Some Performance Center off-road pics

[golfer4life]

Is it me or are those actual break lights on the E70 bumpers?

[xnsf]

Originally Posted by king_alii

Is it me or are those actual break lights on the E70 bumpers?

those are the safety reflectors

[golfer4life]

that's what I thought. Must be the camera flash.

[jamesboags]

I know what that guy is.. is he the new adaptive drive option ? Available in 2008 models...LOL

[WhiteWhip]

actually thats the turbocharger

[rufusdedog]

Great pics! I'll be at the performance center at the end of August. Now I know what to look forward to.

[thisX5life]

Originally Posted by CGSTL

The instructors have a lot of fun with these courses. They are probably lifting and pushing down the X to demonstrate that it is teetering on only two wheels. Then they can demonstrate that forward momentum will only be provided by the two diagonal wheels currently touching the ground. A good X-Drive demonstration.

That's it exactly. You can see there's a point on the course where one of the front wheels is in the air; when I was there, the instructor had the driver ahead of me stop at that spot, then rocked the other guy's car up and down by hand. Great fun.

Also, if you look at the third photo, you'll understand why they tell the drivers to open their sunroofs -- because you get to look out at the horizon through the open roof!

PCD was a blast and I can't recommend it highly enough. For anyone who's thinking about it, DO IT!

[golfer4life]

Where do you sign up for the PCD and where are they located?

[thisX5life]

PCD is a program offered by BMW NA as an option when ordering any BMW model from a dealer in the US. It takes place at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC. Your CA can request PCD for you when you place your order. You can find out more by searching this site, and by following the link.

Two quick points that always seem to come up as questions:

1) You pay the standard delivery charge, same as having the vehicle delivered and prepped at your dealer. So it's not "free" but doesn't cost anything in addition to the delivery charge you have to pay in any event. (Of course you have to get there, and drive your new baby back home. I didn't find either of those to be a hardship!)

2) You can take PCD on any model, not just those built in Spartanburg (X and Z).

If you're planning on ordering a new BMW, give serious thought to going the PCD route. You won't be disappointed.

[Shumdit]

Originally Posted by CGSTL

I wonder why they're using 3.0's rather than 4.8's.

In 2005 they were using all 4.4's...

The Silver unit in a few of the pics is a 4.8 (notice the wheels and exhaust tips). It used to be standard practice to take you out in the same model you were purchasing if you were taking delivery there (ie, if you were taking delivery of a 3.0, that's what you would drive on the course).