Top-notch experience led by instructors Chris and Derek for the M Driver's Program. There are a litany of valuable skills taught that will not only make you faster around the racetrack, but could save your life on real-world roads. I'd recommend it for anyone south of an intermediate level track driver. For these folks, more advanced courses are available, and I have full faith they'd be excellent as well. Itinerary: -1h classroom safety/racing fundamentals (lots of good info for the road, too) -Emergency mid-corner braking from highway speeds--M4 xdrive -Last-minute lane change, followed by emergency braking, from highway speeds--M2 -Skidpad (controlled initiation and recovery of oversteer/drifting)--M5 sedan -Lead/follow track laps at The Thermal Club raceway (real race track, adjacent to BMW's lower-speed "training oriented" facility) -Lunch (really a highlight. 2 salads, chicken breast, homemade meatballs. Better than many restaurant meals I had in the area.) -Timed autocross laps on BMW's own smaller track (little competition among the participants)--M2 -More lead/follow laps at The Thermal Club--M4 xdrive After experiencing the wear and tear these cars are put through in such a short time, I think the cost of admission is quite subsidized as well. Would definitely go back for further classes. read more

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My son attended the owner's experience event and he took me and his dad for the experience. The reception area is really clean, and they are well stuffed with drinks and snacks. They have starbucks coffee, juice, fruit infused water and different kinds of teavannas. They also have a gift shop with all the BMW merch. My husband and son were able to try some of their high performance vehicles and SUVs.It was a great experience for them. Kudos to the 2 retired professional driver/racer staff. They are both very accommodating. My son's words were "it's like real Mario Kart event". read more

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I did 1 day M school here and I enjoyed it but it's important to know why you're going. The instructors were top notch but in the end it still felt more like an interactive BMW advertisement than a learning experience. You bounce around between models and events with barely enough time to really learn much. The competitive nature makes it difficult to stay focused on skills resulting in sloppiness. There's enough students that a lot of mistakes go uncorrected. Fortunately, I went into it with the goal of driving fast in a safe environment and someone else's car and maybe get a few general pointers. In that regards, it was a resounding success. I did feel like there was ample time for at least another 5 minutes on the drift track Some things that I wish their FAQ was clearer about: - There is a cafeteria and there is a very good lunch provided - If you're prone to motion sickness, be prepared. I brought along ginger chews and ended up giving out quite a few to others who were intending to drop out early otherwise. - Theres lots of breaks for water and restroom and you'll need them - Theres lots of good hotel prices in Indio and the drive is short I would consider doing some personalized instructions but otherwise, my conclusion is that racing career isn't in my future. Still, props to the staff. read more

1-day Car Control Clinic was great balance of classroom learning and track time. By the end everyone was faster, more confident, and able to more easily recover control. The instructors were educational, fun, and most importantly kept everyone safe. Throughout the day we were paired with the same person and either in a m228 or an m340. Great to see several couples attend together and not just a gift for him. I've also done the half-day where you track 6 different cars and take an X5 off-road. More of an extended product demo but it's fun. Anything shorter than a half day isn't worth the diversion to Thermal, but if you drive back to San Diego from there be sure to go by the Salton Sea and Borrego. Anything longer than 1 day is too long. The best place to buy these PC experiences is a BMW Ultimate Drive Event where they are typically 20% off. The PC experiences you buy (vs come with an M car) never expire. If you have a sensitive stomach, just be aware that you are going to be pulling some Gs on the track so take it easy on the drinking the night before, maybe eat a light breakfast, and go easy on that free catered lunch bmw has for full-day events. read more

