[pneumodoc]

Hey everyone,

Went to the local UDE event where I drove the M340i. Really cool event for those who haven’t done it. Was in the car with the instructor who did one hot lap with me and 2 others in the car and man they are fast. They take those turns quite fast. We then got a chance to do a couple of laps with the instructor and 2 others to get a dense of the track, and then finally do one timed lap.

Impressions of the M340 from a 330 driver: awesome engine. Couldn’t tell huge difference in power because we were essentially just in second gear the whole time, but it pulls really well. Handling feels the same as my m sport 330i, but that’s probably to be expected. Overall felt that the 6 cylinder is fantastic but makes me less regretful of not getting it. It was nice to push the G20 further than you normally can on regular roads!

Also: the cars had about 500 miles on them and we were beating up on them. Maybe the break in period is BS.

[NYC_340i]

Originally Posted by pneumodoc

Also: the cars had about 500 miles on them and we were beating up on them. Maybe the break in period is BS.

The break in process is only to ensure long term reliability really.

These cars will probably see 5-10k max during the UDE events then they will probably be scrapped. So any damage due to not having a proper breaking won't be known in the few thousand miles these cars will ever see.

[Liquid_Ice]

Originally Posted by NYC_340i

The break in process is only to ensure long term reliability really.

These cars will probably see 5-10k max during the UDE events then they will probably be scrapped. So any damage due to not having a proper breaking won't be known in the few thousand miles these cars will ever see.

Are you sure they get scrapped? I thought they usually show up as Fleet vehicles usually with significant discounts to buy or lease them.

[bmwdrive]

What an awesome event!! Seeing what the pros can do with those cars must have been amazing.

[Eagle Creek]

Originally Posted by Liquid_Ice

Are you sure they get scrapped? I thought they usually show up as Fleet vehicles usually with significant discounts to buy or lease them.

I see absolutely no use in scraping them... I call bs on this.

[DBLDNon11]

Originally Posted by Liquid_Ice

Are you sure they get scrapped? I thought they usually show up as Fleet vehicles usually with significant discounts to buy or lease them.

When I attended a similar UDE last year, I asked this very question. They are offered to the dealers and sold as demo's. Keep that in mind when looking at low mileage, used BMW demos. Be weary of one with Track Handling Package!

[TTG]

I did the event too and was pretty disappointed on the whole thing and the lady we had as an instructor ruined the whole event for those of us who were assigned to her. She needed like 20 chill pills!

Yes, the power of the M340 in the tight track was amazing, I was surprised how much one can toss the car around with all traction control units turned on in a small track like that and the response was amazing.

They (she) did not let us control the gears and she was shifting for us as she saw fit. I was honestly expecting much more driving time across all platforms and actually push the cars to limits as I have seen it done in other BMW driving events. We were limited to driving only M340s and had some other cars avail for test drive. I inquired about driving the 850 and there was a 1.5 hr wait time on it.

Poor cars were being beat on pretty hard and I felt bad for them......... I am sure someone will get a "great deal" on them with super low miles down the road

Overall, it was a good event but I do not see myself doing it again.

[Bumpinjeep]

I came here to make a post about it too!
I actually was very impressed by the M340. The power was there, the brakes were really good, the car handled like it was on rails, and when it did slip, it was because the tire temp was extremely high and chunks were coming off of them. My car had the summer tires, i know that the other one had run flats & the third may have had a mixture. But I came away very impressed with the dynamics of the car.
I wanted to take my M2C on there to see what it could do but obviously couldn't. All in all, my instructor was competent and let us really rip the cars around.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by TTG

I did the event too and was pretty disappointed on the whole thing and the lady we had as an instructor ruined the whole event for those of us who were assigned to her. She needed like 20 chill pills!

Yes, the power of the M340 in the tight track was amazing, I was surprised how much one can toss the car around with all traction control units turned on in a small track like that and the response was amazing.

They (she) did not let us control the gears and she was shifting for us as she saw fit. I was honestly expecting much more driving time across all platforms and actually push the cars to limits as I have seen it done in other BMW driving events. We were limited to driving only M340s and had some other cars avail for test drive. I inquired about driving the 850 and there was a 1.5 hr wait time on it.

Poor cars were being beat on pretty hard and I felt bad for them......... I am sure someone will get a "great deal" on them with super low miles down the road

Overall, it was a good event but I do not see myself doing it again.

hmmm..... I wonder if we had the same lady. I have been to many events and had a great time. My lady instructor experience was last year with the G30 5er. This lady instructor was so uptight she ruined the experience. If I ever encounter her again I’ll decline to be in her car.

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

hmmm..... I wonder if we had the same lady. I have been to many events and had a great time. My lady instructor experience was last year with the G30 5er. This lady instructor was so uptight she ruined the experience. If I ever encounter her again I’ll decline to be in her car.

Was the the one from Tacoma WA? The other two instructors were from Texas, in my group.

[x986]

After one of these events, I asked an instructor how the cars were set up. To me, it seemed that the cars were not as stable as they should have been, and they leaned a lot. The answer seemed somewhat evasive to me; it was not straight forward like we had 'this', 'this', and 'that' settings. I'm guessing, but think that they 'destabilized' the car a bit so a bunch of neophytes wouldn't push too hard.

