BMW Driver training.. - AUS

[MrMow]

I just did the M3 training course on Sunday down at Phillip island.. man it was fun, I highly recommend it! The day started with some (slow) laps, followed by some oversteer exercises (I managed to spin the damn car everytime though did excecute a perfect 360'!!), then some high speed braking exercises.

There was an awesome motorkhana event (I quickly realised how crap I was ), then the day was rounded off with some fairly quick laps, our group (of 2 cars) had Geoff Brabham as our instructor, its very cool to be going through a corner and getting feedback as to why you were pushing the front or missed the apex.
After 10 or so laps, I was feeling pretty fast... the Geoff took us for a lap with him driving... Jeebus!! He was quick.

All in all a great day! The M3 is awesome, sounds great and goes sooo fast! But.... I preferred my Cooper S, wouldnt get rid of in for an M3, no way!

[WAY]

Mr Mow, how much was the course? This is the level 2 one? Used to be $880. I am really keen to do it, along with a couple of my friends. Tell me more!

[MrMow]

Hey welcome back dude! I did the level 3 course (perfection? Fascination?).. its all M3, was about $1300, I hear the level 2 is just as good (325 and M3), you have to do a level 1 or 2 before the M3 course.

Expensive.. but you get to drive somone elses M3 for the day! Dont have to worry about tyres and get tuition from Geaoff Brabham!

[WAY]

Thanks dude. Good to be back here, eventhough I don't have a Cooper S anymore. Good to see you are enjoying the S as well, better than the Cooper huh? Is the quality much better on the new car than the old one? No more suspension problems?

Doesn't sound like you have done the Level 2 course. I have done level 1 with BMW and done some other advanced driving with Lamborghini at Phillip Island recently. It was awsome. It was only open to owners of Lambo, Ferrari, and Porsche and by invitation only. My friend has one of the 5 Murcielago's in Melbourne, so he got me invited. I was actually faster than most cars, overtaking most of the much more fancy Lambos and Ferraris. Had a few laps with Paul Stokell in the Murcielago. Man, that's even better than around there with Geoff Brahram in an M3 (E36) previously! But I digress. My point is do you think I can get away with not having done BMW's level 2 course? I can drive pretty well (I think) but what kind of skills do I need to have before doing level 3? My other alternative is going up to Mt Cotton to do the Porsche one. Trashing someone else's Porsche is even better.

[MrMow]

Oh, if you have done the level 1 its fine, I never did the level 2.. but the Porsche one.. that would be awesome!

Yes, the S is much better than the Cooper, very few problems.. just rattles and squeaks.

[WAY]

The Porsche one combines their Level 1 and 2 together. I don't think you can do level 2 without Level 1 at the same time. IT cost $1125 for the one day level 1 and $2250 for the combined one. I don't mind, but my GF will not be happy that I am going to spend that kind of money on a driving course. Will see what she says when I propose this to her...

[eltel]

Quote: Originally Posted by WAY

. I was actually faster than most cars, overtaking most of the much more fancy Lambos and Ferraris.

Why am I not surprised.

Way to go.

[Harry Morant]

Just check out www.bmw.com.au for details of the various courses

[jaydub]

Hi MrMow,

Glad you had fun on the day! I remember our big long discussion after I went on the Advanced 2 course back in May...the course is so fun it just makes you want to tell the world!

But is all they do on the day what you described? Because they covered all of those in Advanced 2...I just wanna know if it's worth my money to go on your course!

Even if it is similar, a full day in an M3 should be worth it

[MrMow]

Yup, thats what they covered, but the impression I got was that its all a bit faster and it all in M3s.. but seeing the other one is $800 odd, I dont know if I'd pay 1300 for exclusive use of the M3.

[MrMow]

Quote: Originally Posted by WAY

The Porsche one combines their Level 1 and 2 together. I don't think you can do level 2 without Level 1 at the same time. IT cost $1125 for the one day level 1 and $2250 for the combined one. I don't mind, but my GF will not be happy that I am going to spend that kind of money on a driving course. Will see what she says when I propose this to her...

Dude, you may have to propose something else to get that proposal approved!!

[WAY]

Quote: Originally Posted by MrMow

Dude, you may have to propose something else to get that proposal approved!!

I hope she doesn't read this or else I am in trouble!!! I haven't talked to her about the advanced driving course yet, but I'm sure when I do her first reaction would be "that $2000+ could go to the ring". Hehehe. You are right, maybe I should propose to her first if I want to get ANYTHING ELSE approved!

[IML337]

This reminds me - I need to do the level 2 course so I can do the all M3 level 3 course, and I need to confirm that my BMW club membership gets me a 10 or 20% discount like jaydub was telling me

[jaydub]

25% Tim! I don't think there's any more Level 2 Fascination courses this year though...I might do the course with you next year!