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I purchased a new BMW M240i last year. One of the perks of buying a new BMW is that they offer you a complementary new owner's track drive at one of their performance driving schools within a year of your purchase. In the United States, there are only two schools with one being in Thermal, California and the other in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Thermal is about 30 minutes south of Palm Springs. Luckily, it is only about 90 minutes south of me so I finally made a reservation after nine months of ownership. You can look at their online scheduling page first to see what dates and time slots are available. Since I was booking mine for April and it's already hot there that time of year, I chose the 8am time slot. Booking the experience was a breeze. After you purchase your car, they send you an email with all of the information and a reservation phone number call. It only took about ten minutes on the phone to complete the booking. Have your VIN, purchase date, and dealership where purchased handy before calling to speed things up. I arrived around 7:40am on a crystal clear morning and an impressive lineup of BMWs was on display outside. In the main building, there were complementary drinks as we waited for all attendees to arrive. There were 14 people in our group and shortly after 8am we went outside for a welcome and description of what was to come. You do not drive your own car, you drive their cars. The group split in half and my group went to do the off-road portion first. The purpose was to demonstrate the various off-road capabilities of the BMW X5 M60i that we would all be driving. I came solo and paired up with another solo driver and we each took a turn doing the driving through the whole course. We all climbed into four different colored X5's and hit the course. I have never driven a 4x4 off road so it was definitely a new experience for me. One interesting part was going over some uneven bumps and one tire on the vehicle is over one foot above ground. The most fun part was going up a very steep incline and you can't see where you are going through the windshield and have to rely solely on the forward looking cameras. Going down the backside was interesting also as the vehicle has a "Hill Descent" mode. You take your feet off the brake and accelerator pedals and the car safely guides itself down a steep gravel decline and automatically applies the proper amount of braking to all four wheels while monitoring for any slippage and dynamically adjusting if necessary. After everybody got a chance to do the course (once driving and once riding shotgun), we headed back to the main building. After the off-road portion, it was now time for the most fun part: the track drive. Similar to the off-road portion, each of us would get a chance to drive and then ride shotgun for three laps each on a portion of the main track in four different types of performance BMWs. The lineup of cars was a dark grey convertible Z4 M40i, an orange M4 competition, a white M2, and a metallic green X5 competition SUV. The track starts with a good stretch of straightaway where you floor it and get deep into third gear before breaking into the first turn. I was too busy watching the track to see how high the speedometer got. There are then a few more turns and curves before getting back to the straightaway. All of the cars had great acceleration, excellent handling, and grip. I was surprised how fast the X5 SUV was off the line but it also has a lot of horsepower but obviously doesn't handle as well as the sportier cars. It was a lot of fun and really got your adrenaline pumping. The final part of the experience was that you got to ride shotgun with the instructor as he drove through a larger portion of the track as fast as possible, really pushing the car to its full potential. Screaming down the longer straightaway, screeching around the turns, getting sideways at times, and smoking the tires, it was a huge rush. The experience lasted about two hours and was a really great time. The two instructors were great. They were fun, provided a lot of information, and answered a lot of questions. If you want more, they offer various performance driving classes. They also said it's the least expensive place in the country where you can actually rent time in an actual race car after taking the relevant course. If you ever buy a new BMW, definitely don't pass up this excellent complementary experience! read more

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I did the two-hour $350 PC Performance event. The first 30 minutes was wasted crawling over small gravel hills in X5s, which, as the instructor noted, will NEVER happen in real life with an X5. We did manage about an hour on a very small un-timed track with five cars which was probably 2 too many as we were all jammed up. The instructor gave a couple notes over the radio on driving but didn't much help. Got a couple laps each in M2, M4, M8 with the traction control on. Two people per car. Great cars but this was such a short and limited event that unless you are a complete beginner to driving or to BMWs it is sort of a waste of time and money. Definitely not worth a trip unless you are very near Thermal anyhow. Would be better as a three hour course in a track at least twice the length. read more

BMW Performance Driving School - 2-hour course vehicles April 2026. - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

I made reservations for the BMW Performance Driving School and completed the experience this morning Between the hour of 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM with BMW's instructor named Ricky, a man that cherishes passing his love of performance driving on to the common man or woman. A memory I will never forget. Hats off to this whole operation and don't even hesitate to pull card out for this one. Thanks BMW what a machine so professionally done, W O W I will be back too! read more

You want an adrenaline rush? Come on down. Had a Track Drive today at the BMW Performance Center, Thermal, CA. Got to drive 4 types of BMW's as fast (and as safe) as possible. But the 'E' ticket was our instructor Rick, taking us on a 'hot lap', full throttle (tires screeching, sliding sideways on turns and basically burning rubber). The session was exhilarating, fun and informative - big thanks Rick. And Cole, appreciate you letting us practice on the off-road track. No cake walk there...hills, getting air, felt like a controlled 'all terrain vehicle'. Thanks for satisfying our need-for-speed, Linda N. and Jill K. read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Ya got some skills Rick! - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

