[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by alex2364

I was there as well and saw 2 cop cars with lights on coming towards the BMW tent. The cops get out of their car and put 2 people in handcuffs. Then the BMW reps stopped doing test drives and the only thing we could do were to sit in the cars. Basically it was a waste of my time to even show up.

Was this Saturday? Oh great. So we're almost guaranteed BMW is not going to come back next year.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Was this Saturday? Oh great. So we're almost guaranteed BMW is not going to come back next year.

I know this sounds elitist, but idiots like the ones you saw ruin these events and, for that reason, I welcomed BMW’s change to charging for M track days and making the invite list more targeted. The experience for M track days is much, much better now that you have to pay for it and the invite list is limited to real M buyers. Maybe they should do the same for UDE?

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

I know this sounds elitist, but idiots like the ones you saw ruin these events and, for that reason, I welcomed BMW’s change to charging for M track days and making the invite list more targeted. The experience for M track days is much, much better now that you have to pay for it and the invite list is limited to real M buyers. Maybe they should do the same for UDE?

If BMW continues to offer it for free (which is great) they should probably target certain demographics with invitations instead of making it completely open to anyone. I did a free Porsche event last year that was invitation only and the types of people there were as you would expect. My father randomly got an invite in the mail although he has no intent on buying a Porsche (but he fits the age and zip code demographic of their typical buyers).

But the M track days for $250 is sooooo much better than any of the free events and rightfully so. You get much more seat time and drive the cars much harder.

[rtb001]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Let's not forget that they pack 4 people into the car for the autocross. Not my idea of fun. Do M track days....much better and in a car suited for the event.

It was a full car for the demonstration lap, but my timed lap was just me and the instructor in the passenger front seat.

[rtb001]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Are you sure they are giving out the 1k voucher? Last I heard, they stopped doing that. I’m contemplating picking up an F90 comp so I would not mind rolling down to Miami to sign in and get the voucher.

I did the NYC event in 2015 and they specifically mentioned the voucher, which I got and used a little while later.

This year I just did the UDE in DC and neither the invite email nor the event mentioned any voucher, but I did get a voucher code ($1000, expires in about three months) in the email the day after the event.

Does anyone know if the voucher code is transferable to anyone? The fine print states it is supposed to be for the person who got the code or anyone else in his or her "household." Unlike last time, I'm not in the market for a new car currently so has no use for the code.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Swag was also light this year. No Swell bottles. They handed out white BMW caps.

Between the UDE, M Track Day, and 1 Day M School I did last year, I'm up to my neck in swell bottles and black caps. The white cap is a nice change of pace! I'm doing the M Drivers Program and another UDE for sure this year. If there is another 20% off, I might do the Advanced M School because that's the only one I haven't done yet!

[Gr-Racing]

gonna give it a shot in ATL, when it opens up lol

[Wolfus Aurelius]

Have they ever held these in New Orleans or Baton Rouge?

[rice_rocket88]

I'm signed up for Boston both to beat on the 3 series but wanted to desperately get another voucher because I plan on getting something possibly next week before a different rebate ends. 2015 was 1500 voucher I believe. If you're not using your code I'd definitely make good use of it if I don't get one by Monday

Originally Posted by rtb001

I did the NYC event in 2015 and they specifically mentioned the voucher, which I got and used a little while later.

This year I just did the UDE in DC and neither the invite email nor the event mentioned any voucher, but I did get a voucher code ($1000, expires in about three months) in the email the day after the event.

Does anyone know if the voucher code is transferable to anyone? The fine print states it is supposed to be for the person who got the code or anyone else in his or her "household." Unlike last time, I'm not in the market for a new car currently so has no use for the code.

[krispykreme]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

If you are a frequent M buyer, you likely will get the email immediately when the registration opens. If you are on your first M, it is hit or miss if you will get the email. I’m part of the Florida group that gets the emails, but my buddy who got his first M in 2017 did not get the email. Down here, the registration fills up in a few hours because a ton of us down here are M people. At my last M track days, everyone that showed up was rolling in an M or a Tesla Model S P100D.

Not true.

I never gotten invite despite 4 M5 and 3 M3 since 2001.

