BMW Performance Center Delivery – Diesel Style
After that, we took a water break and then half of the group went to the skid pad and the other half went to the off road course. The skid pad demonstrates how much a BMW will protect its occupants when the roads get slippery and why Dynamic Stability Control is needed. BMW served us lunch at the Performance Delivery Center and the instructors offered hot laps of the track in M5s following the meal. It was at that point when I realized that I have only exploited about 10% of my own M5’s capabilities despite having driven it on the track several times. The instructors’ skill set certainly exceeds the students in the class, and thus demonstrating that practice does make perfect. Next was the off road course in an X5 to demonstrate the off-road capabilities.
Then came the actual delivery of our new X5 diesel. This process was the icing on the cake. Each vehicle is delivered in its own private delivery room. The delivery specialist, Willie, amazed us with her knowledge of our new car (keep in mind that the specialists have to know everything about every car BMW offers).
Willie explained all of the many features of the X5 diesel. Together, we went through all of the car’s settings to customize the vehicle for our needs. More is shown than can be absorbed, but at least the new owner is told about what can potentially be changed. Reading the manual becomes imperative if you wish to get full use of the many aids and information sources in your new car.
After a couple of photo opportunities both in the delivery room and on the way out, it was off to the factory for the tour.
If you haven’t yet toured a modern automobile factory, the BMW factory in Spartanburg is a good place to start. Visitors currently see X5 and X6 Sport Activity Vehicles, including X6Ms and the ActiveHybrid X6, not to mention the X5 xDrive35d, being built for customers all over the world. As a result, there may be a right-hand drive car in front of a left-hand drive car, and a BMW destined for Europe in front of one destined for Canada. Trying to keep all of these differences clear is a challenge as you go through the factory.
By 3 p.m. we had completed the factory tour and were on our way to Knoxville, Tennessee via the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Performance Center Delivery was a wonderful way to get introduced to our new BMW X5 diesel. In the first month, I’ve already driven 10,944 km (6800 miles) and I’ve gotten to know the car better and better each day.
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