OMGosh! This place is the bomb -- truly one of the best experiences of my life, and drool-worthy to my friends! We were part of a corporate event, and after arriving a little apprehensive, the instructors assuaged every bit of reticence or fear with a short instruction class before we headed out to the events. Each instructor had their own, distinct "style," and were extremely helpful for each type of driving -- and all had great sense of humor. You get to drive the cars on different courses, with different goals and circumstances. You learn a lot about the cars, driving, and . . . yourself (and maybe your spouse/passenger? Insert laugh track) We had lunch and dinner on-site, as well. Not only was the food excellent, but they took really good care of this celiac, and I did not get sick! I would recommend this to anyone who loves cars and driving -- total blast! read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

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Wonderful facility, knowledgeable instructors, and a variety of classes to choose from. I dived in head first and registered for a one-day M School session months ago. I opted for a class in November because dealing with the 100+ degree heat in Palm Springs during the summer is not something I find enjoyable. The weather was perfect today... in the high 70's / low 80's. I walked onto the campus with mixed emotions. I was excited to be getting behind the steering wheel of various M-series cars, but also nervous because I've never driven on a race track before. Upon arrival, the day started with complimentary coffee/tea, fruit and a variety of snacks. The classroom session was led by instructor and professional driver Chris Hill. We went over some basics on how to best navigate the courses. Once the logistics were out of the way, it was time to get behind the wheel. M2's, M4's and M8's were provided for the different sessions and each session was led by a different instructor. We had the pleasure of being taught by professional race car drivers David Thilenius, Dave McMillan and Cam (I didn't get Cam's last name). Each car was equipped with a 2-way radio and this is how the instructors would communicate with the drivers. After a few hours of driving, we had a lunch break. Lunch was provided and there was a nice variety of food options: salads, sauteed kale, mashed potatoes, beef & chicken....and for dessert.... soft serve ice cream. After lunch, it was time to get back on the track and test some of the skills learned from the morning sessions with challenges such as Time Attack and Rat Race. Overall, it was a fantastic day and I learned so much. Not only were the instructors all very knowledgeable, they were also all very comedic, which made the sessions light and fun. I am most grateful that they all were so kind and gracious to help calm my nerves as a newbie. I would 100% recommend taking a class at the BMW Performance Center for anyone wanting to learn some great driving techniques while having fun doing so. read more

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Had such an amazing experience with the team at Mini Stunt Driving school. An awesome day of learning new things, playing in new super cute mini's pushing boundaries. Learning how to reverse up to 35 mph, pop it in neutral & then flick it around were just some of the fun we had. The teachers are pros & really take the edge off of a somewhat terrifying experience. It's both exhilarating and exhausting. You get to learn the stunts, but also passenger for the person you are partnered with. The smell of rubber & the 5 hrs of motion can get the best of you, so bring your bonine. read more

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Was amazing experience. Until I used the bathroom. Smelled like a zoo. Need to work on that h-vac for men's restroom. read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Warning! Hazard zone. - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

The BMW Driving Experience was a true bucket list item for me. The BMW staff was very accommodating for me and my family. They enjoyed the day as much as I did driving. I would recommend this to any driving enthusiast. Thanks to all the BMW staff for making this an unforgettable day! George Taylor read more

PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING -- VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER My husband and I ordered a 2025 M2 and added the Performance M School experience to the vehicle purchase. Since he wanted me to join him, I called and added myself to attend the same class. Shortly before our scheduled date, we learned that a hurricane was expected to hit the area. We understood the policy stating that classes run "rain or shine." My husband, who is an experienced driver, still chose to attend despite the weather. However, as someone less experienced, I decided to cancel my participation for safety reasons. When we arrived that day, I spoke directly with the Operations Manager, Front Desk Attendant, and several instructors (names available if needed). Every person I spoke with assured me that I would receive a refund without issue, especially since I was present and prepared to drive if needed. Based on their word, I left my cancellation in place. Days later, after repeated follow-ups with the Coordinator, Front Desk, and Operations Manager, I was informed that I would not receive a refund due to their "14-day cancellation policy." This was shocking and extremely disappointing given that I was personally reassured by multiple staff members that I would be refunded. For a program that costs $2,000 for a single day, this experience has been unacceptable. I feel completely misled by the staff and the lack of accountability from the BMW Performance Center. BE WARNED: If you need to cancel for any reason, even with advance notice and direct assurances from staff, do not expect a refund. What should have been an exciting and premium experience turned into a frustrating and disappointing ordeal. read more

