[Jason]

BMW’s “Ultimate Driving Experience” Returns with Expanded List of U.S. Cities for 2023.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 23, 2023… BMW continues its Ultimate Driving Experience tour across the U.S. for 2023, welcoming BMW customers and enthusiasts back for an immersive driving experience led by BMW professional driving instructors. This year’s tour includes 26 total stops across the U.S., featuring a variety of different experiences in a wide array of BMW’s latest vehicles. The 2023 Ultimate Driving Experience allows visitors to engage with an increasingly electrified fleet of vehicles, including the all-electric BMW iX and BMW i4, alongside the updated BMW 330e and BMW 530e plug-in hybrid electric sedans.

Visitors will enjoy the following at this year’s Ultimate Driving Experience:

• Autocross: an exciting driving session with professional instructors that highlights BMW performance driving dynamics, advanced technology, and innovative safety features on a challenging closed course. (Ages 18+)
• Street Drives: visitors can experience a variety of BMW vehicles during test drives on local roads, in addition the all-electric MINI Cooper SE in select tour stops. (Ages 25+)
• iX Experience: Take a deep dive into the new and innovative features of the BMW iX. With 516 horsepower and a 0–60 time of 4.6 seconds, the BMW iX offers an exhilarating driving experience with an EPA estimate of up to 324 miles of all-electric range and the latest in-vehicle technology, including 5G connectivity, a sweeping curved display that unites the 12.3-inch information display with a 14.9-inch central control display, and BMW iDrive 8.
• Display Vehicles: Visitors will be treated to a static display of BMW’s latest and greatest product offerings accompanied by vehicle experts. The lineup includes the all-new fully electric flagship BMW i7 Sedan and the 644-horsepower plug-in hybrid electric BMW XM Sports Activity Vehicle.

The full BMW Ultimate Driving Experience schedule for the balance of 2023, as well as more program information, can be found on the official BMW UDE website. The next major tour stop will take place in Washington, D.C. from March 30 – April 2 at RFK Stadium. Further tour stops this year include Atlanta, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Nashville and many more.

More information on the full experience programming, tour dates and health/safety protocols is available at driving.bmwusa.com.

[hittheapex]

Kind of disappointed with the cars. Seems to be the exact same as last year but adding a 330e. Would be nice if it could be the i4 and the 340 imo.

[curtdragon]

Yay Nashville!

[Tag]

No M2, no care.

[D52M550]

Where’s the new I550??

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by hittheapex

Kind of disappointed with the cars. Seems to be the exact same as last year but adding a 330e. Would be nice if it could be the i4 and the 340 imo.

Last year they had Autocross with the i4M50.

[DO444]

I actually think it’s neat they are doing it with “lesser” cars.

Kinda interesting and says they believe that they are compelling driving experiences on their own.

[T0RM3NT]

Denver

Listed in the OP's first posting...am I missing it on the webpage link or is it not there?

[fanofbmwe46]

They will have M cars. They always do. I bombed around in an M6 convertible with some buddies about 10 yrs ago at one of these events. Was awesome. Three years ago drove an M2, M4 and X3M at an event.

[DanG]

None in my state.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by fanofbmwe46

They will have M cars. They always do. I bombed around in an M6 convertible with some buddies about 10 yrs ago at one of these events. Was awesome. Three years ago drove an M2, M4 and X3M at an event.

At least in my area, come 2020 they got rid of all the sedans coupes and sports cars for street drives. Your only options were lame-o SUVs.

I drove an X4M which was cool and all, but not enough of a draw to make me return.

[Mike_H_]

Originally Posted by Jason

Washington, D.C. from March 30 – April 2 at RFK Stadium.

Hard pass on that location.

[baron95]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

At least in my area, come 2020 they got rid of all the sedans coupes and sports cars for street drives. Your only options were lame-o SUVs.

I drove an X4M which was cool and all, but not enough of a draw to make me return.

I just came back from the one in New Jersey today. It was my first time attending one.

I did the Autocross. They had i4M50 and 330e sedans for that you do one turn in each then the third time in whatever shows up. It was ok, but was raining a ton when I went out (stopped soon after my session ). That i4 moves, despite all the weight.

For the street drives they had a bunch of different cars including Z4, M240i, M850i, i4, SUVs, etc. I drove the M240i xDrive and loved it.

They also had an SUV course where you go over some ramps, but I didn't do that. Looked boring.

And here is my favorite part. They had a BG M2 on display. You could look inside and out but not drive or sit in it. They also have an M4, i7, and SUVs in the static display area.

It was super cool to see the M2 out in the open next to the M4 and other cars. It does look tiny next to the other vehicles. But driving the M240i it feels not much difference than a 3/4 series, except it is a bit narrow and rear seat space is less (specially for your head) than previous generation.

I thought it was a nice event.

[bmwdrive]

Last year it was the i4 M50. The year before that the M440 xDrive. Both were a lot of fun. It's really cool that BMW hosts these events and the price is right. They also gave out discount vouchers for M-school if you want to drive the real M cars, but that of course is not free at all.

[crypto]

Originally Posted by Mike_H_

Hard pass on that location.

What’s wrong with it? I was considering signing up and this is one is local for me.

[m3bee333]

Anyone actually been to one of these? Imagine the lines are outrageous or maybe they have their timeslots figured out?

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by m3bee333

Anyone actually been to one of these? Imagine the lines are outrageous or maybe they have their timeslots figured out?

I’ve done several! There are time slots and multiple duplicate “tracks” for the autocross, so they run several simultaneously. My group has always been between 12 and 20 people and 5 or 6 cars. I’ve gotten three or four sets of “laps” each time in the parking lot of an NFL stadium. In my experience, very well organized and executed, with minimal down time. Trying the iX and i4M50 was fun last year since they were newer cars then, and an awesome instructor let me enjoy the car without having to use B mode. Also got to poke around the 24 Hours of Daytona M4 safety car, but not drive it.

It’s a little less exciting this year since I’ve now spent plenty of time with those cars, and my own car is more fun to me than what’s available to drive. Still a fun way to spend a couple of hours on a spring day and have some good conversation with some fellow BMW nuts and I’ll go again — even though it’ll be a repeat of last year.

[Rich.Wolfson]

Originally Posted by baron95

I just came back from the one in New Jersey today. It was my first time attending one.

I did the Autocross. ....

My friends and I are going Saturday afternoon, presumably in the rain. If you are local my guess is a lot of people will bail opening up lots of slots.

Last year Jerry Nadeau was our instructor. I hope he's there again. But frankly all the instructors are great.

It's a great event for sure.

///Rich

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by fanofbmwe46

They will have M cars. They always do. I bombed around in an M6 convertible with some buddies about 10 yrs ago at one of these events. Was awesome. Three years ago drove an M2, M4 and X3M at an event.

Those were the good ol’ days. Unfortunately not the case anymore. Not knocking the event by any means, but I haven’t see the option to drive true M cars in 3 or 4 years — at least in my city. Just so people know what to expect.

[baron95]

Originally Posted by m3bee333

Anyone actually been to one of these? Imagine the lines are outrageous or maybe they have their timeslots figured out?

There were no lines on the one today. Off course it was a week day and raining. Sunny weekends may be different.

[10"]

Used to love doing these—not going to test drive these electronic toasters though ☠️

[hittheapex]

Originally Posted by 10"

Used to love doing these—not going to test drive these electronic toasters though ☠️

Don’t knock it till you try it. Last year was the i4 M50, and it was actually really fun to drive. No it doesn’t have the sound of the 440, but it was very quick.