The experience and excitement of PCD started well before we left for Spartanburg, S.C. Shortly after we ordered our car my husband mentioned Performance Center Delivery and that we should look into it. I did a little research and I was in! We reached out to our dealer, who said he was going to suggest we do this as we live only a few hours from Spartanburg. Our dealer set it up for us and all we needed to do was confirm the date worked for us. I was excited and nervous to go on a track for the first time and of course elated to pick up our brand new car! I did not know what I would be getting myself into, nor that it would be one of the greatest and most memorable experiences of our lives!
Anticipation of PCD
After looking up PCD in both the US and Germany (they offer European Delivery too- which also looks amazing), I decided I wanted to do something unique for our trip by buying or creating matching t-shirts. I looked online for awhile, found a few shirts that we really liked but of course were no longer sold. I then looked into the process of having one made. I found an image online we really liked and contacted the graphic artist, Vanisara to see if she either made shirts or if we could use her design to print one. She was so nice, and let us use the design. If you like this design she has a few other awesome BMW designs that you can check out at: www.vanisara.com/alphabet-paper-project/
I used photoshop elements to change the color of the M and make a few adjustments. We also wanted to incorporate our two cars the M3 and M40i on the shirt, so I created our sleeve graphics in photoshop. I tried to create the stripes as close to the Motorsport colors as I could. Finally, came the back of the shirt which took a little more creativity. I created the Motorsport symbol in photoshop, added the three thin lines representing the colors and then came up with the slogan “Welcome to Motorsport”.
As PCD was rapidly approaching we determined what else we may need for the course. We bought a GoPro to capture our driving experiences as we had never done anything like this before, along with a car mount. At exactly 3 weeks out we booked our one way flight to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP). We were told not to book our flight until 3 weeks before your delivery date as there may be unforeseeable circumstances that may cause a change in your delivery date. We also booked a night at the Village Inn at the Biltmore to stay the night after we completed PCD on our drive home.
If you have any questions about PCD, the customer service team is very responsive. You can email: PerformanceCenterDelivery@bmwmc.com
Arrival at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
We received 5 star customer service from the moment we landed in Spartanburg, S.C. I called the Marriott once we landed and told them we were with BMW Performance Center Delivery, they took our name and said the driver would be there in 10-15 minutes. By the time we exited the airport the driver was already waiting outside by a white X5. Our driver helped us put our bags in the car and was very energetic about what we had to look forward to the next day.
Once we arrived at the hotel we were greeted by the bellman who took our bags and ushered us to the front desk. He also offered to make reservations at Artisan, the restaurant where we were able to have a complimentary 3- course meal. Every individual we came in contact with provided great customer service and greeted us with a smile. It certainly made a difference in our trip! The front desk clerk gave us our welcome packet, room keys and a complimentary drink ticket for each of us to use at the restaurant.
The bellman took us up to our room with our bags. Our flight was after work and we arrived at the hotel around 9:30 PM. The 3- course meal was offered in the restaurant until 10 PM so we headed right back down for dinner.
Complimentary 3-course dinner at Artisan
The service at the restaurant was nothing short of what we had received since our arrival. We were given the BMW menu, which offered many items and they all looked great.
I ordered a Caesar salad, Shrimp and Grits and the Georgia Peach Cheesecake. My husband ordered the Scratch Made Soup, 5 oz Filet Mignon and Georgia Peach Cheesecake. The food was fantastic!
Complimentary Breakfast Buffet
The next morning we had a complimentary breakfast buffet at Artisan, which began at 6:30AM. It had everything you could want from Pancakes, French Toast, Eggs, Fruit, Hash Browns to Made to Order Omelets and more. They also left a carafe of coffee on your table.
Arrival at PCD
The shuttle picked us up around 7:40 AM to take us to the BMW Performance Center. The drive was fairly quick with us arriving by 8 AM. We walked into the performance center and were greeted by many BMW staff, along with two X3 M40is on the main floor. One was in the Phytonic Blue and the other was Alpine White. We ordered the X3 M40i in Alpine White, Black Vernasca Leather with Blue Contrast Stitching, Rhombicle trim, 21-inch wheels in Cerium Gray. While we were not certain this was our car, it was the exact combination we ordered. Prior to ordering our car we had not seen the Black Leather with Blue Stitching or Rhombicle trim in person. We immediately knew we had made the right decision and couldn’t have been happier with the styling!