[TTG]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

hmmm..... I wonder if we had the same lady. I have been to many events and had a great time. My lady instructor experience was last year with the G30 5er. This lady instructor was so uptight she ruined the experience. If I ever encounter her again I’ll decline to be in her car.

My feelings EXACTLY. Her name was Kathy! I almost parked the car in the middle of the track and just walk away. I did not go there to get screamed at while she was pounding on the doors, grabbing the steering wheel busy making the whole experience awful.

I wish there was a way to provide feedback for the event.

[TTG]

Originally Posted by Bumpinjeep

Was the the one from Tacoma WA? The other two instructors were from Texas, in my group.

Yes, the other guys were super cool.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by TTG

I did the event too and was pretty disappointed on the whole thing and the lady we had as an instructor ruined the whole event for those of us who were assigned to her. She needed like 20 chill pills!

Yes, the power of the M340 in the tight track was amazing, I was surprised how much one can toss the car around with all traction control units turned on in a small track like that and the response was amazing.

They (she) did not let us control the gears and she was shifting for us as she saw fit. I was honestly expecting much more driving time across all platforms and actually push the cars to limits as I have seen it done in other BMW driving events. We were limited to driving only M340s and had some other cars avail for test drive. I inquired about driving the 850 and there was a 1.5 hr wait time on it.

Poor cars were being beat on pretty hard and I felt bad for them......... I am sure someone will get a "great deal" on them with super low miles down the road

Overall, it was a good event but I do not see myself doing it again.

The UDE is a glimpse of what these cars can do. If you want a taste, attend the M Track Day. If you want a meal, attend a 1 Day M School. If you want a feast attend the 2 Day M School. Then you will know how much you actually don't know.

[TTG]

Originally Posted by jmg

The UDE is a glimpse of what these cars can do. If you want a taste, attend the M Track Day. If you want a meal, attend a 1 Day M School. If you want a feast attend the 2 Day M School. Then you will know how much you actually don't know.

I have done the 1 day M school in Germany, one in Seoul Korea and one in Istanbul Turkey...... The amount of attention to detail, the exceptional treatment you receive especially when abroad is like getting out of Singapore Airlines and boarding a United flight.

I don't think I will be doing UDE in the future but looking forward to going to Thermal, CA sometime very soon.

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by x986

After one of these events, I asked an instructor how the cars were set up. To me, it seemed that the cars were not as stable as they should have been, and they leaned a lot. The answer seemed somewhat evasive to me; it was not straight forward like we had 'this', 'this', and 'that' settings. I'm guessing, but think that they 'destabilized' the car a bit so a bunch of neophytes wouldn't push too hard.

I thought the idea of events like this was to allow people to have, what amounts to, a spirited test drive. If the cars there feel sloppy and unimpressive, I can't imagine it'll enamor prospective buyers to your brand's models.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Eagle Creek

I see absolutely no use in scraping them... I call bs on this.

They get sold, not scraped.

[Cortexiphan]

Originally Posted by TTG

I have done the 1 day M school in Germany, one in Seoul Korea and one in Istanbul Turkey...... The amount of attention to detail, the exceptional treatment you receive especially when abroad is like getting out of Singapore Airlines and boarding a United flight.

I don't think I will be doing UDE in the future but looking forward to going to Thermal, CA sometime very soon.

Well, BMW has a different clientele abroad.
You have mentioned Istanbul, Turkey. A base 330i is about $80,000 over there. In the US, most BMWs are old to upper middle class. Over there, almost all BMWs (Maybe except 1 series) are for "1%", the super rich. Thus BMW events should be more 'luxurious' as the ultra-rich who can afford BMWs over there would have different expectations from such an event...

[TTG]

Originally Posted by Cortexiphan

Well, BMW has a different clientele abroad.
You have mentioned Istanbul, Turkey. A base 330i is about $80,000 over there. In the US, most BMWs are old to upper middle class. Over there, almost all BMWs (Maybe except 1 series) are for "1%", the super rich. Thus BMW events should be more 'luxurious' as the ultra-rich who can afford BMWs over there would have different expectations from such an event...

It certainly did not feel that way when we were in Ist (I know its not reflective of rest of the country) as I have seen more BMWs / Range Rovers / MB than I have ever in the US. To us, its a luxury car, to them its another car. I would agree with your assessment may be in Seoul as German cars are pretty rare. Regardless, the event we did in Germany was no exception. I am sticking with my United vs Singapore Airlines comparison.

[x986]

Originally Posted by Fuller

I thought the idea of events like this was to allow people to have, what amounts to, a spirited test drive. If the cars there feel sloppy and unimpressive, I can't imagine it'll enamor prospective buyers to your brand's models.

Fuller,
Obviously I didn't get my point across well. When I said the word 'destabilize', I did not mean it literally, I should have said something like 'not maximized', or set up to give 'broad warning'. Getting a 4,000# car around an autocross course without killing too many cones or spinouts with a bunch of newbies, who are almost certainly better than "average drivers" is a worthy accomplishment.

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by x986

Fuller,
Obviously I didn't get my point across well. When I said the word 'destabilize', I did not mean it literally, I should have said something like 'not maximized', or set up to give 'broad warning'. Getting a 4,000# car around an autocross course without killing too many cones or spinouts with a bunch of newbies, who are almost certainly better than "average drivers" is a worthy accomplishment.

I see. Thanks for the clarification.