The Object of My Selection

Part 3 of a Series

We arose and had yet another wonderful breakfast on the White Doe’s patio, surrounded by flowering shrubs and other happy guests. We took a few more photos of the Inn before packing the rental. Here’s the best one.

We drove back to the Raleigh area to head southwest toward South Carolina and Spartanburg. We returned the rental at the Greenville-Spartanburg airport, where a driver from BMW in a nice Alpine White 5 Series was waiting to take us to our hotel in Greenville. It was a nondescript business hotel, used by BMW for buyers in the factory delivery program. But we were spending just the one night there and it was clean with hot water, so it was perfect for a couple of tired travelers.

The next morning, the 6th of July, after a nondescript, clean, and hot business breakfast, we were ferried to the BMW complex located on both sides of the 4-lane SH 101 between Spartanburg and Greenville. Our first stop was the Performance Center, where we attended a few hours’ class of driving safety and technique. The instructor was dynamic, and there were several demonstrations, so the time went quickly. Then it was out to the road course to put what we’d learned into practice.

I knew that we would not be using the vehicles we’d purchased on the road course. What I didn’t know is that the vehicle you’re given to use on the course is intended to be as much like the one you bought as possible. I bought a Z4 3.0i Sport trim, so that’s what I was given to drive on the course. Even the color was the same–Maldives Blue!

You can see an X5 in front of me; another customer in our group was taking delivery of one of those that day. This photo was taken after I'd made most of the seat adjustments as recommended by our instructor. I recall two. One had to do with how far back the seat should be in relation to the brake pedal. The other was for seat height: with the top closed, the top of my head should be about 4", or one closed hand breadth, below the top. Since the top is open, then, this must have been after I had done that.

We were taken out to various parts of the courses (which you can see on Google Maps), sharing some parts at times. Here I am coming south on the road called “Entrance” on a short clockwise loop. Out here was where the steering, anti-lock brakes, and other safety and performance features were demonstrated. We (owners) had a BMW instructor riding with us during the course, so DW had plenty of opportunity to take photos.

After driving around a bit on the road course, I was directed up to the skid pad in order to demonstrate the traction control system. In its normal position, it allows < 15% slip, so I could mash down the accelerator and crank the steering wheel, and it would not skid noticeably. I was instructed to take it to the minimal level without turning it completely off, and attempt the maneuver again. This time, it was like doing donuts on an icy parking lot.

After the practicum, we went back inside and were offered small pieces of BMW merchandise, then were taken to the main attraction: delivery of our new cars. There was another short orientation, at least for me, because I had specified I wanted the SMG, or Sequential Manual Gearbox, transmission. With that transmission, the starting procedure requires specific steps that even a regular manual transmission does not have. I only mention this because of what happened directly after delivery.

After all our deliveries were completed, we were invited to go as a group, in our own vehicles, across SH 101 to the BMW Zentrum Museum and Manufacturing Center. After delivery, I had pulled my car out to a parking space and turned it off; when I went to start it again, I forgot one of the required steps for a few moments. Just as one of the employees realized it and started over to help me, it came back to me, and I got the car started. It was the only time I forgot that I needed to do that.

Over at the Manufacturing Center, we were met by a lovely, healthy Bavarian lady, who would be our tour guide. As we entered the facility, she asked if anyone knew what BMW stood for in German. I answered, “Bayerische Motor Werken”. She said, “That's very good. It’s the Bayerische Motoren Werke”. I realized that I had said one motor, multiple factories, rather than many motors, one factory.

The manufacturing facility was quite impressive, with plenty of robots and lots of X3s, X5s, and Z4s being assembled. We were surprised to see many right-hand drive vehicles; the South Carolina facility at that time was the only production site for those three models to be exported to all the countries where they were sold.

I didn't get any photos inside the factory, but we did get plenty in the museum. I’ll present the ones I’ve selected here with minimal comment.

This was called a Varilus	1950s 328 Roadster	Special Edition Dixi by Ihle
1960s 507 Roadster	1970s 1800	Z1 Roadster, limited numbers sold in USA
The Z3 as introduced by James Bond	Z8 Roadster, also a Bond car	And for motorcycle enthusiasts…

After our day at the BMW facilities, it was still not terribly late. We were headed for Asheville that night, but on the way we took a little drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It had turned overcast and a little misty, which I guess is normal for the Great Smoky Mountains, so we put the top up. Here, we were in a scenic pullout, and I was charged with getting something out of the suitcase, or putting something away, one or the other.


We did take some photos of the views, too. This one is representative.

If you ever get a chance to participate in a driving course like the ones offered by BMW (and they offer courses to everyone, for a price, not just factory delivery participants), I highly recommend it.