Amazing day with Rick. What an awesome instructor. He takes the time to learn your individual needs and communication style and get right down to business with no time wasted. I learned more than I could have imagined. Would work with him again in a heartbeat. read more

I happened to drop of a friend of mine who came into town specifically to go to this driving school. She was taking the BMW Corporate Driving Experience as organized by her company in conjuction with Indian Wells's Hyatt Regency. It looked like a ton of fun and once I got out to the Thermal area... I enjoyed watching people drag race and race around the track. The fact that this course is also affiliated with the Thermal Club, a residential gated community that has its own private race track (versus being situated on a golf course)... now THAT's very very cool and for those of you drive like Louis Hamilton... I suggest you should look into buying a place at the Thermal Club. read more

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I've always liked to drive and to learn. My husband had told me about the BMW driving school years ago, so I had wanted to go for a long time. I finally planned a trip to Palm Springs around the One Day School for my birthday. Top line takeaway -- I signed up to have fun, and unfortunately, much of the day was more stressful than fun. I signed up online, which, given the call center location screw-ups (which happened to someone attending the new owners' course held at the same time), was apparently a good move. However, it seemed very odd that I got a single confirmation email with very few details -- just the date and time, nothing else about the class (not even the address!), followed by a link to a golf course and to some pricey hotels. Needless to say, I made sure to show up pretty early, where I finally found out that they have all-day drinks and snacks and also provide a pretty high-quality lunch. That would have been good to know a little earlier than the morning of! They also have a nice two-story building, complete with a balcony, so friends/family can come along and hang out there all day and even purchase lunch for $32 (non-drivers just cannot go out to the track, of course). We started the day at 8:30 in the classroom, where we introduced ourselves and were put into pairs for the day. This too would have been helpful to know in advance. Many attendees came in pairs -- fathers and sons, for instance (yes, I was the only woman...) -- and the few of us solo folks were put together pretty much at random. Had I known I'd be spending the day sharing a car with someone, maybe my husband would have signed up to do it with me, despite being a much more experienced driver. As is typical in these types of classes, a LOT of information was dropped on us in pretty short order, and then we headed out to the cars. Our class of 16 was split into two groups of eight, and each pair shared a car and switched off driving throughout the day. We moved back and forth between a 240i and 340i, but don't ask me what the difference was, as they never said. After the thorough information given about proper seat and mirror adjustment, I was a bit frustrated to be given so little time to get oriented and adjusted before heading to the track, and that continued throughout the day. I like to follow instructions, so give me the time to actually do that! Plus, in the 240i, the seat wouldn't go quite far forward enough to get the proper knee bend on the brake that they wanted, which was kind of annoying, as I'm not THAT short. The exercises were: slalom to warm up, emergency braking, skid pad, road course, emergency lane change, timed road course, and "rat race" on the skid pad. The instructors led us through each course as a group and provided demonstrations (and on the skid pad, a ride-along), but were never in the cars with us (again, would have been great to know in advance). Each car had a walkie-talkie that was basically a constant stream of the instructor giving instructions and feedback to the entire group. Now, the instructors are very experienced and genial guys and they generally toed the line between offering helpful feedback and razzing people (for hitting cones on the slalom, "We're not going bowling!"; for failing to keep the brake slammed in on the emergency stop, "You're a candidate for chauffeur school," etc.). But, I think they forget that not everyone is used to driving a BMW or even a brand new car -- I was, and remain, very confused by all the buttons and options, and especially struggled with the lack of standard gearshift that resulted in not realizing the car wasn't in park at one point -- and that there is just SO MUCH to remember and try to handle all at once. Yes, I could drive a steady 35 in my own car if a cop was behind me, but that's not the same as accelerating to 35 from a stop in a very short distance in an unfamiliar car, holding that 35 steady without overshooting it, and then slamming the brake or making a lane change. So while I did have some fun, especially once I mostly figured out the road course, I experienced a lot more stress than I had expected. For the $1,000 price tag, I think BMW can do better. Based on this experience, I'm not interested in attending any BMW classes in the future. And as I indicated in their follow-up survey, I am now even less likely to ever want to purchase a BMW, which is a bit of a fail on their part. read more

