Going to Mecca: BMW USA plant tour and driving school

bmtespar · 11-29-2018, 11:33 AM

I’ve come to Spartanburg to visit the BMW museum and plant tour today and the driving school tomorrow. I’m super excited! Look for pictures and a synopsis to follow.

GT500R · 11-29-2018, 12:52 PM

Neat, please do take a lot of pics!

bmtespar · 11-29-2018, 04:23 PM

The factory tour was incredible. 1400 vehicles produced a day with about 32 hours to build each one. The assembly plant is honestly one of the most amazing things I think a car enthusiast and especially a BMW enthusiast can see. Unfortunately, we were all made to turn off our phones before we left for the tour, so no photos.

Fenders · 11-29-2018, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmtespar

The factory tour was incredible. 1400 vehicles produced a day with about 32 hours to build each one. The assembly plant is honestly one of the most amazing things I think a car enthusiast and especially a BMW enthusiast can see. Unfortunately, we were all made to turn off our phones before we left for the tour, so no photos.

Great museum pics - but someone should have chipped that cookie...

JWright82 · 11-29-2018, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmtespar

The factory tour was incredible. 1400 vehicles produced a day with about 32 hours to build each one. The assembly plant is honestly one of the most amazing things I think a car enthusiast and especially a BMW enthusiast can see. Unfortunately, we were all made to turn off our phones before we left for the tour, so no photos.

We just did PCD on Monday, which included a plant tour. Like you, I was in awe. The whole experience was simply amazing. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time for the Zentrum due to having to hit the road in the new ride, but it’s definitely on my list in the near future. Congrats.

bmwgrande · 11-29-2018, 07:53 PM

Have fun! I did PCD a couple weeks ago, but the factory had a mechanical issue and so we weren't able to tour it. I'm hoping to get back there to see the factory sooner than later.

shoptb · 11-30-2018, 10:52 AM

It's a great experience in Spartanburg....I did that a few years ago. I loved the driving experience especially...so much fun.

Now, you need to plan a trip to the Welt/Museum/Factory in München. It's on a completely different level...

bmtespar · 12-01-2018, 10:03 AM

The performance driving school was amazing. We spent the day with a little class time, did a slalom run, a skid track to learn to correct for understeer and oversteer, a track handling course, a nice lunch, short classroom session, a competition chasing cars on another skid pad, a timed handling course and lastly a hot lap with one of the instructors in a new M5. We were provided two cars for the day, a 340i and a 240i m. Both were great cars but that 240i m was incredible on the track. It was an amazing time and I placed 3rd for the day for the fastest track time with only 2/10 of a second off first. If you get the email offer, or if even if you don’t (I didn’t) call and try to take advantage of this incredible experience. I almost forgot to mention I saw a lightly camouflaged x3 M on the track. The instructor reluctantly told me he got to drive it and the handling on it is incredible.

pej7445 · 12-01-2018, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmtespar

The performance driving school was amazing. We spent the day with a little class time, did a slalom run, a skid track to learn to correct for understeer and oversteer, a track handling course, a nice lunch, short classroom session, a competition chasing cars on another skid pad, a timed handling course and lastly a hot lap with one of the instructors in a new M5. We were provided two cars for the day, a 340i and a 240i m. Both were great cars but that 240i m was incredible on the track. It was an amazing time and I placed 3rd for the day for the fastest track time with only 2/10 of a second off first. If you get the email offer, or if even if you don’t (I didn’t) call and try to take advantage of this incredible experience. I almost forgot to mention I saw a lightly camouflaged x3 M on the track. The instructor reluctantly told me he got to drive it and the handling on it is incredible.

What email offer? Can you share more details? Thanks! #jealous

bmtespar · 12-01-2018, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pej7445

What email offer? Can you share more details? Thanks! #jealous

Try calling this reservation number. Give them your vin number and they can see if you will qualify for the program. If you qualify, you have one year from your date of purchase to use the voucher. Good luck.

tel:1-866-744-4BMW

pej7445 · 12-15-2018, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmtespar

Quote:

Originally Posted by pej7445

What email offer? Can you share more details? Thanks! #jealous

Try calling this reservation number. Give them your vin number and they can see if you will qualify for the program. If you qualify, you have one year from your date of purchase to use the voucher. Good luck.

tel:1-866-744-4BMW

This worked. Apparently they are offering this to anyone who bought a new BMW recently. The free trip is valid for a year after delivery

Ceskyusaie · 07-10-2021, 06:25 AM

It's an excellent museum, and I also want to visit it and try to take any car for a test drive. But I do not know if they will give me since I have only 2 years of driving experience. On the defensive driving school website where I was taught the theory, they said that I can rent cars when I have 3 years of driving experience. And I want to go there this summer. And such a question: maybe you know their requirement because it's my dream to ride on some powerful BMW or just at least sit next to some professional who will take me around their training ground.

satz · 07-10-2021, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenders

Great museum pics - but someone should have chipped that cookie...

