|
|
Post Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
04-10-2022, 08:20 AM | #1 |
Colonel
4859
Rep 2,744
Posts |
UDE (Ultimate Driving Experience) Impressions From FedEx Field 4/9/22
Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Last time I attended (three? years ago), the track cars were the new G20 330i and M340i. This year, (not surprisingly,) it was the year of the EVs: Track cars were the i4 M50's, and although a variety of cars were available for the street courses, the new iX 50's were prominently featured. Due to covid protocols, instructors no longer ride along with the drivers, instead watching from the tents and providing live guidance over radio about turning, braking, and handling. It's a short track and they're very perceptive, so it's not all that different than having them onboard. (Also, per covid: A cleaning technician fogs and wipes down the driver's area between every driver change, and there is no longer any timed trials/team competitions for the laps.) So, quick impressions... - The i4(M50) launches very hard; that instant EV torque is lustworthy and easy to tap into anytime. It handles fairly well — much better with the 20" performance tires; The track was still damp from overnight rains, and they provided a lot more grip and control than the 19's. They take a fair bite into the range, but if you're stepping up to the M50, you might as well get the performance wheels/tires... - ... but you still feel its 5000-pound weight when hustling it in tight turns. Again, the car keeps its composure very well, but you have a sense of the mass. - B mode (regen braking) works well, especially on a track when you're either accelerating or braking. They asked us to keep it engaged to help preserve the batteries, and although it was odd at first, I quickly got used to it. Perhaps coasting on a normal commute would be weirder. - It's also eerily quiet (save for the silly Hans Zimmer soundtrack). If you want a comfortable commute, this is a good thing! If you'll be nostalgic about timeless motoring, this might not be as good for you. - I played a little with iDrive 8, both on the i4 and the iX. The screen is gorgeous, the graphics are crisp, and it responds well to user input. However, the digital dash seems to put form over function (though the HUD was a nice and useful complement), and I'm still not convinced that a digital menu system for things like climate control is better than physical buttons, especially when you need to scroll horizontally to see all the options. That's just bad UX design, and I hope they fix it (and/or retain more physical buttons for the non-i cars). - I then test drove the X3MC — the only M car available — on the short road course nearby, and it felt like I had jumped into an old-fashioned muscle car. The weight penalty felt similar to the i4 — though the X3 was also taller — but the rumbling engine and transmission shifting were like a warm embrace from an old friend. - Next up was the iX 50. The EV and iDrive interface experience was pretty similar to the i4, but the ultra-modern interior felt very different. The quality was high and worked well, but it was so far removed from traditional BMW interfaces, including garish seat and iDrive controllers rendered in crystal, that it left a weird taste in my mouth. Still, the car drove and handled very well; If I were in the market for one, I wouldn't even think about the M60; there was more than enough thrust with the 50. (Aside: I'm not certain whether that car had the B&W system, but I felt a subwoofer in the back of my seat that I first thought was a massage function.) - Bonus: Attendees received a 20% coupon for Performance Center driving schools/events, which I'll be taking advantage of to coincide with my M3 delivery later this summer.
__________________
Last edited by NightWriter; 04-10-2022 at 09:16 PM.. |
04-10-2022, 01:35 PM | #2 |
Private
115
Rep 50
Posts |
Going in a couple weeks when they come to Atlanta. I'm pumped.
|
Appreciate
2
NightWriter4858.50 ggunn9160.00 |
04-10-2022, 01:38 PM | #3 |
Second Lieutenant
472
Rep 243
Posts |
[
[IMG]https://cdn.bmwblog.com/wp-content/u...c-bmw-os-8.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Excellent review! I have an i4 M50 in production and waiting on M3C and M8C allocations from my dealer in NoVA…put my order in for the M3C back in Oct and still 4th on their waiting list …I hope you get your M3C in the summer; our sales manager told me I may have to wait for the '23's 😡
__________________
2023 M3 Comp XDrive, Frozen Portomao Blue/Kyalami Orange Black, Valvetronics Full Ti Catback Exh, Eventuri CF Intake, RaceChip Tune
2024 i5 M60 Sapphire Black, Black Veganza 2024 X7 M60i: Tanzanite Blue II Metallic, Tortufo 2023. BMW M1000R Competition BrenTuned |
Appreciate
2
NightWriter4858.50 nick37531132.00 |
04-10-2022, 01:40 PM | #4 |
Lieutenant General
19225
Rep 14,234
Posts Drives: G82 M4C X-Drive Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Orange County, CA
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2025 BMW M2 [0.00]
2022 G82 M4C X-Drive [9.89] 2018 F80 M3 CS [9.90] 2018 BMW i3 REx [5.00] 2015 BMW i3 REx [0.00] 2016 BMW F80 M3 [7.29] 2016 BMW F30 340i ZTR [10.00] 2013 BMW F30 328i [0.00] 2006 Audi S4 25Quattro [7.00] |
I try to attend every year just to try different bimmers. Looking forward to trying the i cars since this is the direction we are going in! Do they still award the fastest drivers? I've gotten free hats in the past! It's just a gesture though since they give out free hats anyway lol!