[happyjack]

Originally Posted by rtb001

It was a full car for the demonstration lap, but my timed lap was just me and the instructor in the passenger front seat.

i was at the DC event, and confirm that timed autocross laps were only with the instructor. autocross done in the brand new 330

we had a wet track in DC so unfortunately they took the new 850 out of service for the test drives. otherwise i got to drive about 7-8 cars, including a new X7, and had a great time.

Originally Posted by krispykreme

Not true.

I never gotten invite despite 4 M5 and 3 M3 since 2001.

you really need to talk to your dealer about the lack of invites. my understanding is that many of the free events are hosted / paid by regional dealers -- they control the invitations. also you should be signed up on bmwusa.com and check the boxes for marketing events.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by krispykreme

Not true.

I never gotten invite despite 4 M5 and 3 M3 since 2001.

Wow. I'm surprised you did not get the invite..... Was M Track Days being hosted near where you live? If not, then I wonder if that is why you did not get the invite?

[ninjamoby]

I had a lot of fun attending this event in New Jersey a few weeks ago.

Has anyone gone to one of those (non-M) car control 2 day workshops at their courses in Carolina? Worth it?

[krispykreme]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Wow. I'm surprised you did not get the invite..... Was M Track Days being hosted near where you live? If not, then I wonder if that is why you did not get the invite?

I live in Bay Area.

My first M5 was bought from Stevens creek
2nd was bought in Salem Oregon
3rd was from Weatherford in Berkeley
4th was from Peterpan

M3 was bought from crevier (used), east bay, and Fremont

I bought other cars from like Mountain View, Peter Pan, and BMW SF

Never gotten invite from any of them.

[Rich.Wolfson]

Originally Posted by ninjamoby

I had a lot of fun attending this event in New Jersey a few weeks ago.

We had a great time too. Their cars. Their gas and their tires. What could be bad?

We were there early Friday morning. Here's a short video.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/90bwc6fqj4...ience.m4v?dl=0

And our timesheet (thanks Raul). But I was disappointed that they didn't do the shootout this year.

See ya all at Citi Field in the fall!

///Rich

[///M///]

Are the test drives before or after the autocross?

[happyjack]

Originally Posted by ///M///

Are the test drives before or after the autocross?

either. at least for the DC event, the test drive crew really didnt seem to care how early you arrived, or how late you stayed. i arrived about an hour before my autocross appointment, and test drove 5-6 cars. the M240 and the X7 had the longest wait-lines since they had already taken the M850 out of service because of the rain. the weather was starting to clear so i stayed after my autocross hoping they might put the 8 back into service. i drove another couple cars but then had to leave to get to a previously scheduled family event...so i never did get to drive the 8.

[F30lolz]

Did the UDE this past Saturday and it was a blast. Steering in the g20 didn’t feel as bland as the f30 and was rather impressed with the exterior/interior up close. I felt that during the practice laps I did great but screwed up a sharp turn during my timed lap. Low and behold I still managed to come in first in our group and IIRC timed in at 41.9 seconds.

Signed up for June 1st in Tampa To get another crack at it.

Street drives were shutting down after I finished up the timed lap as I was looking forward to hauling ass in the x7.

[bimmer456]

Anyone done the UDE for 2019?

I know they are using the 330i for the autocross rather than the M340i, probably because the latter didn’t become available until after the tour started. But I am wondering if they at least have the M340i for the test drive.

If not, I’m hoping they at least have some B58 powered model like the 440i GC xDrive or a 740i. I know they had the X4 M40i one year. I was also hoping they have xDrive models like they did the year they had the 540i xDrive. Also the X5 50i was pretty bad ass as was the 650i. Maybe we will get an M850i for test drives? What about a 750i or maybe even M760i? And it would be cool if we could take the i8 roadster for a spin.

Anyway, if you’ve been this year, let me know what cars were available. I might bring some folks with me this year, and I want to know what will be on hand so I can encourage more of them to come.

[435MSport6Speed]

I did the autocross event in Mass and M Town in New Hampshire. No M340s. At the M Town event they said there was an allocation issue in getting one.

[BMWILUVU]

UDE. It is not ultimate in any way. Boring.