UDE (Ultimate Driving Experience) Impressions From FedEx Field 4/9/22

[NightWriter]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

I attended the Ultimate Driving Experience near Washington DC yesterday morning, hosted on one of the parking lots at FedEx Field. To those who haven't attended before, they're a free event that BMW usually rolls around every year, and offers some light duty track exposure with a particular car, as well as a buffet of cars from across their lineup to sample on nearby roads. It's a fun, free experience and certainly recommended.

Last time I attended (three? years ago), the track cars were the new G20 330i and M340i. This year, (not surprisingly,) it was the year of the EVs: Track cars were the i4 M50's, and although a variety of cars were available for the street courses, the new iX 50's were prominently featured. Due to covid protocols, instructors no longer ride along with the drivers, instead watching from the tents and providing live guidance over radio about turning, braking, and handling. It's a short track and they're very perceptive, so it's not all that different than having them onboard. (Also, per covid: A cleaning technician fogs and wipes down the driver's area between every driver change, and there is no longer any timed trials/team competitions for the laps.)

So, quick impressions...

- The i4(M50) launches very hard; that instant EV torque is lustworthy and easy to tap into anytime. It handles fairly well — much better with the 20" performance tires; The track was still damp from overnight rains, and they provided a lot more grip and control than the 19's. They take a fair bite into the range, but if you're stepping up to the M50, you might as well get the performance wheels/tires...
- ... but you still feel its 5000-pound weight when hustling it in tight turns. Again, the car keeps its composure very well, but you have a sense of the mass.
- B mode (regen braking) works well, especially on a track when you're either accelerating or braking. They asked us to keep it engaged to help preserve the batteries, and although it was odd at first, I quickly got used to it. Perhaps coasting on a normal commute would be weirder.
- It's also eerily quiet (save for the silly Hans Zimmer soundtrack). If you want a comfortable commute, this is a good thing! If you'll be nostalgic about timeless motoring, this might not be as good for you.
- I played a little with iDrive 8, both on the i4 and the iX. The screen is gorgeous, the graphics are crisp, and it responds well to user input. However, the digital dash seems to put form over function (though the HUD was a nice and useful complement), and I'm still not convinced that a digital menu system for things like climate control is better than physical buttons, especially when you need to scroll horizontally to see all the options. That's just bad UX design, and I hope they fix it (and/or retain more physical buttons for the non-i cars).
- I then test drove the X3MC — the only M car available — on the short road course nearby, and it felt like I had jumped into an old-fashioned muscle car. The weight penalty felt similar to the i4 — though the X3 was also taller — but the rumbling engine and transmission shifting were like a warm embrace from an old friend.
- Next up was the iX 50. The EV and iDrive interface experience was pretty similar to the i4, but the ultra-modern interior felt very different. The quality was high and worked well, but it was so far removed from traditional BMW interfaces, including garish seat and iDrive controllers rendered in crystal, that it left a weird taste in my mouth. Still, the car drove and handled very well; If I were in the market for one, I wouldn't even think about the M60; there was more than enough thrust with the 50. (Aside: I'm not certain whether that car had the B&W system, but I felt a subwoofer in the back of my seat that I first thought was a massage function.)
- Bonus: Attendees received a 20% coupon for Performance Center driving schools/events, which I'll be taking advantage of to coincide with my M3 delivery later this summer.

[hittheapex]

Going in a couple weeks when they come to Atlanta. I'm pumped.

[M3CDan]

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[IMG]https://cdn.bmwblog.com/wp-content/u...c-bmw-os-8.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Excellent review! I have an i4 M50 in production and waiting on M3C and M8C allocations from my dealer in NoVA…put my order in for the M3C back in Oct and still 4th on their waiting list …I hope you get your M3C in the summer; our sales manager told me I may have to wait for the '23's 😡

[jmg]

I try to attend every year just to try different bimmers. Looking forward to trying the i cars since this is the direction we are going in! Do they still award the fastest drivers? I've gotten free hats in the past! It's just a gesture though since they give out free hats anyway lol!