Came by for a One Day Performance Driving School event the other day and it was a world-class experience. Performance Driving School has been on my short list for numerous years! Started the reservation process 3 months in advance and made a payment in full and received an e-mail confirmation. Managed to get a promo code from catered Internet ads and called in for a 20% promo from the ad, which was applied to my class. There was no communication from the date of my reservation until the day of the event. Thermal is in the middle of the desert in an unmarked area. The nearest limited-service hotel I could find was in Indio, 25 minutes away. Experience started off with an armed guard with a bulletproof vest at the gated entrance yelling why I was at the venue. After informing the guard of my registration with the driving school, the guard yelled back who was the instructor... I said BMW and he told me to go in... big yikes... There were a dozen or so parking spaces in front of the building that was barely long enough for my extended-length full size sedan... Staff wore uniforms and there was hand sanitizer at the front counter. A very small percentage of the staff wore a mask indoors... There was no cleaning of vehicles throughout the day, despite sharing with multiple classmates... There were 2 classes in session on the day of my visit, including 12 in my class. Our day started off with a quick introduction, followed up by a one hour classroom session that was very informative. We were then split up into groups of 6, starting off with a slalom course, then an emergency brake session, and the skid pad. We also spent some time on the practicing on the track before heading for lunch. Catered lunch appeared to have been made on-site. There was a salad, garlic bread, vegetarian items, pasta with vegetarian meatballs, pasta with sausage, breaded chicken breast, along with some dessert for lunch. Lunch was more comprehensive than the light breakfast pastries and granola bars available throughout the day. Bottled water was plentiful and encouraged throughout the day. After lunch, the day continued with a timed event on the track, emergency lane change, and rat race. The highlight of the day was the hot lap around the track with the instructor...definitely got a headache after the 20 second ride! read more

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For the person who likes cars and everything connected with, it was great experience. read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

Attended the Mini Motoring School at BMW Performance Driving School. Cam was a fun and engaging instructor, cracked a lot of jokes. Learned a lot about mini coopers, and how to drive and listen to them. Definitely recommend if you have a mini! read more

Exhilarating. If you're having a slump or need a break, book the driving school. Period. If you need motivation to book the driving school, read on: Whether you already own a BMW, looking to buy one or just want to drive better, both defensively and safely, you've come to the right place. If you just want to feel what a professional can do behind the wheel of a driving machine - heart pumping, adrenaline racing, pit sweating - you've also come to the right place. Be aware, for comfy weather in the city of Thermal you may have to book a few months in advance. Regardless, the BMW performance team will keep you well hydrated and well fed (depending on the training you book a delicious breakfast and lunch is included). The all-star team of professional drivers start your day with knowledge: the tools you need to get you behind the wheel of these German performance machines; giving you lots of info with fuel injected humor, as well. They split you up into groups and it's off to the track! Here they work with you, to hone in on that inner Andretti. The team does not only focus on speed but rather on control; being able to "feel" the car, and utilizing that underrated brake. We were tasked with many challenges that kept our adrenaline going. Simulating accident avoidance, hard braking, racing our opponent on an oval lap, the notorious skid pad and finally putting everything together with timed lap. We had a few opportunities to improve our time, when all was said and done we were pretty proud of our standings. One of us came home with a medal! When all was said and done - all our cares and worries we're forgotten. Our focus - literally "back on track", we dumped the slumps and we are back on our A game! Looking forward to some M driving in the future! read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Sunrise - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

When those who can't do, teach..... but shouldn't. Except for Casper, he was great. Pros: Driving a variety of BMW's as fast as they can go, lots of fun. Oddly, no you're not wearing a helmet or have a harness on. Just stock cars and you driving alone at over 100mph, excellent way to get you to buy a BMW! Drifting course, crazy fun and the instructor Casper was awesome. Very patient, instructive and nice. Facility is top notch, multiple courses, chef on staff for lunch. Every kind of beverage you could want, gotta stay hydrated at 137mph!! Cons: You know the old joke "what's the difference between a BMW driver and a porcupine?". Well I discovered it was written about the instructor David T. at this school. Instead of being helpful and correcting your errors, he just mocks you and makes poor jokes. Driving around the track you're supposed to come close and APEX. David's assistance was to tell a customer in front of everyone "you should get a dog and name it APEX, cause you'll never hit it". Other insults continued over the walkie talkies in everyone's car that generally started with "what are you doing" or "who does the driving at your house?". Other instructors weren't as harsh, but also gave criticism where instructions should have been given. While I loved the ability to drive at insane speeds, I wouldn't suggest this place to others just because of the instructors. read more