__________________
2022 G82///M4 Competition X-Drive - KW-HAS, Millway Race Camber Plates, Cup2 Connect*, PSI High Flow Midpipe, Lightweight Front Lip, M Perf Flow Through Wing Previous • 2018 F80 ///M3 CS • 2016 F80 ///M3 Ordered • 2025 ///M2 |
Appreciate
0
|
04-10-2022, 02:06 PM | #5 | |
Colonel
4859
Rep 2,744
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-10-2022, 05:16 PM | #6 |
New Member
19
Rep 15
Posts |
I was at this event as well!!!
|
Appreciate
2
NightWriter4858.50 nissanite45.50 |
04-10-2022, 05:22 PM | #7 |
Brigadier General
3582
Rep 3,112
Posts Drives: G06/G20/F30/F15/F10/E90 Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Baltimore, MD
|
I was there as well, here's some photos
|
Appreciate
4
|
04-10-2022, 06:04 PM | #8 |
Major General
9835
Rep 6,142
Posts |
Thanks for the writeup and to everybody sharing photos.
I have a dream...a dream that one day, EV and ICE can coexist. Different strokes for different folks.
__________________
Former
-2008 E90 328 black/brown -2012 Lexus IS250 black/black |
Appreciate
0
|
04-10-2022, 07:39 PM | #9 | ||
First Lieutenant
311
Rep 340
Posts |
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
1
F30lolz6808.00 |
04-10-2022, 09:51 PM | #10 | |||
Brigadier General
3582
Rep 3,112
Posts Drives: G06/G20/F30/F15/F10/E90 Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Baltimore, MD
|
Quote:
|
|||
Appreciate
0
|
04-11-2022, 08:11 PM | #11 |
Second Lieutenant
320
Rep 275
Posts |
I went in the afternoon on Friday. I wish I would have gotten there earlier, as I ran out of time to do the street test. We only got one drive in the 440i convertible. Which sounded great. We also got lost once. But man all I saw was speed cameras, cops, and angry residents. It seems people be flying round those corners. They will end up with a the ticket eventually hah!
Didn't have time for the iX either but really enjoyed the m50. But I agree I could feel the weight on that. But last round I really put it through the paces. I wish I had lap times I want to compare!
__________________
23 M3X Toronto Red/Full Silverstone with MPHAS
Valvetronic V2 Cat Back, CS Flash. -VPC Delivery Day. |
Appreciate
1
NightWriter4858.50 |
04-11-2022, 08:31 PM | #12 |
Colonel
4859
Rep 2,744
Posts |
Yeah I can only imagine the stack of red light camera tickets the corporate offices will be receiving shortly...
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-11-2022, 08:54 PM | #14 |
Colonel
4859
Rep 2,744
Posts |
I asked about this. Each individual driver at UDE is assigned to a group of about 20-30, and then joins their tent and circuit. Each circuit includes 4 cars, and each individual gets three separate runs, each one about two laps around. They're short laps, but obviously performed at WOT. The cars are retired after three sessions for charging (and BMW arranged for some high-voltage fast chargers there). I have no idea how many miles that equates to, or what level of charge they get down to.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-12-2022, 03:52 AM | #17 | ||
Lieutenant General
19225
Rep 14,234
Posts Drives: G82 M4C X-Drive Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Orange County, CA
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2025 BMW M2 [0.00]
2022 G82 M4C X-Drive [9.89] 2018 F80 M3 CS [9.90] 2018 BMW i3 REx [5.00] 2015 BMW i3 REx [0.00] 2016 BMW F80 M3 [7.29] 2016 BMW F30 340i ZTR [10.00] 2013 BMW F30 328i [0.00] 2006 Audi S4 25Quattro [7.00] |
Quote:
Half the fun was comparing times!! I still might go to check the i4 though.
__________________
2022 G82///M4 Competition X-Drive - KW-HAS, Millway Race Camber Plates, Cup2 Connect*, PSI High Flow Midpipe, Lightweight Front Lip, M Perf Flow Through Wing Previous • 2018 F80 ///M3 CS • 2016 F80 ///M3 Ordered • 2025 ///M2 |
||
Appreciate
0
|
04-12-2022, 05:53 AM | #18 |
Colonel
4859
Rep 2,744
Posts |
Yeah, me neither. Maybe it was really just a cynical way to save some EV range if people aren't driving as hard?
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-12-2022, 08:22 AM | #19 |
Private
160
Rep 91
Posts |
I will be at the Atlanta event as well. I went last year and had a blast driving the M440i on the autocross course. I also test drove the X3m. I drive a stage 1 tuned X5. My X5 seems faster.
__________________
'13 Toyota 4Runner(sold)
'16 Suzuki GSX-R750 motorcycle(sold) '18 X5 F15 sdrive stg 1 (sold Aug 23) '23 Tesla Model Y Perf |
Appreciate
0
|
04-12-2022, 10:01 AM | #20 |
Lieutenant General
19225
Rep 14,234
Posts Drives: G82 M4C X-Drive Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Orange County, CA
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2025 BMW M2 [0.00]
2022 G82 M4C X-Drive [9.89] 2018 F80 M3 CS [9.90] 2018 BMW i3 REx [5.00] 2015 BMW i3 REx [0.00] 2016 BMW F80 M3 [7.29] 2016 BMW F30 340i ZTR [10.00] 2013 BMW F30 328i [0.00] 2006 Audi S4 25Quattro [7.00] |
They didn't time last year either though.
__________________
2022 G82///M4 Competition X-Drive - KW-HAS, Millway Race Camber Plates, Cup2 Connect*, PSI High Flow Midpipe, Lightweight Front Lip, M Perf Flow Through Wing Previous • 2018 F80 ///M3 CS • 2016 F80 ///M3 Ordered • 2025 ///M2 |
Appreciate
0
|
04-12-2022, 10:51 AM | #21 |
Colonel
4859
Rep 2,744
Posts |
Based on my cynical thread yesterday regarding corporate litigation concerns, maybe they got nervous about too many crushed cones and decided to tone it down.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|