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by jmg

I try to attend every year just to try different bimmers. Looking forward to trying the i cars since this is the direction we are going in! Do they still award the fastest drivers? I've gotten free hats in the past! It's just a gesture though since they give out free hats anyway lol!

Unfortunately they've suspended the timed laps and swag gifts (COVID). Still a fun time though.

[Yanray]

I was at this event as well!!!

[psuibmw]

I was there as well, here's some photos

[Germanauto]

Thanks for the writeup and to everybody sharing photos.

I have a dream...a dream that one day, EV and ICE can coexist. Different strokes for different folks.

[Russ103]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

Unfortunately they've suspended the timed laps [COLOR="DarkRed"]and swag gifts (COVID)[/COLOR]. Still a fun time though.

What a BS excuse to pinch pennies. Almost as bad as hotels suspending house keeping (unless requested) to save on payroll/cleaning products while claiming the stupid Wuhan Special excuse. Rant over

[psuibmw]

Originally Posted by Russ103

What a BS excuse to pinch pennies. Almost as bad as hotels suspending house keeping (unless requested) to save on payroll/cleaning products while claiming the stupid Wuhan Special excuse. Rant over

Good thing the whole event was not cancelled due to the same reason

[Allerum]

I went in the afternoon on Friday. I wish I would have gotten there earlier, as I ran out of time to do the street test. We only got one drive in the 440i convertible. Which sounded great. We also got lost once. But man all I saw was speed cameras, cops, and angry residents. It seems people be flying round those corners. They will end up with a the ticket eventually hah!

Didn't have time for the iX either but really enjoyed the m50. But I agree I could feel the weight on that. But last round I really put it through the paces. I wish I had lap times I want to compare!

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by Allerum

But man all I saw was speed cameras, cops, and angry residents. It seems people be flying round those corners. They will end up with a the ticket eventually hah!

Yeah I can only imagine the stack of red light camera tickets the corporate offices will be receiving shortly...

[gunsmoker]

How long did the i4 last betore needing a recharge?

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by gunsmoker

How long did the i4 last betore needing a recharge?

I asked about this. Each individual driver at UDE is assigned to a group of about 20-30, and then joins their tent and circuit. Each circuit includes 4 cars, and each individual gets three separate runs, each one about two laps around. They're short laps, but obviously performed at WOT. The cars are retired after three sessions for charging (and BMW arranged for some high-voltage fast chargers there). I have no idea how many miles that equates to, or what level of charge they get down to.

[FRESH_718]

Was the M240 coupe available on the street drive ?

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by FRESH_718

Was the M240 coupe available on the street drive ?

Not that I recall.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

Unfortunately they've suspended the timed laps and swag gifts (COVID). Still a fun time though.

That's a shame. I don't know what timed laps have to do with covid.

Half the fun was comparing times!! I still might go to check the i4 though.

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by jmg

That's a shame. I don't know what timed laps have to do with covid.

Yeah, me neither. Maybe it was really just a cynical way to save some EV range if people aren't driving as hard?

[ggunn9]

Originally Posted by hittheapex

Going in a couple weeks when they come to Atlanta. I'm pumped.

I will be at the Atlanta event as well. I went last year and had a blast driving the M440i on the autocross course. I also test drove the X3m. I drive a stage 1 tuned X5. My X5 seems faster.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

Yeah, me neither. Maybe it was really just a cynical way to save some EV range if people aren't driving as hard?

They didn't time last year either though.

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by jmg

They didn't time last year either though.

Based on my cynical thread yesterday regarding corporate litigation concerns, maybe they got nervous about too many crushed cones and decided to tone it down.

[joesid]

I was there Friday morning. The i4 is admittedly the first EV I've ever driven. I was extremely impressed!