I've been around a racetrack a few times in my day, literally, but this experience was very professional, exhilarating and fun. I participated in the New Owners Track Drive which is a 3-hour experience that includes classroom instruction, and driving on track in 4 different BMW M models. Then we drove X7 SUVs in an off-road excursion up hills and down using the Hill Descent Control (HDC) button. The morning ended with a fast Hot Lap ride. I hope to go back soon. Thank you BMW and thank you Brian (instructor) for making it a great day. Recommended for all drivers (16 years+) read more

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I bought a gift certificate at Christmas. Have not been able to schedule appt!! It took up my 45 min lunch twice and no answer. I pressed 1 for call back and it never happened. I am extremely frustrated and disappointed and it looks like I may have gotten screwed out of my $300 read more

It's until you drive an M batch, you really don't know what the Ultimate Driving Machine is all about! Fortunately, this place lets you do this and a lot more! With several track configuration optionsn to choose from, no matter what BMW series you're driving, you will truly get to experience what this machine is all about! The BMW driving school is extremely well designed and executed with staff and crew that truly believe in what they do! The instructors are extremely fun and easy to talk to no matter your level of driving skill and ability. The classroom sessions are super detailed and can teach a novice driver lots of useful off the track information and an experienced amateur racer some tricks of the trade! It's fun for singles, couples, teams or even corporate events! If you are looking to steer and gear your way around the track with a safe, informative, compassionate and knowledgeable team, in the ultimate driving machine, book a session and head on down. You will thank yourselve you did! P.S. Ask for Miss Amanda White, and tell her Hosh referred you. She is awesome at what she does and will go above and beyond to ensure you or your team will have a wonderful experience! read more

BMW Performance Driving School - The track - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

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Wow wow wow, what an exhilarating experience. First and foremost, huge thank you to our instructor Rob and the lovely brunette who helped us check in. I purchased the performance drive experience for my bf's birthday as he is an adrenaline junkie and he definitely got his fix. The location itself is very easy to find, super clean w lots of parking. We checked in 30mins prior to our 8AM class as instructed. Rob is an amazing instructor who gave us an experience of a lifetime. We got a chance to test drive a few of the different models followed by an off road course experience. Can't stop raving about this place. Definitely looking forward to my next visit! read more

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I was here for the new BMW owner track day. It is a 3 hour experience, which included classroom instruction, track experience that you can test drive different models, and off road driving. There were 13 of us, and we were split into a group of 6 and 7 people. It was a fun and eye opening experience. In the end, our instructor took us on their BMW and showed us what professional track driving was like. I have a bit of motion sickness to be honest. However, it might be a once in my life time experience, so I was willing to risk it. It was fun overall! read more

My husband and I took advantage of the New Owner Experience this past weekend and had an absolute blast! The day started with a quick briefing, then we were immediately off to start the fun. They broke the class into two groups- one group started with an off-roading experience in X5s, and our group started in the track with an X8, X3, m4, and z4. Each of the 4 partners started in a car and followed the instructor around a quick explanation of the track. Then we were off! The point of the exercise is less about speed and more about handling but you do get to really test the acceleration on the initial straightaway. We rotated seats with our partners after a few laps, then rotated cars once each partner had gone. After the track, we each did one lap in the off roading course, which was also fun. Finally, groups of 3 climbed in a car with an instructor on a larger portion of the track we started the day for a "hot lap". Normally, the instructors will do some drifting, but because of supply chain issue, they don't have enough tires on hand for that at the moment, but it was still exhilarating being driven around a track by a professional racer. From start to finish, our time at the center lasted about 2 hours, and almost all of it was drive time. I'm not into fast driving or cars in general, so I wasn't sure how I'd like it, but I had a blast. The experience came free with our new car, but normally it's $299 a person. I would definitely say it's worth the $299 if you are interested. My only tip is if you ever get remotely motion sick, you might want to pop a Dramamine before. I sometimes get queasy on curvy roads, and I wished I had thought to take something before hand. read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

