[richard in NC]

The day finally came and a friend and I headed to Spartanburg for Performance Center Delivery. For those that haven't experienced it, the experience is great.
It's nice to be only 90 miles from there so I've been to the BMW PC many times before but this was my first delivery there. Since there are other great write-ups, I'll just give the highlights.

We arrived at the Marriott Monday evening in time for the free dinner and a few drinks. BMW event guests have a somewhat limited menu but it's better than before with traditional entrees, southern dishes, and a few chef specialties. Breakfast was a good but typical buffet with an omelet station. We then got in the hotel shuttle and headed to the PC.

After a brief discussion of the days events and some driving instruction, we headed to the track. The 14 of us taking delivery were split into 3 groups. I was in the group of 4 and we headed to the skid pad first. We were given similar cars to our purchase, two X3s, an X5, and a 335i, but only 335i's were used on the skid pad. An xDrive vehicle just won't spin out like a rear drive sedan.


We did a few laps with DSC off and a quick stab at the throttle causes an immediate spin. I managed a 360 on the first try and then caught the second skid, making use of some M School training (and having learned to drive in snow country). With DSC full on, you can floor the throttle yet still maintain control of the car and head where you need to. Next up was ABS braking. The X3 can stop very well.

Next up was driving time on a small road course. You navigate a short slalom, a high speed curve, a tight right, an uphill left, a short straight, and a sharp right to come back to the slalom. The X3 can handle a road course quite well. My friend was especially impressed. We then all gathered back in the staging area and were given hot lap rides. Unfortunately, they still can't get enough Continental tires for the M5 but the M3 can give quite a ride too. Our instructor, Johann gave us a wild ride, with a full 270 spin to exit the skid pad. He will be attempting to break a world record in May, keeping a slide going for 40 miles!!!

We were then split with half doing deliveries and half doing the off road course and a factory tour. I did the delivery first. They do a thorough job explaining the features end to end. Even as a long time BMW owner, there is a lot to learn with the new X3.


After a lunch, we did the off road course. I drove an X3. The same X3s and X5s used on the road course, are taken through 20 inch deep water, up, down, and sideways on steep slopes, moguls that cause two tires to be off the ground, and a tip exercise where you go from the left front in the air to the right rear. xDrive and Hill Decent Control definitely impress.

We then toured the X3 side of the factory. Soon it will be off limits for nearly a year with the X4 and restyled X5 coming on-board. The precision and technology to manufacture our cars never ceases to amaze. Think of this one thing. EVERY X3 is built to order, whether a customer or dealer order. There are many options/choices every step of the way for the world-wide market, including 18 steering wheels! The seats are sub contracted to a local manufacturer. They are put on a truck and sent to the factory in the EXACT manufacturing order, within a mere 20 minute window. The truck, whose bay is right next to the seat installation area, is used as the warehouse, no storage required. As they are pulled off the truck in order, they get installed in the car.


After a walk through the Zentrum museum, I headed home after a fun day. The X3 delivered 25 mpg, much better than the 19 I would have gotten in the X5 50i.

[3Bimmer]

That looks like a great time. Congratulations on the X3 -- very handsome! I did the Performance Driving School when they had it out in California in 2007. What a blast! You'll really enjoy your X3 -- I feel that everything about it is juuuust right.

[pmacd55]

Congrats. Great day there. Are they closing the entire factory tour ?

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by pmacd55

Congrats. Great day there. Are they closing the entire factory tour ?

That's what I was told, in a week or two.

[pmacd55]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

That's what I was told, in a week or two.

When I was there in september, they only took us on the X3 side. They were adding on another "spoke" (I think thats what they called it) to the factory to produce another model. Wonder if thats done now and they are ramping up... X4?

[plymjack]

Nice pics and report..... AN X5 5.0i unheard of here in UK!!

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by pmacd55

When I was there in september, they only took us on the X3 side. They were adding on another "spoke" (I think thats what they called it) to the factory to produce another model. Wonder if thats done now and they are ramping up... X4?

The spoke or finger is in the final stage of being added. The total outage to bring the new section on-line and start producing cars is a mere 8 hours. Well less than the Sunday off period. Supposed to happen soon.

They are also expanding the body shop. Its building is just under frame.

[am36]

Great write up and photo's. The PCD sounds great, gutted that we don't get the option over here.

[woodchuck1]

I wish I had done the factory delivery. Next time for sure. I'm only 2 states away.

[Dave340]

Congratulations and thank you for the pics, you helped me imagine, for a brief second, a factory delivery when I picked up my new Vermilion Red X3 28i yesterday.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by Dave328

Congratulations and thank you for the pics, you helped me imagine, for a brief second, a factory delivery when I picked up my new Vermilion Red X3 28i yesterday.

Congrats on your purchase. The Performance Center is a great experience, especially for a first timer there. New Hampshire would be a long drive but the folks with the Vermillion Red X3 just behind mine are headed back to Boston.

[jjax3]

That's awesome. Wish it were an option when I got mine.