The BMW Performance Center, unveiled in 1999 in Spartanburg, South Carolina is perhaps the best place in the United States to celebrate the BMW spirit, dedication to quality, and commitment to performance.
Home to the BMW Performance Driving School, the BMW Performance Center Delivery Program and a world-class conference center, BMW designed its Performance Center to expand the unique automotive experience into a memorable event. At one location, a visitor can tour a $1.6 billion state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, browse the Zentrum museum showcasing more than 75 years of BMW automotive and motorcycle history, host a successful corporate event, and enroll in one of several driving instruction programs.
Highlights of the state-of-the-art facility include:
- $12 Million Dollar Facility (Performance Center)
- BMW Vehicle Delivery Center
- BMW SAV Off-Road Course
- An advanced technical facility, body shop and apprentice training for company-owned vehicles.
- Conference facilities
One-Day Car Control School
In a fraction of a second, a good driver can process their car’s response to a number of adverse driving conditions and act accordingly to minimize the risk of an accident. We can teach you how to diagnosis these conditions in a safe, controlled environment under the watchful eyes of a professional driver.
Driving is the act of balancing the immutable forces of nature; accelerating, turning and stopping your car are governed by these forces. Understanding them is fundamental to good driving, which is why the One-Day Driver’s Program focuses on vehicle dynamics. Not just in theory, but in practice. Lots and lots of practice. All participants must hold a valid driver’s license.
Cost: $700
Two-Day Car Control School
The Two-Day School adds more driving time on top of the One-Day School, with a focus on optimizing your car’s safety systems. Because the more instruction you receive and the more you practice, the better driver you become. You’ll experience a greater breadth of the BMW model line to better understand how vehicles of different sizes and weights behave in similar conditions. All participants must hold a valid driver’s license.
Cost: $1,200
One-Day M School
Get ready to focus on the same skill sets that professional drivers work on every day. You’ll learn how to optimize the M cars’ attitude to the conditions and road at hand. You’ll become a smoother driver. And your reaction times will decrease. It’s the result of your skills becoming more in tune with the attributes of the car you’ll be driving. After all, power is nothing if you can’t handle it.
We’ll hone in on finesse, quick reflexes and eye coordination through a variety of exercises on our slalom course, autocross and wet skid pad. With more horsepower and sharper chassis dynamics at your controls, you need to be at the top of your game. We’ll make sure you get there. All participants must hold a valid driver’s license.
Cost: $1,450
Two-Day M School (Read about our own experience)
M cars represent the zenith of BMW’s quest to find the joy of driving. M School utilizes the mighty M5, M6 and M3 to hone your driving skills in preparation of those times when the road or track calls out for a more spirited driving experience.
The first day puts an emphasis on developing elementary high-performance driving capabilities by demanding precision and skill refinement. Exercises will take place on the slalom, autocross, wet skid pad and the Real Roads course.
Day Two challenges you to be more assertive and put the car through its paces. We’ll add advanced driving techniques like trail-braking and demand better cornering transitions. The car is ready. Are you?
Tuition includes two nights lodging and meals for school days, M branded polo, gear bag and jacket and custom painted M School helmet. All participants must hold a valid driver’s license
Cost: $3,595
Advanced M School
M School graduates (or graduates of a similar certified high-performance driving school) are eligible for the most advanced and challenging program available anywhere. Advanced M School is currently offered at two of North America’s most famous and challenging race tracks.
At the historic Virginia International Raceway (VIR), you’ll commandeer the BMW M car lineup on a roller coaster ribbon of asphalt.
Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) combines 24 degree high banked turns with a technical infield road course to form a 2.25 mile sports car circuit that is one of the best Oval/Road courses in the world.
Start your day with a short driver’s briefing in the classroom, where vehicle dynamics theory will be applied to the demands of VIR’s professional driving circuits or the famous high banked turns of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Then it’s time to get behind the wheel. For the next two days, you’ll work on continuous lapping to refine your skills in the hunt for the ultimate lap. All participants must hold a valid driver’s license.
Advanced M School at VIR $4600 accommodations not included
Advanced M School at CMS $5000 includes hotel
BMW M School and Golf Package
First, we’ll rev up your adrenaline in our high-performance M School, where you’ll put our BMW M cars to the test. Then, it’s off to the links for some less intense driving on your choice of several world-renowned courses.
-Thornblade Club is a Tom Fazio design and is the host course for the Nationwide Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-AM, as well as the home course of Jay Haas, Lucas Glover, Matt Bettencourt, Charles Warren, and George Hincapie.
-The Cliffs at Keowee Springs is one of Tom Fazio’s most versatile and scenic designs. It incorporates three loops of six holes and was recently voted a TOP TEN BEST NEW PRIVATE COURSE by GOLF MAGAZINE. The Springs is also home to the renowned International Institute of Golf with Instructors Steve Bann and Dale Lynch, who teach some of the top PGA Tour Professionals in the world.
The one-day M School program and one round at either Thornblade Club* or the Cliffs at Keowee Springs* with a two night stay at either the Hilton Greenville or Marriot Airport will be $1,950 per person plus applicable taxes. (Food and Beverage charges incurred at the golf course will be added.)
Restrictions:
*Tee times are at the discretion of the Head Golf Professional at each facility. Every effort will be made to accommodate guests’ schedules. Some restrictions apply. Club rules/regulations in effect at all times. Participants must be accompanied by BMW Performance Center associate
Teen School
One-Day Teen School
In a controlled environment under the close supervision of BMW Driver Training Instructors, your teen will learn from and experience a wide range of driving conditions, from panic stops to loss of tire grip on a wet skid pad. Teens receive immediate feedback and correction to their driving responses in real-world scenarios. Students must be at least 15 years of age and possess a valid learner’s permit (or the equivalent).