Comprehensive track amenities Pure experts on staff All of the sexy sheetmetal Pulling off CA-86, taking a few turns toward what you know will be a solid facility, the white two-story building arises unbranded, vaguely unassuming as modern block of comfort across from a palm tree nursery. You turn onto the property and see the security gates, and you realize this is not some basic track - it's a club. And better yet, it's a Performance Center, for real. You're in. The building welcomes with its cafe, instruction conference room, commodious viewing gallery, shop with the branded swag, and the desk to tell them you're ready to go. Hydrate a minute and do some light stretching, friend-o. Seat time awaits. Now you're behind the wheel. You're adjusting your seat, hearing a seasoned pro on the radio, sizing up the people in the adjacent vehicles, and you're rolling toward heavy-pedal territory. 5.1 miles of technical learning, throttle-squeezing, ten out of ten braking, apex-tagging, limit-pushing chase scenes at the sun-drenched Thermal Club. The reality evades easy description...but it's somewhere between the wider eyes, tenser muscles, faster breaths, and aggressive decisions you're making. GO. It's all worth it - do as much as you can for as long as you can. I had the pleasure of Brian as my instructor, and his easy demeanor and vast knowledge were excellent. I even needed some help from a man named Jonathon ("MacGyver"), and he and his squad were massively helpful - big props to the Logistics crew. If you're west of the Mississippi, enjoy horsepower, and maybe know a word or two of German, make arrangements today. Ausgezeichnet. read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Lovely day; ready to throttle up. - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

Enjoyed my time here. I got to drive an M3, M4, Z4M, X7, and X6M. I mean pedal slammed to the floor talking curves at high speed. The highlight was the driver taking us for a spin on the serpentine course. That was a rough, nearly violent but exhilarating ride. I'll be back for the 2-day course and/or private time with an instructor. If you buy a new BMW you can sign up for the one-day course for free, otherwise it is a thousand bucks. The 2-day course is about 2k, after I take that I'll return for another review. HIGHLY recommended. read more

Cam Newton was an excellent instructor. Had a wonderful track day driving a fleet of M vehicles. Very fun and exciting. Thanks cam!

I've attended a one-day M school in the past, and just recently did a four-hour private instruction session with Rick. As usual, the facility was amazing and first-class, and Rick was a very talented instructor. We each had our own M-3 and we had the South Palm course to ourselves. Rick was able to convey braking technique, line-choice and steering input tips into language even I could understand. My confidence level grew significantly over the entire session. This was something I was SO looking forward to that I thought I might be disappointed, but it was even better than I could have hoped. I will be doing it again soon. Steve J. read more

The BMW Performance Driving School is a first-class experience all the way around. The building is new and beautiful as is the track/grounds. It is right next to the Thermal course and you can hear cars ripping around it all day. I was here for the 1 day car control clinic. After some initial classroom instruction we were out in the cars (240s and 340s) doing a variety of activities (slalom, panic brake stops, road lap course). This was to whet our appetites for the afternoon where we competed in a chase around a large circle of cones, and a timed lap on the road course. Lunch was served upstairs with a view of the track. The sandwiches and salads were really good, and it was nice to see the chef come out and ask how the meal was for everyone. At the end of the day, we received a certificate of completion and some swag (a water bottle, hat and shopping bag). Overall, this is a great facility and a fun day. And the final event is a hot lap with an instructor! Highly recommended! read more

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Purchased this as a Christmas gift for my 20 y.o. son who has been race car driving around the world since he was 12 y.o. - thanks for Forza video game series! He was pretty confident with all those "years of experience" (wink) and thoroughly enjoyed driving each of the 5 cars, analyzing and evaluating their differences. Frankly, it's just the "petal to the metal" experience everyone wants. It was just as much fun for us to watch, especially when the instructor took them as passengers for their "joy ride spin" - tossed about like a ragdoll, drifting corners, smoking wheels. VERY FUN! read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Too bad I cannot upload the video clips... - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

Great class, great instructors, and the BMWs are brand new. Doing the M class next year!

