AlpWhite11]

Originally Posted by Bols

Ring-Taxi was Awesome! Cannot believe what a beastly sophisticated machine this is No one came even close to following us! Didn't take inboard video since I wanted to live every moment as good as possible sitting in front so maybe when I reride it someday sitting in the back We brought up the X5M and it turns out our driver was actually one of the minds behind/creators of the X5M, calling it "his baby". After this he did his best to show us the differences seeing we luckily had a very sunny day

Only downside: It's over way too soon! Girl at the pavillion said "see ya in 10". I doubt we made 9 lol

Color me jealous!!

[Bols]

Originally Posted by 09BlkSapphire

Color me jealous!!

Hehe, I tried my best

If you ever happen to be in the neighbourhood of the ring but have not been able to secure a ticket beforehand, don't sweat it. They calculate 15 minutes per 8-9ish minute ride. We were there at 11:45 am and they were so ahead of schedule that they were able to squeeze in some people that bought their ticket there at the pavilion just minutes before leaving for the ride. Bunch of cool people running it

[BMW1986]

The Ring seems awesome! I am glad you had a blast!

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Patsc23

That would be me - Im sold on this. Much easier than ED I think to coordinate. Plus no wait after initially meeting my car. The 7% on ED is enticing, but hopefully Ill get a good deal and do it this way with a nice vaca in SC somewhere.

Do Euro delivery and then PCD. You can do both of course.

ED is simply an amazing experience. I wanted my car to badly to wait to do PCD after my Euro delivery but that's because I went to BMW CCA Oktoberfest.

I agree that the 6 weeks shipping was a bit of a bummer but I had 6 weeks to think about how much fun I had at the welt, the autobahn, touring Europe, the culture etc.

I am sure that PCD is fun but it can't touch ED, it's a great option though if you can't take a week to go to europe.

[mblaucoupe135]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Monte Carlo Blue, it's a standard option on the M5 (and X5 M for that matter). Personally I wish that Tanzanite Blue were available for it (it's only available on the 6 Series) because I think Monte Carlo is a bit loud for a car that large and luxurious (would be great on an M3 though!), whereas Tanzanite is a darker, deeper blue in darker lighting so it's more refined and stately, but it has this gorgeous bright undertone in direct light -- perfect match for the refined/beast dichotomy of the M5 IMHO: [intlink]495046;Geneva 2011: F12 6-series Individual (650i) Debut[/intlink].

Thanks for the info. I like just about any blue, but am partial to the brighter blues like Monte Carlo.

[JonNYC]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Do Euro delivery and then PCD. You can do both of course. ...

I am sure that PCD is fun but it can't touch ED, it's a great option though if you can't take a week to go to europe.

Definitely. I did Euro Delivery followed by PCD this year and there's simply no comparison-- driving your new M3 (or M5 or M6 as applicable) on the roads it was "meant to drive on"-- and at the speeds-- is a once in a lifetime.

Now, of course, a very good % of people simply won't be able to do Euro Delivery-- that's just a fact of life-- but for those who can swing it, it blows PCD away, one really has nothing to do with the other. Move mountains, blow through savings (and frequent flier miles)-- do what you have to-- DO Euro Delivery if you can.

And, Euro Delivery is very easy to arrange and enjoy-- I was a bit intimidated by the process, but it was a total piece of cake. Not to mention a very nice savings on a loaded M3 Cabrio (although that last reason is definitely -not- a primary reason to do it-- too many trade-offs (big wait, angst during shipment, etc.)

But your fist advice is even better; do both!

[PJFLA]

Performance Center delivery looks like a blast. Im in!

[BMW1986]

PCD for me is the way to go if you do not want a ED!

[richard in NC]

What the OP did is closer to the 1 day M School. It samples the ///M models in track oriented exercises. Whereas the Performance Center Delivery for most models is breaking, cornering, & skid pad exercises, followed by a good bit of time on an autocross course with a car just like you purchased. They then spend time with a factory tour, and the delivery of your car with a lot of time learning it. Both get you rides with the instructors in the E60 hot laps like above. The big straight course is reserved for the factory testing (but "special guests" can get rides apparently).

The e60 M5 and e62/e63 M6 owners got a full day on track, whether or not a PCD, almost an M School. I assume the F10 will be the same.

[richard in NC]

If you don't get a PCD, you can get a BMW 101 experience. It mimics the PCD, including the hotel stay and all but you just don't pick up your car there. Charlotte is close enough, I've gotten the BMW 101 thrown in with a purchase off the dealer's lot. Did that with a Z4 and will soon do it with the 335is. But I want to wait for the fleet of F10 M5s to arrive

[BMW1986]

From what I was told; the F10/F12 M5/M6 cars will arrive mid/end of May. This is logical for after the Lap of America race.

[JonNYC]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

What the OP did is closer to the 1 day M School. It samples the ///M models in track oriented exercises. Whereas the Performance Center Delivery for most models is breaking, cornering, & skid pad exercises, followed by a good bit of time on an autocross course with a car just like you purchased. They then spend time with a factory tour, and the delivery of your car with a lot of time learning it.

Exactly-- big difference. Important to know what to expect if going down there for PCD.

I'm definitely planning on going back for a 1 or 2 day M-school very soon.