The UDE is coming to DC this weekend starting today. Seems like all autocross time slots for DC are sold out/waitlist, so for those that didn't register in advance, hopefully people don't show up so you can get it.

I know the autocross is supposed to be the 440ix coupe, but does anyone know what cars are available for street drives?

https://driving.bmwusa.com/cities

pseto wrote

does anyone know what cars are available for street drives?

https://driving.bmwusa.com/cities

I've done the UDE in Long Island and in NJ and these are the cars I can remember being available for the street drives:

M235i
330i
m440i convertible
750i
M850i Gran Coupe
M850i convertible
X1 28i
X2 M35i
X3M Competition
X4 M40i
X5 45e
X6 M50i
X7 M50i

Also even if the autocross is full you can sign up on the waitlist still show up and do the other activities like the street drives and the electrified experience.

I’ll be driving through DC this Sunday but looks like the waitlist won’t do me any good

Edit: signed up for Sunday the 20th 8:30am in Philadelphia. Hope isn’t lost!

Switched up for tomorrow morning at 8:30. Anyone here going?

F30lolz wrote

Switched up for tomorrow morning at 8:30. Anyone here going?

I'll be there around 11am, can't wait to try the M440i xDrive.

Charles

Trying the M440i xDrive in Philly tomorrow!

It was a fun event - the autocross course is very short so you don't get much seat time, but then again, you are burning someone else's tires/brakes/gas. M440i xDrive is a rocket and handles well. It looks and sounds great.

Charles

malpatti wrote

Trying the M440i xDrive in Philly tomorrow!

Have fun! I asked if I could drive the M3 but was politely declined.

CJ421 wrote

It was a fun event - the autocross course is very short so you don't get much seat time, but then again, you are burning someone else's tires/brakes/gas. M440i xDrive is a rocket and handles well. It looks and sounds great.

Charles

It was worth the 5 hour round trip. My first time back in Philly since what, mid 80’s 5th grade trip? Regardless, I was hoping for a timed laps but I guess Covid ruined that. I’d agree that it felt short as I wanted a 4th round but yeah, the B48 is a monster and I was surprised the wheel gap wasn’t as bad. Maybe because they had the track handling package?

Was thinking about doing the event in Chicago in early July and maybe coming back to the Tri-state area for Citi Field in early November, though not sure how many events one can attend per year.

F30lolz wrote

It was worth the 5 hour round trip. My first time back in Philly since what, mid 80’s 5th grade trip? Regardless, I was hoping for a timed laps but I guess Covid ruined that. I’d agree that it felt short as I wanted a 4th round but yeah, the B48 is a monster and I was surprised the wheel gap wasn’t as bad. Maybe because they had the track handling package?

Was thinking about doing the event in Chicago in early July and maybe coming back to the Tri-state area for Citi Field in early November, though not sure how many events one can attend per year.

Wow, that's a long way to drive. I doubt BMW limits how many events you attend. I hope you got a cheesesteak or a pork sandwich (what Philly is really good at ).

You might do BMW's M Performance driving school if you're into road trips, they do it down in South Carolina at the Performance Center. It's a beautiful area and Spartanburg has lots of places to stay/eat. Plus BMW CCA's HQ is next door, you can visit that.

This is an M440i xDrive from my group. I liked that they brought lots of different colors. Somehow I don't think the track handling package lowers it.

Charles

CJ421 wrote

Wow, that's a long way to drive. I doubt BMW limits how many events you attend. I hope you got a cheesesteak or a pork sandwich (what Philly is really good at ).

You might do BMW's M Performance driving school if you're into road trips, they do it down in South Carolina at the Performance Center. It's a beautiful area and Spartanburg has lots of places to stay/eat. Plus BMW CCA's HQ is next door, you can visit that.

This is an M440i xDrive from my group. I liked that they brought lots of different colors. Somehow I don't think the track handling package lowers it.

Charles

I would love to do the South Carolina M Performance driving school. This past September BMW Cincinnati sponsored a free M Track Day at the Kentucky Speedway so free is always best. There’s a similar event down at the Palm Beach Raceway that I’ll be going to late next month. Regarding food, it was too early to get a Philly sandwich as I left around 10 and got back to northern NJ around 12:30.

I wonder if the staff for these events work for BMWNA full time or if they’re contractors as I remember some of them from previous years when they had it down in Miami. I remember some said they lived in Texas while another said Vegas.

NYC_340i wrote

I've done the UDE in Long Island and in NJ and these are the cars I can remember being available for the street drives:

M235i
330i
m440i convertible
750i
M850i Gran Coupe
M850i convertible
X1 28i
X2 M35i
X3M Competition
X4 M40i
X5 45e
X6 M50i
X7 M50i

Also even if the autocross is full you can sign up on the waitlist still show up and do the other activities like the street drives and the electrified experience.

Besides the 3er and 4er that's nearly the exact group they had in San Diego UDE last year. I thought they put a lame lineup just cause it's San Diego. 2019 in LA they had all the M coupes/sedans.

I'd be interested in driving exactly zero of those above cars. Give me a 240, M2, M3, M4 or even M5 then we're talking.

stein_325i wrote

I was also a little bored with the selection this year as well. Last time I went (2019) they had an M240 that was fun, but they are really trying to push PHEV's this time, I'd say at least half the cars there were hybrids, also all of the cars were mainly the bigger models. Only interesting cars were the pair of V8 8ers but I've already been in them before and they're too boaty. In the end tried out an X3 30e purely because the waitlist was short (of course the X1, Mini, and 2GC had no one interested as well).

Very disappointing. I'd imagine the lineup in my location will be no different then. The most exciting car for street drive last year was the X4M. Fun for sure, but underwhelming given how the year prior I got to drive the M2C multiple times, M4, and Z4.

Just signed up for Chicago South Side for Saturday July 10th at 11:30. Hoping it’ll be timed unlike Philadelphia but regardless, I’ll know I’ll have a blast. Waiting patiently for the Palm Beach Raceway to open registration for late July for this free event:

http://pbirbmwtracknight.eventsbmw.com/

Not sure why Miami was skipped this year.

F30lolz wrote

I wonder if the staff for these events work for BMWNA full time or if they’re contractors as I remember some of them from previous years when they had it down in Miami. I remember some said they lived in Texas while another said Vegas.

BMWNA contracts the UDE to Octagon who run many of their driving events over the years. Many of the instructors are former professional racers or worked at driving schools such as BMW Performance Center, Bondurant, etc and live all across the US.

Had fun at the Minneapolis UDE yesterday. Was able to do the Autocross, the EV Drag and did a couple of street rides. Won one of the drag and lost one drag as I did not stop early enough.

Just booked for Saturday November 6th 3:30pm at Citi Field. They are booking up fast as I believe today is the first day to register from Nov 4th-7th.

Doing mine in Phoenix this afternoon. First time. Really looking forward to it.

Did both events in my region over the past couple weeks. Skipped the street drives due to long waits and nothing really too interesting being available to drive. Autocross was fun, they give 6 laps and sometimes a bonus lap at the end. It's the AWD 440 this year instead of RWD 340 last year.

Also booked for the 3:30 slot on November 6th earlier this morning.

Excited to go, this will be my first UDE

F30lolz wrote

I wonder if the staff for these events work for BMWNA full time or if they’re contractors as I remember some of them from previous years when they had it down in Miami. I remember some said they lived in Texas while another said Vegas.

I worked these events for BMWNA for several years, we were all on contract for the event thru a company called Octagon. Were not NA employees…. There were a few NA employees that showed up to observe and manage, but they usually did not work the event directly.

Anyone in the tri state area going to Citi Field?