2020 BMW Ultimate Driving Experience

[zx10guy]

I got an email from BMW about the UDE for this year. Already signed up.

At least for the DC area, it's not watered down as it was last year. They have the teenage driving and M classes again. Although the M class seems to be watered down from the M Car Control Clinic I took and the price reflects this as it's $250 this year versus $750. It also seems it's only for a couple of hours versus all day for the M Car Control Clinic.

http://ude.bmwusa.com

[DanG]

The M Control Clinic is being done with XMs. What a waste. SUVs are not my main interest in an M automobile and surely don’t handle as well as M cars.

[psuibmw]

Do you get a $1000 voucher when you attend this event like every year?

[dpod25]

Looks like coronavirus is impacting UDE this year...I had registered for the DC event in April, and just got an email that it is being postponed

After careful consideration, BMW of North America has decided to postpone the following 2020 Ultimate Driving Experience events due to the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus situation:

- April 4th – April 10th, Washington, D.C.

[zx10guy]

Same here. Got the same email. Went back online and was able to put my info in to get notification on when they figure out the dates of the reschedule.

Side topic. I checked with California Superbike School about the track event in May at VIR. Was told it's still a go. It'll be my first time on the new 2020 S1000RR. From CSS' Facebook page, the student bikes are all M package equipped. Should be interesting.

[fastboatster]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Same here. Got the same email. Went back online and was able to put my info in to get notification on when they figure out the dates of the reschedule.

Side topic. I checked with California Superbike School about the track event in May at VIR. Was told it's still a go. It'll be my first time on the new 2020 S1000RR. From CSS' Facebook page, the student bikes are all M package equipped. Should be interesting.

Post some pics! A few years ago, I learned that CSS used s1000rrs for the instruction which surprised me because I thought that like many liter bikes, s1000rr is a firebreathing monster and may not be good for anyone but the experts on the track

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by fastboatster

Post some pics! A few years ago, I learned that CSS used s1000rrs for the instruction which surprised me because I thought that like many liter bikes, s1000rr is a firebreathing monster and may not be good for anyone but the experts on the track

Here is a pic of me at VIR two or three years ago:



I thought the same thing as you because I have been going to CSS for years when they were running ZX-6Rs. After a few sessions out, I got comfortable with the RR and have never had an incident. Granted I ran in Rain mode up till about 3 or 4 years ago. Now after about 1 or 2 sessions on track, I jump into Sport mode.

The RR has impressed me so much I'm seriously contemplating trading in my 2009 Ducati 848 with a full Ohlins suspension to get into an RR. For some reason, I just can't get myself to let go of my 2004 ZX-10R. Keith Code has said on a few occasions that the number of crashes has actually dropped since moving over to the RRs.

[Marmugmotleocay]

Is any member going to the Autocross event in Washington DC on Aug 29th ? My Boss and I are registered for the 3:30 event. We went last year in New York. It was crazy cold but a lot of fun.

[patnaik]

I thought about it, but being in a high-risk group, I will give it a miss. It was a blast last year, though.

[M8V8]

Originally Posted by patnaik

I thought about it, but being in a high-risk group, I will give it a miss. It was a blast last year, though.

Same here, I am not in the high-risk group but still don't want to risk it. I have done these events a few times in the past and they are a lot of fun.

[pz619]

As much as I want to, going to sit out this year. Not too keen on the idea of random people being in the same car as me, but I'm far less keen on having to drive that FWD M235i. Had one as a loaner and that's plenty enough for me to last a lifetime.

Previous year was M340i and that was a lot of fun.

[Germanauto]

Loved this event last year. After getting bored by the Z4 I just reemed around an M2 the rest of the evening and had the time of my life.

And LOL at the 235 GC this year. Hard pass.

[happyjack]

Originally Posted by Marmugmotleocay

Is any member going to the Autocross event in Washington DC on Aug 29th ? My Boss and I are registered for the 3:30 event. We went last year in New York. It was crazy cold but a lot of fun.

i had to rearrange my schedule but i'm now going on sunday (8/30) morning.

looks like we'll get 2 different drives on autocross? the new M235 GC and the M340? hoping it's not just the FWD car...

[zx10guy]

I'm Friday morning at 10AM. And still going despite being in the high risk group.

[c0bra]

I'm in for this weekend at MetLife (NJ)! Fingers crossed the M340 option is not a typo.

[c0bra]

Confirming you do get 2 drives, one in the 235xi and one in the 340i. I waitlisted for a second session right after I finished the first and got to drive a different track/course. Had a great time on wet pavement! Only negative was having to keep DSC enabled.

[happyjack]

Originally Posted by c0bra

Confirming you do get 2 drives, one in the 235xi and one in the 340i. I waitlisted for a second session right after I finished the first and got to drive a different track/course. Had a great time on wet pavement! Only negative was having to keep DSC enabled.

nice!

so how was the M235?

i've done a regular road test drive in an M340 and though it was pretty sweet. looking forward to autocrossing it.

[c0bra]

Originally Posted by happyjack

nice!

so how was the M235?

i've done a regular road test drive in an M340 and though it was pretty sweet. looking forward to autocrossing it.

Loads of understeer in the M235 with it's front wheel bias, didn't quite feel like a proper BMW. It was still quick around the track, but the M340 was much more fun to drive.

[xlover]

The ultimate drive event is in Boston (well Foxboro) this weekend, curious if anyone is going to see if they bring this M3 along

[FLYIN']

Originally Posted by xlover

The ultimate drive event is in Boston (well Foxboro) this weekend, curious if anyone is going to see if they bring this M3 along

I'm going tomorrow so I'll let you know

[FLYIN']

Originally Posted by FLYIN'

I'm going tomorrow so I'll let you know

M340i and M235xi for the UDE in Foxboro. They are not timing the courses so that's very lame. The M3 or M4 is not here so another bummer.

They must have been dinged for lack of social distancing so instead of packing 3 people in the car you only go solo ( or another member of your household or group). BMW then sent out an e-mail this morning saying you may not get to drive even if you have a reservation due to social distancing.

Then to top it off if you drive the car hard they toss you off the track. I took the course in my second lap at a pretty hard pace, knocked two cones in a corner but they deemed that I was not listening to the radio to slow down enough and said I was done. With no instruction inside the car they want you to round like you are driving Miss Daisy. After been to a lot of these events I would say this was the most lame I have ever experienced. I did notice that most of the instructors are fill in instructors that are not regularly employed at any of the Performance Centers.

[JTO24]

Originally Posted by FLYIN'

M340i and M235xi for the UDE in Foxboro. They are not timing the courses so that's very lame. The M3 or M4 is not here so another bummer.

They must have been dinged for lack of social distancing so instead of packing 3 people in the car you only go solo ( or another member of your household or group). BMW then sent out an e-mail this morning saying you may not get to drive even if you have a reservation due to social distancing.

Then to top it off if you drive the car hard they toss you off the track. I took the course in my second lap at a pretty hard pace, knocked two cones in a corner but they deemed that I was not listening to the radio to slow down enough and said I was done. With no instruction inside the car they want you to round like you are driving Miss Daisy. After been to a lot of these events I would say this was the most lame I have ever experienced. I did notice that most of the instructors are fill in instructors that are not regularly employed at any of the Performance Centers.

Damn, this does not bode well for the upcoming UDE in Philly I signed up for.