[tparm]

The experience was first class all the way. Euro delivery is on my to-do list at some point, but PCD is so easy (and no cost) its a must if you buy a new one. From the time you step off the plane and notify the hotel you've arrived you are treating exceptionally well. A new X5 arrives to pick you up, the evening and next day are explained in detail, check in, transportation to downtown Greenville, dinner, etc was all flawless. The staff were all genuine and courteous and also enthusiastic as they shared either their personal Driving School experiences or ones of those they'd heard about.

Once at the Performance Center they don't mess around! Hand in your waiver, go to the classroom and then hit the track. We were assigned Mat Mullins who is a well established racer and instructor, and who I'd met at VIR a couple years back, so he let us have pretty much free reign of the car (set up, speeds, sliding, etc). And even though I have 12 years of track and instructing experience, I had a freaking ball on the handling course and skid pad.

Unfortunately the Museum and factory were both closed so that kinda sucked. We did tour the new CCA Foundation HQ which was cool and then hit the off-road course. Having never done anything of the sort I really enjoyed this part of the day. Honestly 99% of the X5s sold will ever see terrain like that, but it was awesome putting them though their paces. I actually think I giggled a few times....

A couple notes on the pics to follow soon; the grass in the wheel of the 340 was some guy that right after that session puked during the M5 hot lap, poor fella; I wish I could post the full lap of the skid pad (video) of our instructor in an M5, crazy car control (I struggled mightily trying to replicate it in an M4 later in the day); it was way easier to shoot a few pics while Greg was taking his turn on the off-road course versus road course; pics of race car parts at new BMWCCA Foundation NA HQ; and the town of Greenville was beautiful in its own right (couple of pics).

Best of all, after your day beating on their cars you get the keep the one you drive home!

Initial 340i M-Sport impressions - I love it. I've owned and raced several BMWs and the 340 is the best combination of luxury, useable power and daily drivability of all of them. That list includes a 2011 335d M-Sport and an e90 M3. My very first impressions were of my school 340 car and I, along with my driving coach from back in my racing days, we were super impressed with the torque, balance and overall handling (Sport+, no TC).

I disagree with all the BS you read about numb steering, lack of road feel, blah blah blah. Yes a Cayman GT4 telegraphs more through the chassis and the e46 M3 had better steering feel, big freaking deal, this is a bad ass road car / daily driver and is more fun than any Audi a4/S4 or Mercedes C450 I drove. I didn't drive an XE because I won't buy a Jag, personal preference.

In addition, this is the best shifting BMW manual gearbox to date. I actually enjoy the rev-matching on downshifts and I was dead set on hating it. I would on the track I would prefer to heel/toe myself simply because its something I worked tirelessly perfecting over the years (and I'm less smooth not doing it), but on the street its pretty nifty.

The last two days since I've been home much of this still holds true even though I haven't crept (much) over 5,500 rpm per break in. In Sport mode it is still comfortable while fun and I'll admit to loving the exhaust note (OE system). The newest iDrive is super intuitive and the H/K audio system once properly set up (at least for my listening) is killer.

We all want to love our new cars as we just plunked down a chunk of change for them. I can say without reservation the 340 is everything I was hoping for and even a bit more.

I hope all you guys and ladies out there in Bimmerpost world feel the same about your 3s and 4s!

Trevor

PS Pics coming

[tparm]

see initial post for explanation.....

[CazuaLLUK]

Awesome man, enjoy the car!

[mhutchins14]

That looked like a ton of fun. So glad you're enjoying your new car! Makes me wish mine would get here even faster!!

[F30_SixSpeed]

looks like a lot of fun! Nice review.

[roll_the_dice]

Would love to do PCD one day. Nice write up...beautiful 340! Enjoy it.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Thats awesome, must have been a lot of fun

[tparm]

Thanks! Drove the car thorough and over the Va-WV mountains over the weekend, was so fun to be back in something that actually brings joy back to driving.

[rswitch]

wow awesome! this is on my to do list!