Cost: $550
Two-Day Teen School
Practice makes perfect. The two-day program augments skills learned in the one-day program by adding more seat time and increasing the complexity of the exercises. Drivers will also get a chance to test a wider array of vehicles, from the 3 and 5 Series and SAVs, in order to gain a better appreciation for how vehicles of a different size and weight, and with different performance capabilities, react uniquely to the same conditions. Students must be at least 15 years of age and possess a valid learner’s permit (or the equivalent).
Cost: $950
Motorcycle
BMW Motorcycle Rider Training
Calling all riders. If you thrive on two wheels, with the wind in your face, then the BMW Performance Center Motorcycle Rider Training is Heaven on Earth. Classes for both on-road and off-road enthusiasts focus on safe driving skills and performance, resulting in minimal time in the classroom and maximum time on the course. All participants must hold a valid motorcycle license.
Motorcycle 3-Day Tour
Experience the beautiful back roads of the western Carolinas and eastern Tennessee on a guided three-day GS Adventure Ride. The tour begins at the BMW Performance Center, in Greer SC, with a skills clinic preparing the riders for their challenging adventure ahead.
Over the course of three days, riders will explore parts of the Cherokee, Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests as well as the Great Smokey Mountains National Park while traversing some of the more renowned roads in the southeast such as Deal’s Gap ‘Tail of the Dragon’, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, Parson’s Branch and many of the lesser known ‘local’ favorites. The adventure will be a true dual sport ride continually moving from twisty paved roads to a combination of gravel, dirt and bedrock roads.
The BMW GS Adventure Ride is an all-inclusive fully supported ride. A support vehicle will transport luggage and provide any assistance necessary. All hotels, fuel and meals including snacks and drinks along the trip are included.
Instructors will cover on and off road skills and pertinent topics in the clinic as well as at various points along the journey.
The Three Day Adventure Tour is for intermediate to advanced riders. Riders need to be comfortable riding at the speed limit on public roads as well as covering many miles on off road surfaces.
A large portion of the Tour is off road. The primary off road surface will be packed gravel (forest service roads). There will be opportunities along the way for more skilled riders to challenge their abilities on a bit more aggressive terrain. Riders should be prepared to ride 150-250 miles a day on mixed surfaces.
Tours start in May and run until mid October.
Cost:
$1995, with the use of a BMW Performance Center motorcycle. Motorcycles available are the R 1200 GS, F 800 GS and F 650 GS all equipped with appropriate dual sport tires.
$1695, should you choose to ride your own BMW.
Please call 888-345-4BMW (4269) for reservations or questions regarding the program.
BMW Rider Training (Off Road)
One Day Off-Road
Using the same basic curriculum developed at the legendary BMW Off-Road training facility in Hechlingen, Germany, the Off-Road class at the BMW Performance Center is designed to maximize every rider’s ability on dirt, gravel or other non-paved surfaces.
Class size is kept to a maximum of 12 students. Bikes available will be the R1200GS, R1200GS Adventure, F800GS and the F650GS.* Each day consists of approximately six hours of riding time and two hours of classroom instruction, where body position and bike set-up are covered. Riding includes drills on-site at the BMW Performance Center Off-Road course, whose surface is dirt, gravel, water and grass etc.
Riding exercises include:
• Riding position
• Braking exercises
• Slalom
• Circles
• Figure Eights
• Sand
• Stopping on a hill
• Gravel
• Recovery from a hill
• Hill climb and descent
• Riding ruts, whoops and logs
• And More!!
Riders also do ‘enduro laps’ around the training facility, where they follow instructors through a series of wooded, single track trails and put their newfound skills to use. Riders are required to wear FULL protective gear including helmets, gloves, riding jacket, riding pants and boots that protect the ankles.
This course is intended for intermediate and advanced riders only.
Two Day Off-Road
The Two Day training course allows you to continue building on the skills you learned on day one, as well as progress to some new challenges. Some of the exercises become harder and some become bigger, but one thing is for sure, you will be challenged.
Also as part of the Two Day School, riders will have the opportunity to ride our Husqvarna dirt bikes should you choose to do so.
So whether your goal is to prepare for a long tour or to become a better overall rider on mixed surfaces, the Two Day School has a place for you.
This course is intended for intermediate and advanced riders only.
BMW Motorcycle Rider Training
One Day On-Road
The curriculum for the BMW Motorcycle On-Road training school is designed to develop baseline skills and techniques that will allow every sport, tour or dual purpose rider to reach newfound levels of safety and ability.
Here are some of the relevant details:
Classes will consist of a maximum of 12 students.
Each day consists of approximately six hours of riding time and two hours of classroom instruction, where body position and bike set-up are covered.
Riding includes drills on-site at the BMW Performance Center On-Road course, which is specifically designed for motorcycles and whose surface is asphalt. Also, a short, unpaved drill will also be part of this class to familiarize riders with non-paved surfaces. This is designed to help riders overcome any fear or uncertainty they may have when transitioning from paved to unpaved surfaces, a common occurrence on a touring or sport touring ride in the U.S. The course is an actual track, not a parking lot, so you will be training at ‘real world’ speeds.
Riding exercises include:
• Riding position
• Braking exercises
• Slalom
• Cornering Styles
• Figure Eights
• Low-speed maneuvering
• Accident avoidance
These classes are about control and finesse, both of which will help you go faster, of course, but at the BMW Performance Center the focus is on learning proper technique rather than just wicking on the throttle. Riders are required to wear FULL protective gear including helmets, gloves, riding jacket, riding pants and boots that protect the ankles. This course is intended for intermediate and advanced riders only.
Cost:**
One-Day Programs $595
Two-Day Programs $1095
[Video by BMWNA and DrivesTV.com]
