[bacampbe]

I did a Performance Center Delivery of my PB M40i a couple of weeks ago, followed by a very drive scenic drive back to the Dallas area.

We had intended to take delivery a few weeks sooner, but I came down with covid a few days earlier. I was afraid that we would just have to pay to ship it back home, but fortunately the PC was able to push back delivery. As it was, our plans were still messed up--my wife caught it from me and was not quite ready to fly by time to leave, so she missed the PCD part. She was able to join afterwards, so I picked her up at CLT to start the road trip home.

The Marriott sent a driver to pick me up in a white X5. He briefed me on what to expect during the drive back. Dinner and breakfast were on BMW. The meals were better than I expected for a US hotel restaurant. Everyone at the hotel worked really hard to play up the new car excitement.

The Performance Center was a blast. It started with a classroom briefing, then panic stop drills and some track time in their Z4 M40i. The word of the day was "Not your car, not your tires, not your gas". Then some underwear-challenging laps of the skid pad in an M340i with and without stability control. Then an optional hot lap and drift around the skidpad in the passenger seat with the instructor driving.





They fed us an excellent (and huge) lunch, then they loaded our group in a bunch of X5s for a visit to the Zentrum followed the off-road course (also underwear-challenging when they get you up on two wheels) in the X5s.




Finally, they took me to a delivery bay to see my new M40i. This is the latest of several BMWs we have owned, and the delivery Genius briefing was far more thorough than any previous dealer delivery. I was out by a little before 3PM.

Then the drive to CLT to pick up my wife, then on to Asheville for the night, before picking up the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Tail of the Dragon, then finally I40 and I20 via Nashville, Little Rock, then on to Dallas.

The car got comments everywhere we went. The best was an encounter with a Gray GR Supra on the way to Charlotte. The driver pulled up next to me and showed off with a few high RPM pulls. I think he was trying to get me to play. Then he circled around all sides and gave me a thumbs-up.

[MisanoblueZ4]

Congratulations on the Z4! Enjoyed the write up, glad you and wife got through the recent Covid ordeal, bet you were saying to yourself why did we come down with something right before the trip! Beautiful color choice, enjoy.

[BlankProc]

Nice write up, and of course love the car! Will consider this for future BMW purchases. We're only a few hours from there, so seems like it could be a no brainer.

[Westside Guy]

Welcome to our exclusive Unicorn club, your PB/ cognac combination is a beauty.

PS, Horseman who is on vacation must be going crazy after seeing these pictures!

[Pjetrof]

Originally Posted by bacampbe

I did a Performance Center Delivery of my PB M40i a couple of weeks ago, followed by a very drive scenic drive back to the Dallas area.

We had intended to take delivery a few weeks sooner, but I came down with covid a few days earlier. I was afraid that we would just have to pay to ship it back home, but fortunately the PC was able to push back delivery. As it was, our plans were still messed up--my wife caught it from me and was not quite ready to fly by time to leave, so she missed the PCD part. She was able to join afterwards, so I picked her up at CLT to start the road trip home.

The Marriott sent a driver to pick me up in a white X5. He briefed me on what to expect during the drive back. Dinner and breakfast were on BMW. The meals were better than I expected for a US hotel restaurant. Everyone at the hotel worked really hard to play up the new car excitement.

The Performance Center was a blast. It started with a classroom briefing, then panic stop drills and some track time in their Z4 M40i. The word of the day was "Not your car, not your tires, not your gas". Then some underwear-challenging laps of the skid pad in an M340i with and without stability control. Then an optional hot lap and drift around the skidpad in the passenger seat with the instructor driving.

Attachment 3296187

Attachment 3296188

They fed us an excellent (and huge) lunch, then they loaded our group in a bunch of X5s for a visit to the Zentrum followed the off-road course (also underwear-challenging when they get you up on two wheels) in the X5s.

Attachment 3296189
Attachment 3296194

Finally, they took me to a delivery bay to see my new M40i. This is the latest of several BMWs we have owned, and the delivery Genius briefing was far more thorough than any previous dealer delivery. I was out by a little before 3PM.

