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06-23-2007, 02:23 PM | #1 |
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My Performance Center Delivery Experience!
Okay so I finally decided to spend some of my free time (very limited here lately) writing this up instead of driving the car around. Sorry for the long wait.
First of all, if any of you have an opportunity to do the performance center delivery, DO NOT PASS it up! You’ll hopefully see why, shortly. I left for Spartanburg, SC on the evening of May 29th, 2007. Departure was delayed because my friend who was coming along with me got delayed ( you can take one guest – and my wife wasn’t interested – Please forgive her as since then she has quickly grown very fond of our new Z) so we didn’t get there until midnight. Anyway BMW PC had reserved a room for us at The Marriot Greenville. Upon check in I was given a letter from BMW PC that briefly outlined the schedule for the delivery day. The staff at the hotel is very friendly and very experienced dealing with the guests there for the BMW delivery. Dinner in their in house restaurant is included (we missed dinner since we were so late but the hotel staff had placed 2 deli trays in our room along with some dessert! see below ), as was a very nice breakfast buffet the next morning. |
06-23-2007, 02:49 PM | #2 |
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At 7:45 a.m. we were shuttled from the hotel to the PC (a 10-15 minute drive). On arrival we were greeted by the staff who were involved in the delivery day activities.
The day is divided into three segments: 1. Delivery of the car; 2. Track time; 3. Tour of the manufacturing plant. The day started with everyone heading out on to the track. The track portion is divided into 3 parts that consist of (1) the road course which is comprised of a slalom and some tight turns (2) the skid pad and finally (3) a segment of the track were we get to really work the ABS brakes. All of this is done in a vehicle similar to the one you are picking up. If you pick up an X5 – then there is also the off-road course as well. The road course was my favorite part. I got to drive the white coupe below. |
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06-23-2007, 03:09 PM | #3 |
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After this we got to tour the manufacturing plant. As the plant is down and across the street we had to drive there so we were each given a 6 series coupe to drive!!! No cameras were allowed inside the manufacturing area! In fact the tours were closed starting June 1 for the retooling and preparation for production of the X6’s. The technology and coordination of everything is amazing! I thought it was very interesting how all models are built on the same line. There were a lot of X5’s and Z4 roadsters and a fewer number of coupes on the assembly line.
Oh our guide told us something that I thought some of you might find interesting… BADGING IS OPTIONAL!!! – You just need to let your dealer know when you order the car! After the tour we were left to roam about the museum for 30-40 minutes. |
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06-23-2007, 03:12 PM | #4 |
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Can't go wrong with more pics...
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06-23-2007, 03:15 PM | #5 |
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and some more...
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06-23-2007, 03:17 PM | #6 |
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Pics of a beautiful Z8!!!
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06-23-2007, 03:19 PM | #7 |
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We then headed back in the 6’s to the Delivery Center were we had lunch in the cafeteria (on the house of course). After lunch we got a special treat courtesy of Donny Isley (one of our instructors) who took each of us out on the course in an M5 and drove the car the way only an experienced driver like him could!!! He even did some drifting through the curves. For one of the guests he videotaped them in the car while he drove on the skid pad with all the electronic “assistance” stuff turned off – made it look like a piece of cake! It was one of the most amazing and unbelievable experiences I have ever had!!!!!!!!!! It also gives you a true appreciation of what these cars are capable of!
Video to follow - once I figure out how to upload them. |
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06-23-2007, 03:23 PM | #8 |
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Next and finally was the DELIVERY!!! My car was kept in the delivery bay with all of the manuals, keys, etc. neatly laid out on a table. My rep., I think her name was Ginger, did an okay job going over the car… I think part of this was because she was distracted by having to help make travel arrangements for a couple whose car was not ready for pick-up due to logistical reasons! (I think they flew them back to their home town courtesy of BMW for the screw up) Anyway, I really didn’t mind since I knew I would be reading through everything once I got home – besides I was way too excited once I saw the car and there was little that could have dampened my mood!
They then drove the car out the delivery doors and parked it there for me to do with it as I pleased!!!! And so began the run home!! (If I had had more time I would have probably done the run at the Dragon’s Tail – but that will have to wait for another day). Hope this wasn’t too long/boring of a read. Finally some pics of me and the car and another with my buddy. |
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06-23-2007, 03:26 PM | #9 |
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Oh, can someone please explain the easiest way to upload video files? TIA.
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06-23-2007, 05:27 PM | #10 |
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06-23-2007, 05:47 PM | #11 |
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Sigh - OK I am now insanely jealous of the experience you got to have - Congratulations!
Are you going to/did you drive it back home?
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06-23-2007, 08:59 PM | #14 |
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06-23-2007, 09:32 PM | #15 |
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Nice dude...I got a lil "performance" driving in on the way back from charleston today. I ran into my friend (he's got an X5) on I-26. He'd just got back from Germany so we had some fun on the way back (since he's got a built in detector I let him lead most of the way)...until we caught up to a cop...slowed down for while (80-90ish...keeping our distance back from him). Took 77 and he stayed on 26...so I showed him that I had the faster car for a lil while
God I miss the autobahn...
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06-23-2007, 10:09 PM | #16 |
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Thanks Doc,
That must have been just about too much fun for a mortal car nut. I'm definitely gonna do the Performance Center Delivery on my next BMW. Very cool. |
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06-23-2007, 11:33 PM | #17 |
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Awesome writeup, mate.
As for videos, I find that YouTube is a pretty straightforward place to upload vids. You can embed them into your threads too. Have a safe trip home! |
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06-24-2007, 03:11 AM | #18 |
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06-24-2007, 07:21 AM | #19 |
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Nice write up Doc....
Sure wish we had that option here We can do Euro delivery, but not a SC delivery
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06-24-2007, 07:34 AM | #20 |
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06-24-2007, 10:50 AM | #22 | |
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Quote:
I'm 6' 2" so the same as you I guess... After adjusting the seats I had no problems fitting in and getting into the "ideal" driving position. Our driving instructors there told us that we should maintain three finger breadths distance from the top of our head to the top of the car, be able to comfortable rest both wrists on top of the steering wheel, and be able to comfortably push the clutch all the way down and still have some slight flexion left in the leg. In fact I feel quite cozy in it. The only thing that sucks about it is the view out the rear... but you can't always get everything . Oh, I also love the M seats - definitely was worthing getting this option! |
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