Shortly after walking in we were welcomed to PCD and introduced to all the individuals who would be leading our day. We were divided into two groups, one group would go with the BMW Product Specialists first, who would show us how to use all the features on our cars, while the other group was going to the classroom and the track to test out a car similar to the one we ordered.
Classroom Session
We went to the classroom first and learned some skills from Jim to apply to future driving, the course and what to expect for the day. Our three course instructors were Andy, Jim and Arnold. They were amazing and really made the day memorable!
Time to hit the track!
We then went outside to pick out our vehicle. We had a silver X3 M40i for the first part of the day. We quickly hooked up our GoPro, so we could catch all the amazing experiences we were in store for. There were about 4 other vehicles in our group. Three were the X3 M40i and the other was an X5 M.
How fast can you stop with BMW ABS brakes?
The answer is VERY fast! Our first stop on the track was to test out the ABS brakes. We started off accelerating at 40 MPH and stomping on the brakes as hard as we could when we reached the specified stopping spot. It was truly amazing how quick BMWs can stop. We then progressed to 45, 50, and 55. Andy really tried to get us to punch the brakes as hard as we could- he made these exercises entertaining. It was great to learn what the car is truly capable of, especially since braking is such a huge part of my daily commute in the city.
The next segment was autocross. The track was set up with cones to weave in and out of and help make the track more exciting. We were spaced out so we would be able to accelerate and take the course as fast as we wanted to. This was our first time on the track and it was amazing! We both really pushed the car and had a great time! I never knew how fun it would be to be on the track, and even more so I assume because it was not our car. I was also shocked at the power the X3 M40i has, it does not feel like an SUV at all. The 0-60 time is about 4.6 seconds (maybe faster!), and the car is very quick and nimble at the lower speeds too.
Time to turn off the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control)
Our next stop was the skid pad to drive without DSC (Dynamic Stability Control). This time we parked our SUVs on the side of the road and took turns going on the skid pad in a 340i.
They had two cars going on the skid pad at a time, each one with one course participant and one professional driver. I watched my husband go first and was amazed at the 360’s he did and the drifting. It was awesome watching from the side of the road as I had never seen a car do a 360 that close to me! Then I realized- I am up next, how can I do a 360 without flying off the road?!?! I have no idea what I am doing!
I got into the car and adjusted the seat and mirrors and turned to Andy (professional driver) and said “how do I do what he did?” He said just listen to me and we will be all set. So we started off around the skid pad and sure enough there was my first 360! It was an amazing feeling and so much more fun than I could have imagined. I kept going and there was my 2nd 360- even better and more fun than the first. We then did some drifting and headed off the track. This was one of the most fun events for me throughout the day and I still love thinking back to it! Knowing that I had a professional driver next to me made all the difference, and a more controlled environment. Thank you Andy!
Hot Lap- Are you ready?!?!
Up next was our Hot Lap with a professional driver in an M3. We had Jim as our driver and he was phenomenal! Talk about an experience I will never forget. First of all, he was so nice and made sure we felt comfortable and safe in the car the entire time while giving us the drive of a lifetime. We started off with autocross and speeding around the entire track, then we hit the skid pad and we did at least a 360 if not more than we drifted for awhile and then left the track in the dust. A ride to remember!
BMW X Factory Tour (BMW Manufacturing)
We followed Arnold in our X3 M40i to the factory for the BMW Factory Tour (BMW Manufacturing). I thought this would be one of my less favorite parts of the day, but it happened to be very interesting! I am so happy the tour was open for BMW owners. As we pulled up to the factory we noticed every single parking space was full and every curb had a car parked next to it. There were a few reserved spots at the front for us, but it was amazing to see how many workers were in the factory at that time!
