This program has you share an M car with another driver as you both learn the ins-and-outs of high-speed driving and control. At the BMW Performance Driving School, there's a BMW driving course for everyone. We practice challenge-by-choice, so you’re always at a level of performance that you feel comfortable with. The team here did an exceptional job. I'm not going to lie, I slid off course many times. If you're all about speed, the track is the part of the program you'll enjoy most because you can go as fast as you want to. There are multiple programs available for people of all ages, among which are the One-Day M School, Two-Day M School, Advanced M School, and one or two day programs for teens and adults. Experience all three during your stay. I'm not much of a drifter and controlling the car is quite difficult. I stick around because of the excellent weather and proximity to the beach, but it isn't necessarily the best place for driving. Whether you’re working on fencing, or just lost the key to the lock on your shed, having the right bolt cutters on hand is always a good idea. For instance, when you reach a sharp turn, a countdown begins from 5 to 1, which the instructor uses to help you stop with ample time. We enrolled in the One-Day M School, which offers courses ranging from car control to teen driving school. From avocado halves to hoppy bunnies, costumes speak to every child's unique spirit. Get it right, and you’ll start to glide sideways through our polished concrete skidpad with ease. The first BMW M sedan with M xDrive, you’ll get to experience how this amazing technology helps to control 617 horsepower. I gotten invited to a corporate event which was incredible.We only did a half day event but it was still really cool. To owners of recently purchased M cars - welcome to the family, let's get you up to speed. To date 3 of the 4 members of my family have attended the school. The great thing about the exercise is that you don't have to do much to get the car to drift. BMW has over 120 vehicles in its fleet, including the M2, M4, M5, 340i, M240i, X5 M, X6 M, X3Mi, M760i, 7 Series and M550i among others. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks. The driving instructors at BMW Performance Driving School in Spartanburg are having some fun with the F10 BMW M5 on the wet skid pad. There are also homes that are designed by members of the club with the sole intent of housing all of their impressive track cars. This is M 101 - designed to help you learn the limits of BMW M Cars while exploring your own. Here are some of the best. The mighty M2 might be small, but its power and stability pair perfectly with our auto cross. Finally they let us show what we learnt in some fun competitions. BMW Performance Driving School. If you can, you should sign up for the experience. String lights add personality and soft light to your living space. Set against the backdrop of a beautiful mountain range, The Thermal Club is an exclusive track that offers three unique layouts, plus our own challenge course to encourage maximum thrills. If you purchase a new BMW you can take delivery of the vehicle here and really learn how to drive the car.I would highly recommend this venue. The instructor went through the track at three different speeds: normal, faster and professional, with the point of the normal speed meant to acclimate you to the faster speeds beyond 70 miles per hour. They had good classroom teaching skills to help us understand the science and best practices of driving. Every single one is a two story building, but only the second floor is for living; the first story is a massive garage where cars live. As I mentioned before, the Thermal Club houses three FIA certified race tracks: the North Palm circuit, South Palm circuit and Desert Palm circuit. The other one located in Greer, South Carolina opened more than 20 years ago. The Thermal Race Club is a 60 acre stretch of land located 35 miles southeast of Palm Springs in the small town of Thermal, California. A perfect balance of precision and power, the BMW M4 is an ace on the track with 444 horsepower on tap. First class operation-the staff from the drivers to the delivery personnel were professional and courteous. In our One and Two day M Schools, you’ll learn the dynamics of driving. When BMW extended an invitation to check out its Performance Driving School at the Thermal Race Club, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Got up to 160mph with a professional driver at the wheel. Throughout the track, there are various markers that help you get a feel for the turns and stops. Reaching this stable mode is the most rewarding aspect of the exercise but it's also the hardest because one wrong move and you'll skid out. I attended the M School (I read... That's because while in a dry state, the coefficient of grip is similar to that of a wet road surface. If you’ve ever dreamed of driving a power-packed BMW on the edge of physics, the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC is the destination where your adrenaline fantasies will be realized. When you enter the Thermal Club, the first building you come up to is BMW's center. Doing donuts on a wet concrete skid pad was the highlight for my son. waste of time unless you are a teen or old guys buying a M series, good luck, the reviews on BMW M series are poor, they will never ever tell you that, I did the AMG Driving academy thru Mercedes and it was so so so so so much better, albeit that the Benz school is more expensive and I guess like the old saying goes, You Get What U pay for, the AMG school you can really enjoy their cars, try an AMG CLA 45, put that up against the little rat car that BMW uses for their 2 day school, BMW M240i and 340i, really, the M240i is only a badged M, it doesn't have dual clutch, or limited slip, etc.. And we've collected our favorite options. From the pick-up at the airport to the hotel, to dinner that night and the entire experience at the Performance Center the next day. That being said, there are many more cars to choose from. Talk about experience! This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Historic Sites. Too much gas, you skid out. I've owned several BMWs but has never fully understood the cars capability. The first was laps on a special polished concrete surface that is meant to teach you how to drift. Members are free to build and customize these homes as they see fit, which includes buying multiple lots for even bigger garages. At the BMW Performance Driving School, there's a BMW driving course for everyone. Inside, I met up with my instructor, who quickly laid out our plans for the day: I was going to get to drive an M3 and see exactly what the complex had to offer. In fact, more speed is encouraged. You go where you look, and here you’ll be looking at our lead instructor’s car as they guide you around the proper line at ever-increasing speeds. You could not ask for more! Click here to learn more or control your settings. Ask Dream49080527463 about BMW Performance Center, Ask mjswansona about BMW Performance Center, Ask kkay22017 about BMW Performance Center, Ask Stephanie Y W about BMW Performance Center, Ask ScottH228 about BMW Performance Center, Hotels near BMW Car Club of America Foundation, Hotels near (GSP) Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, Hotels near (AVL) Asheville Regional Airport, Hotels near Virginia College - Spartanburg, SC, Hotels near Spartanburg Community College, Hotels near Sherman College of Chiropractic, Hotels near Strayer University Greenville Campus, Carolina Treasures Antique and Vintage Goods. It might sound excessive, but when you're hitting over 130 miles per hour, turns approach quickly. Whatever the case maybe, if you have never driven a bimmer and you think that BMW is a superior car brand then fine, but M can't hold a candle to AMG, the Benz exhaust notes are great, the transmission is excellent, the handling is extreme compared to the equally priced BMW M240i, which is a great for a teenage girls and grandmas, also the instructors could care less, they were kissing up to some of the "high rollers" I am going to put my BMW on Turo and go order a Benz. Prices Read our COVID-19 statement and preparations. I tool my highschool students, one had... This is super easy to do because while going around the special surface, you start slipping and sliding at anything over 20 miles per hour. All expenses were paid for by BMW and all were priceless. Needless to say, it is an impressive sports car. read more, This is the best thing you could do to help a new driver. Just in case you are unfamiliar with the M3, it comes with a 3.0-liter M twin turbo engine that produces 444 horsepower, 406-pound feet of torque and reaches a top speed of 155 miles per hour. My time was split into two activities. The basics of performance are anything but basic. Everyone one of these cars is stock, meaning they are the same cars you can find at a BMW dealer.