Is that a cookie? at first I thought it was a polishing pad and a little can of polish next to it

11-29-2018, 11:33 AM	#1
bmtespar Major 709 Rep 1,066 Posts Drives: 19 X3 30i, 18 230iX Vert Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Ga iTrader: (0)	Going to Mecca: BMW USA plant tour and driving school I’ve come to Spartanburg to visit the BMW museum and plant tour today and the driving school tomorrow. I’m super excited! Look for pictures and a synopsis to follow. Last edited by bmtespar; 12-01-2018 at 10:23 AM..
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11-29-2018, 12:52 PM	#2
GT500R Major 800 Rep 1,219 Posts Drives: BMW X3M Join Date: May 2018 Location: NE iTrader: (0)	Neat, please do take a lot of pics! __________________ X3M Alpine White - SOLD Fastest Tune Only Record - Mission Performance 10.84@127.43 / +1912 DA NH Dragway \| 10.6@130 Dragy / +820 DA The Streets \| NOW: Tesla Model Y Performance
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11-29-2018, 04:23 PM	#3
bmtespar Major 709 Rep 1,066 Posts Drives: 19 X3 30i, 18 230iX Vert Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Ga iTrader: (0)	The factory tour was incredible. 1400 vehicles produced a day with about 32 hours to build each one. The assembly plant is honestly one of the most amazing things I think a car enthusiast and especially a BMW enthusiast can see. Unfortunately, we were all made to turn off our phones before we left for the tour, so no photos. Attached Images Last edited by bmtespar; 11-29-2018 at 04:52 PM..
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11-29-2018, 07:53 PM	#6
bmwgrande Private First Class 83 Rep 178 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: CT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2006 BMW 325i [0.00] 2010 BMW X3 xDrive30i [0.00]	Have fun! I did PCD a couple weeks ago, but the factory had a mechanical issue and so we weren't able to tour it. I'm hoping to get back there to see the factory sooner than later. __________________ 2019 X3 M40i Alpine White
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11-30-2018, 10:52 AM	#7
shoptb Major 176 Rep 1,063 Posts Drives: '19 G01 X3 m40i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Denver Area iTrader: (0)	It's a great experience in Spartanburg....I did that a few years ago. I loved the driving experience especially...so much fun. Now, you need to plan a trip to the Welt/Museum/Factory in München. It's on a completely different level... __________________ Delivered --> '21 G01 X3 M40i, 8SA, Sunstone Metallic with Cognac Vernasca, 22Z, ZDA, ZDB, ZPK, ZPP w/ 4HA, ZPX, 2VF, 3AC, 4K1, 688, 6NW, 5DF Past --> ?19 G01 X3 m40i, 15 F33 328xi, 8SA, '13 F30 328i, '08 E92 335xi, '95 E34 530i, '88 E30 M3
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12-01-2018, 10:03 AM	#8
bmtespar Major 709 Rep 1,066 Posts Drives: 19 X3 30i, 18 230iX Vert Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Ga iTrader: (0)	The performance driving school was amazing. We spent the day with a little class time, did a slalom run, a skid track to learn to correct for understeer and oversteer, a track handling course, a nice lunch, short classroom session, a competition chasing cars on another skid pad, a timed handling course and lastly a hot lap with one of the instructors in a new M5. We were provided two cars for the day, a 340i and a 240i m. Both were great cars but that 240i m was incredible on the track. It was an amazing time and I placed 3rd for the day for the fastest track time with only 2/10 of a second off first. If you get the email offer, or if even if you don’t (I didn’t) call and try to take advantage of this incredible experience. I almost forgot to mention I saw a lightly camouflaged x3 M on the track. The instructor reluctantly told me he got to drive it and the handling on it is incredible. Last edited by bmtespar; 12-01-2018 at 10:14 AM..
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07-10-2021, 06:25 AM	#12
Ceskyusaie Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: BMW X5 Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	It's an excellent museum, and I also want to visit it and try to take any car for a test drive. But I do not know if they will give me since I have only 2 years of driving experience. On the defensive driving school website where I was taught the theory, they said that I can rent cars when I have 3 years of driving experience. And I want to go there this summer. And such a question: maybe you know their requirement because it's my dream to ride on some powerful BMW or just at least sit next to some professional who will take me around their training ground. Last edited by Ceskyusaie; 07-11-2021 at 06:47 AM..
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