No cameras or cell phones are allowed in the building. We entered and were greeted by our tour guide who gave us headphones and glasses to wear. She told us what to expect and how to stay safe. Our tour guide through the factory was great- she had a plethora of knowledge, kept our attention and really taught us a lot. The tour is always something I will remember and taught me a lot about my car. It truly made me proud to be a BMW owner. Every car that is manufactured in the factory is owned by someone, whether it be an individual or a dealership. It was amazing to watch each stage of the car be put together and how much effort, time and precision goes into each step. One interesting fact is that the BMW key stays with the vehicle the entire time from the moment the paint is completed on the frame.
Other Roads Course- time to off road!
After leaving the plant Arnold led us over to the off roading section of the course (Other Roads Course). The first part was driving through about 2 feet of water. My husband drove through the water and it was awesome to experience this. I would never have known the capabilities of my car and that it could go through that much water without being phased.
We then went to a rocky hill where we were guided to balance at a 45 degree angle on two wheels! That was definitely an experience and at one point I thought we were going to tip over, but with the guidance of our instructor and the capabilities of the X3 M40i we were just fine!
The answer is no, if you lean to the right when your car is balancing on the left two wheels it will not help hold the car up, although we did try this. All of our instructors made the course not only fun but instructional.
We did make it safely back onto all 4 wheels and we continued onwards down the hill. I am shocked that our car could withstand that much of an angle and not be phased.
Hill Descent Control
Our last section of the Other Roads course was testing out the hill descent feature. We drove to the top of a rocky hill and stopped. We then pushed the hill descent control and took our foot off the brake and not touching the gas either, the X3 M40i slowly and at a consistent speed made it’s way down the hill. You could increase or decrease the speed of the vehicle with the + and – buttons on the steering wheel. It is a pretty cool feature.
Complimentary Lunch
We then took a break to enjoy our complimentary lunch. We didn’t know what to expect, but it far surpassed what I would have thought. We walked into the cafeteria and they had everything from burgers to chicken wraps to salad to grilled veggies to fries to dessert. I asked what our options were and the lady behind the counter said “What do you want, we will make you whatever you like.” There are limitations I am sure, but they offered many more options than just the food laid out. We enjoyed our lunch talking to other PCD drivers. Our group was from all over the Eastern part of the US.
Taking delivery of our car!
Finally it was time to see our new car and learn all the ins and outs. Just love this car- it’s the perfect size for us, 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and it sure sounds amazing when you start it up!
Our product specialist Josh was amazing- just like all of our instructors had been. He started off with the basics for me as this was my first BMW, even though my husband is not new to the brand. I set up BMW Connect- love this feature! I can take a 360 view of my car from anywhere, which I have used multiple times now. I even took one in the PCD show room which is a cool picture I will be keeping. It is really nice when you are parked in a public area to check to see the surroundings of your vehicle remotely.
You can also check to make sure the doors are locked, circulate air through the car, and many more things. We also set up Apple Car Play and BMW Assist while there. The wireless charging in the car is amazing, along with the pano sunroof!
There are so many security features on this car and I am so happy we got these. The car I had prior to this one had no sensors or cameras in it, and I didn’t realize how useful and how much safer cameras and sensors can make your drive. I use the parking cameras all the time and the bird’s eye view is amazing when parking the car. I will sometimes turn this on when I am pulling into a spot too.
I had been ready to order the car without the security features, but I am so glad we opted to order all of them. The lane assist, collision and self park are great options. We then learned about the different drive modes: Eco, Comfort and Sport Plus and how we could customize the driver profile with each of these. We received two keys and each key is programmed to a driver, one to myself and one to my husband. Thank you Josh for walking us through every inch and capability of our new car!
Overall, Performance Center Delivery is the way to go if you can make it work. I would not hesitate to do this again, and we have already recommended it to all of our friends and family. I have never been much of a car person, but after this experience I now look forward to getting into my car, turning it on to hear the roar of the M40i engine and am proud to be a BMW owner and an M enthusiast. Thank you to the PCD team for making this experience so memorable!
