Performance Center Delivery video

[anatolych]

There is a number of posts in the forum raving about the performance center delivery program. And I agree completely. On the road back to NY my only thought was to sign up for a performance driving school to take it to the next level. This post thread is meant for those who can;t make up their mind whether to do it or not. Below is what it involves, and you can see a video with clips from the video I shot there. Apologies for amateurish video editing, I just wanted to get it out before our second kid is born (any day now). I am hoping to make a better edit later if people find this useful. I have plenty of footage left from the windshield camera. I regret one thing though. I got so excited filming our track exercises that I drained the battery before the offroad course. It would have made a great video. If anyone goes there with a camcorder, post your video on youtube and send me a link...

PCD Experience:
1. Check in and an intro in the classroom
2. Track segment one: course with the slalom and three sharp turns. Great way to feel the car, let it skid, brake hard and accelerate while trying to steer... Instructor offers you advice on how to make the next lap go faster.
3. Track segment two: Panic braking. This one does not require any skills rather than ability to hit the brakes as fast and strong as you can. ABS and stability control does the work for you. Its actually pretty amazing and helps you develop trust of the car. It will do what is possible within the laws of physics.
4. Segment three: Skidpad. This is the most fun segment. You start driving without stability control system around a circle with 300 ft radius until your car spins out of control. When you had enough, instructor re-engages stability control and you quickly realize that its hard to spin the car out, but drifting is actually not that complicated if you do it around the circle...
5. Return to the center and receive YOUR car! this is it. You play with the i-drive an take your baby out!
6. Lunch with the group and instructors
7. Instructor takes you for a run on the track in a brand new M5 they use for performance school. I tried to film inside, but nothing usable came out due to all the G; and the camera shaking like crazy in downshifts. You can enjoy the view from outside at the end of the clip.
8. Off-road course: everybody gets in X5s and do a lot of fun things with it. Such as steep inclines when the only thing you see is the sky; hanging the car diagonally on a ridge; tilting the car at unreal angles but still not flipping it (due to low center of gravity of the truck), etc. I wish my battery did not die because there was a lot to film there.
9. Factory tour. No cameras or phones allowed! The bodyshop assembly line is fantastic. Literally, the process feels like footage from the Terminator movie with all the robots flipping pieces of sheet metal welding them together and passing them to the next robot.
The factory is undoubtedly state of the art. Now i appreciate how complex of a process it is to track all the options of X5, X6, and X5M trucks manufactured at the same time on the same assembly line. We have seen X6, X6 hybrids, X5 m, and X5 anniversary editions on the line. There was a number of X5 30 D, which I guess is a European model.
We completed the event with a run through the Centrum. Its a great way to look at the history of the company which included some cars you would not associate with BMW image ( an early version of smart fourtwo!)
finally, here is the link to the video. Please feel free to add your pics, videos and comments
YouTube - performance center delivery

[8ball]

It sounds like a great expierence; is it extra for this?

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by 8ball

It sounds like a great expierence; is it extra for this?

Nope

[8ball]

Thanks, my SA had mentioned this but I was like I don'r fill like driving anywhere after getting back from Afghanistan but I might have to do it, course reminds me of the evasive driving course I took.

[LeMansX5]

There are quite a few members who have done this. Several threads on PCD.
Here's one....also check threads by member jgf330xi

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ched-pics.html

[8ball]

Yes thanks already did a PDC search, I notice the PDC term so did a search and brought up a lot of info. Only thing I still have a question is the front plate bracket some had it and some don't. I don't want it on mine so I got to figure out who to talk to about this or if it's something they ask you when you arrive.
Thanks again for the info/

[eyeguy]

Replied to your PM - they will NOT drill your bumper til you are there taking delivery and give them the OK

Don't forget the "hot lap" with Donnie in the M5. The sudden 180 in reverse at almost 50 MPH was my favorite...