KL2DC
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Ok guys, as you know I managed to fit in the BMW E92 event (available only in Atlanta, Houston and Miami) during my short run to Miami, FL (was in Tampa and Miami all of last week). I had called a few days ago and requested to be placed on the wait list for the 09:00 Sun morning timeslot. I figured that timeslot had the highest probability of attrition especially in partygoing south florida :laugh: Amusingly, on that note, I too, nearly did not make it as well as I had been out the night before with friends. Managed about 2-3 hours of sleep of what had been a jam-packed week. Ok on with the report.... The Miami BMW E92 event was sponsored by local area dealers and Comcast. The setup was decidedly smaller than the nationally campaigned BMW Ultimate Driving Experience. Nonetheless, in true BMW manner, the venue was very nicely setup and professionally staffed. Classy. There was ample catering and courteous attention. Can't say the same for some other manufacturers' ride and drive events...
The event/venue centers around these activities: 1) BMW E92 presentation by VP of marketing or something like that. Usual runthrough of features etc.
2) BMW 330i E90 Autocross SessionThis was my first destination. We were divided into 2 groups, the first making their way here and the other group heading straight to the e92 site. Pretty straight forward. 3 passengers to a car plus 1 professional instructor. First lap is the run-through lap where the instructor points out braking points and racing lines. Then the 3 attendees had a go at it for 1 lap each. Cars were identically equipped. 330i TiAg ZSP, ZPP, Active Steering and Steptronic. After everyone's had a practice go at the short auto-x style course, each participant was given the opportunity to have 1 timed lap in a friendly competition match. Each run was chaperoned by the professional instructor but sufficient leeway was exercised so cars were suitably flogged hard. While waiting for their turns, attendees were entertained by various stories and a proper seating position demo by the professional instructors present. They were also very helpful in answering various questions about professional driving and of the cars themselves. Overall, they were knowledgeable, entertaining and supportive of safe enthusiastic driving.
3) BMW 335i Autocross/Comparo DriveThe main event! The BMW 335i/Infiniti G35 shootout! Again, pretty straightforward. Attendees are 'given the opportunity' to compare the 2 cars together in the various performance benchmarks/bases. Basically, each attendees get 2 runs in each car, the Infiniti G35 being offered first and then the 335i immediately after. The course is relatively short with an initial WOT run up and various turns/braking and a slalom run. You are assigned an instructor who follows you in the 2 cars for your 4 laps. They are there as 'unbiased experts' to offer points for comparison and pretty much kept to themselves. Cars were identically equipped: TiAg/Black/Alu 335i E92s with ZSP, ZPP, Step and Paddle Shifters. Again, BMW is very proud of the cars and instructors were encouraged to spur the attendees on in putting the cars to its paces. In my case I was given a couple of extra laps which I exercised gratutiously.
4) BMW Street DriveSimilar in concept to the Susan G Komen drives i.e. you take a car out on to a prescribed course (about 20 miles) on your own time/pace. This is unchaperoned. The cars on offer were a 550i, 650i cabrio, 330i ZSP, Z4 3.0Si Coupe, X5, X3 and a 750Li. I decided to skip this part due to tight time schedule. One must complete all autocross runs prior to doing the street drive. 5) BMW 335i Hot LapWe were advised to do this last. They were very admant about not allowing hot lap runs before the BMW street drive. Something about not wanting pumped-up attendees to have a go at the cars on public street or something like that 
. Basically, its a fast run in a 335i with a professional race driver at the helm. The hot lap took place in the perimeter road circling the Bank Atlantic Center complex. It was pretty much a public area that had been closed off. This was very entertaining Video of Hotlap!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG22jaU1ME4Listen out for the N54 at full song. Pardon the expletives Enjoy!! Observations1) The active steering in the 330i ZSP feels disconcerting at first and at low speeds but when you're hauling the mail through the tight auto-x style course, you really don't think about it much. I wasn't able to test the active steer's self-correction capabilities (active steers dials in a small degree of counter steer at the limit and when required). 2) The bi-turbo N54 engine is an outright gem!!! Power delivery is mostly linear (not quite), there is a noticeable kick in the higher RPM band. No turbo lag observed. Matches extremely well with the Step. 3) As throaty as the G35 exhaust is, the 335i is louder at WOT, believe it or not. Off the line, the 335i sounds G35-esque but opens up to a nice creamy high-pitched sound that only a straight six can afford you. 4) The engine definitely pulls the 335i harder and faster than the VQ engined G35. I was at WOT longer in the G35 than the 335i before reaching the first right-hander. 5) The 335i kills the G35 in steering feel. Overall, the 335i feels to be a higher quality piece than the G35, its definitely more refined and absorbs road noise.bumps better. 6) The paddle shifters on the left and right are redundant! Basically you upshift by pressing down the top part of the paddle and downshift with the bottom part of the paddle. Its not, as suspected, upshift on the left and downshift on the right. I believe its similar to Porches tiptronic and Alpina's version of paddle shifters. In any case, the new 6-speed step is a great match to the N54 engine. 7) Rear seating is ample in the 335i, much better than the G35 and ingress/egress is better in the taller e92 body. 8) The infamous amber on the front fender is purely reflective, some thought that the amber strip lights up as the required sidemarkers. The sidemarker LED bulb is in the extreme tip/corner of the headlight assembly. Conclusion: Sold! Sold! Sold! .... looking forward to trading up to a montego blue 335i E90 in a few years. Food is overrated anyways LOL
. Basically, its a fast run in a 335i with a professional race driver at the helm. The hot lap took place in the perimeter road circling the Bank Atlantic Center complex. It was pretty much a public area that had been closed off. This was very entertaining Video of Hotlap!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG22jaU1ME4Listen out for the N54 at full song. Pardon the expletives Enjoy!! Observations1) The active steering in the 330i ZSP feels disconcerting at first and at low speeds but when you're hauling the mail through the tight auto-x style course, you really don't think about it much. I wasn't able to test the active steer's self-correction capabilities (active steers dials in a small degree of counter steer at the limit and when required). 2) The bi-turbo N54 engine is an outright gem!!! Power delivery is mostly linear (not quite), there is a noticeable kick in the higher RPM band. No turbo lag observed. Matches extremely well with the Step. 3) As throaty as the G35 exhaust is, the 335i is louder at WOT, believe it or not. Off the line, the 335i sounds G35-esque but opens up to a nice creamy high-pitched sound that only a straight six can afford you. 4) The engine definitely pulls the 335i harder and faster than the VQ engined G35. I was at WOT longer in the G35 than the 335i before reaching the first right-hander. 5) The 335i kills the G35 in steering feel. Overall, the 335i feels to be a higher quality piece than the G35, its definitely more refined and absorbs road noise.bumps better. 6) The paddle shifters on the left and right are redundant! Basically you upshift by pressing down the top part of the paddle and downshift with the bottom part of the paddle. Its not, as suspected, upshift on the left and downshift on the right. I believe its similar to Porches tiptronic and Alpina's version of paddle shifters. In any case, the new 6-speed step is a great match to the N54 engine. 7) Rear seating is ample in the 335i, much better than the G35 and ingress/egress is better in the taller e92 body. 8) The infamous amber on the front fender is purely reflective, some thought that the amber strip lights up as the required sidemarkers. The sidemarker LED bulb is in the extreme tip/corner of the headlight assembly. Conclusion: Sold! Sold! Sold! .... looking forward to trading up to a montego blue 335i E90 in a few years. Food is overrated anyways LOL