Incredible instructors and awesome track facilities! Took an M Club Day event and M4 GT4 race school as part of being a BMW CCA member; definitely a bucket list weekend. Getting seat time on the South Palm Thermal circuit was really awesome, hopefully one day I'll be able to drive the entire track. Even the lunches were top notch! read more

My review for the Thermal BMW Performance Driving School is way overdue! I attended class the first week of this past December (2018). However, I registered the one-day driving class about six months ahead. The location is perfect for a performance handling class. Thermal, California is not too far from Palm Springs. If you are flying in for class, I would suggest flying in the night before. Class started at about 9 am, if I recall correctly. I stayed in Palm Desert, and getting to Thermal was not too bad. I arrived a little early, and checked in at the front reception area. The whole process was pretty painless. I suggest getting early so you can get a cup of coffee, check out the store, and perhaps socialize with the other students. The morning started out with a 45-minute classroom session to go over car safety, key driving/performance handling concepts, etc. We then paired up with another student and headed out to the track for exercises involving the wet skid pad and panic braking. Track time was spent in either a 340 or 240 (depending on the exercise). We were encouraged to push the cars during our track time. This was a great way to test on someone else's car how far my car could go :-) I was fortunate to have a very good partner (so choose your seat in the classroom wisely!). We broke for lunch around noon. Lunch was included as part of the classes. The spread was really good! There were salads, a variety of sandwiches, chips and dessert. Lunch was on the second floor, and had excellent views of the track as well as the surrounding mountains. After lunch, we headed back for the Handling Course, and a timed lap to bring together everything learned that day. A couple of the afternoon sessions were set up as competitions, so it was pretty fun to pretend to be a race car driver :-). At the very end of day, students rode with the instructors in M3s as the instructors zipped around the course. It was quite a ride! We regrouped in the classroom at the end of the day. We all got goodie bags, which included a water bottle and a performance driving school baseball cap. We were done by around 5:00 pm (I think). Again, I would suggest flying out the next day so that you are not rushed getting to the airport. The surrounding towns are nice, so it is worth staying a couple of extra days. There are two day classes as well as M classes (one and two day). There are even mini Cooper classes! I would definitely register and sign up for a two day class or an M class!! read more

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I can't say enough about how great the one day MINI stunt driving class was at the BMW Performance Driving School. Over the years (more than I care to admit), I have attended many different kinds of driving schools, and so I feel qualified to say this one was definitely done well. They struck just the right balance of seriousness and frivolity. I was very lucky in that we only had 3 people in our class, so the instructors, Case and Ricky, had a lot of latitude with how much time we were able to spend on various segments of the course. Everything was carefully curated to keep us comfortable, safe, and working to improve. Even lunch was stellar fare. By the end of it, we were all Rockford turning like it was something we had been doing from birth. I personally still struggle with the J-turn and parking maneuver a little (I could do it about 50% of the time), but that's definitely on me and not the instructors. I strongly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun day of flinging around some MINIs and learning --in a very fun way-- the fine art of car control. To get the most for your money, I suggest you go during the winter and try to schedule on a day when attendance will be light. Fewer students means more seat time. Also, pro tip: if you attend a free BMW Ultimate Driving event, you can score a 20% discount off of any BMW driving school if you sign up on the spot. I have video of me doing a Rockford Turn on youtube: https://youtu.be/lwK_6rmlpss read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

My brother got me a voucher for a 2 hour session at the Performance Center. There were two courses we test drove. The first was an off-road course where we tested X5s on steep grades, through water, and up and down hills. The second course was my favorite - it was an obstacle course set up on the racetrack where we had the opportunity to test drive 5 different models ranging from an M4 to an X6. Cam and Lani were excellent coaches and made the day one to remember. Will definitely plan to visit again next time I'm in SoCal read more

BMW Performance Driving School - Driving Schools Near Me - Thermal, California

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This is the experience of a lifetime for petrol heads! Groupon offered their performance driving experience for $155. The experience included a chance to drive 2 laps in various M badge cars, 6 timed laps on an autocross course and a hot lap with the instructor. The website says it is a two hour experience but my squealing tires and roaring engines odyssey concluded after 1 hour and 25 minutes. Thankfully, I don't have to gas these cars up or replace their tires. I got to drive a M2, M3, M4, X5M, X6M and 550. Of all those cars, The M2 and M3 felt most stable and easy to control. I had a blast tossing the M2 around every sharp turn. The M4 felt like it was trying to kill me. It would downshift unnecessarily and it's turbos kick in when I didn't need the power. The other three cars were wallowing cruisers with pointlessly big engines. During the hot lap, the instructor drifted the car around the track and show us what makes BMW so special. I have newfound appreciation for BMW as a brand, so I may get a 320i someday. This driving experience is not to be missed. read more

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