Then the drive to CLT to pick up my wife, then on to Asheville for the night, before picking up the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Tail of the Dragon, then finally I40 and I20 via Nashville, Little Rock, then on to Dallas.

The car got comments everywhere we went. The best was an encounter with a Gray GR Supra on the way to Charlotte. The driver pulled up next to me and showed off with a few high RPM pulls. I think he was trying to get me to play. Then he circled around all sides and gave me a thumbs-up.

Attachment 3296191

Attachment 3296192

[bacampbe]

One thing I meant to mention: They've temporarily suspended PCD for vehicles not made at the Spartanburg plant. I got my order in ahead of the cutoff.

I was a little surprised that only two of our group were getting "sports" cars--my Z4 and a couple that were getting an M2. Otherwise there was one X3 and the rest were getting X5s. There _might_ have been an XM. But now that I think of it, all the X's were probably built in Spartanburg.

[bacampbe]

Originally Posted by BlankProc

Nice write up, and of course love the car! Will consider this for future BMW purchases. We're only a few hours from there, so seems like it could be a no brainer.

If I were close by, every purchase would be like this. BMW covers a night in the Marriott, including dinner and breakfast, transfers, and lunch at the PC, and time in their cars with their instructors. All at no additional cost over normal delivery (you pay the same destination fee either way). The only incremental cost is getting there and back. And of course, your time--but that doesn't count for fun things.

It's at least partly a marketing ploy for the performance driving school, but they aren't high pressure about it. If I had kids of the right age, I would absolutely send them to the teen school.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by bacampbe

I did a Performance Center Delivery of my PB M40i a couple of weeks ago, followed by a very drive scenic drive back to the Dallas area.

Great pics. Maybe the secret to getting the Michelins is doing PCD.

I was dreaming of ordering my manual in black / white but after seeing this maybe I’ll go blue / white with Horseman’s grey wheels. Decisions decisions!

Enjoy!!!

[bacampbe]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Great pics. Maybe the secret to getting the Michelins is doing PCD.

[...]

Could be. The PCD'z Z4 had Contis.

After the 1200+ mile drive home, I took it in for an estimate on PPF and quartz. The guy pointed out how much parking lot crud (mainly leaf fragmenets and dirt) was stuck to my tires and suggested PPF on the rocker panels. So I guess the Michelins are pretty sticky :-)

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by bacampbe

Could be. The PCD'z Z4 had Contis.

After the 1200+ mile drive home, I took it in for an estimate on PPF and quartz. The guy pointed out how much parking lot crud (mainly leaf fragmenets and dirt) was stuck to my tires and suggested PPF on the rocker panels. So I guess the Michelins are pretty sticky :-)

Definitely do the rocker panels.

[Horseman]

Outstanding pictures. Thank you for sharing. That blue is magnificent!!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by bacampbe

If I were close by, every purchase would be like this. BMW covers a night in the Marriott, including dinner and breakfast, transfers, and lunch at the PC, and time in their cars with their instructors. All at no additional cost over normal delivery (you pay the same destination fee either way). The only incremental cost is getting there and back. And of course, your time--but that doesn't count for fun things.

It's at least partly a marketing ploy for the performance driving school, but they aren't high pressure about it. If I had kids of the right age, I would absolutely send them to the teen school.

All but one went through PCD. Z4 missed the cut as it was my only off the lot purchase.

Don't know what the requirements are but I was comped the regular driving school by BMWFS. Might be repeat buying & using PCD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbYU...dmhpc3Rvcnk%3D
Follow the instructor
https://youtu.be/KuPlrPdPAIQ
Solo
On the tires going back to 2004 the cars had continental's on them

[calbears]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

On the tires going back to 2004 the cars had continental's on them

Continental is the sponsor of the Performance Driving School. Occasionally, you'll get cars without Contis in the fleet, but that has more to do with tire supply issues the last few years