As many M5 owners in the US know, our cars include the M5 driving experience at the BMW performance center in South Carolina. If you are in the US and haven't been contacted, call your dealer so they can send a form to the center, then call the center if you are not contacted within two weeks. The program is two days.
One day is spent at the perfromance center. If you have never been to a driving school, then you could learn quite a bit. If you are more experienced, then you will have fun and learn the performance limits (well, not quite) of your M5. There are exercises in emregency lane changes, braking into a corner, wet skidpad, slalom, and more. Unfortunately, most of the exercises are done with DSC engaged. This is great, but you won't learn the limits of the car. And keep in mind that this is a handling clinic, don't expect to learn racing skills or aggresive driving instruction. You can choose from about 10 M5 cars, different colors and interiors. At the end of the day, they have a timed autocross (slalom, U-turn, and slalom back)... which kindles the competitive spirits in everyone.
The other day is spent on a factory and museum tour (thankfully short), and then a caravan in M Coupes and M Roadsters to the Biltmore Estate. A few of us broke away from the caravan, and I can officially say that an M Coupe is the best car I have ever driven up to 90 mph through very tight curves (like at the Biltmore Estate, for instance... posted at 30 mph).
All in all, better than I expected. They include the hotel, lunches, and dinners as well. Oh... No alcohol sales in this part of South Carolina on Sunday (may I suggest that $20 and a corner table goes a long way towards helping this at the hotel restaurant).
Any questions, let me know.
Dan
One day is spent at the perfromance center. If you have never been to a driving school, then you could learn quite a bit. If you are more experienced, then you will have fun and learn the performance limits (well, not quite) of your M5. There are exercises in emregency lane changes, braking into a corner, wet skidpad, slalom, and more. Unfortunately, most of the exercises are done with DSC engaged. This is great, but you won't learn the limits of the car. And keep in mind that this is a handling clinic, don't expect to learn racing skills or aggresive driving instruction. You can choose from about 10 M5 cars, different colors and interiors. At the end of the day, they have a timed autocross (slalom, U-turn, and slalom back)... which kindles the competitive spirits in everyone.
The other day is spent on a factory and museum tour (thankfully short), and then a caravan in M Coupes and M Roadsters to the Biltmore Estate. A few of us broke away from the caravan, and I can officially say that an M Coupe is the best car I have ever driven up to 90 mph through very tight curves (like at the Biltmore Estate, for instance... posted at 30 mph).
All in all, better than I expected. They include the hotel, lunches, and dinners as well. Oh... No alcohol sales in this part of South Carolina on Sunday (may I suggest that $20 and a corner table goes a long way towards helping this at the hotel restaurant).
Any questions, let me know.
Dan
