BMW DRIVER'S SCHOOL
TAKE YOUR SKILLS BEYOND THE BASICS
BMW Driver’s School provides advanced driving techniques — covering high-speed braking, cornering, accident avoidance and vehicle control in an instructor-led environment. Every session sharpens reflexes and builds mastery, making every drive more rewarding.
Level up Your Next Drive
PRO DRIVING INSTRUCTION
Our professional driving instructors have years of racing and coaching experience and are with you every step of the way, offering feedback and encouragement via radio. They’ll always demonstrate the exercise for you, illustrating everything – from proper seating positions to the best way through a corner.
REACH YOUR OWN LIMITS
We practice challenge by choice, so you’re always at a level of performance that you feel comfortable with. Our instructors provide instant feedback and positive reinforcement while encouraging each driver to have a little fun. Okay, maybe more than a little.
A LITTLE PHYSICS, A LOT OF FUN
Your day begins in the classroom, where our instructors will go over the basics of high-performance driving. Everything from the proper seating position, understeer and oversteer to how a car handles changes in speed and direction will be covered.
SKILLS AS ONLY WE CAN TEACH THEM
Our closed course is the perfect place to understand what happens when you lose control of a car and how far down the road you need to look. Practice high-speed cornering and timed runs to build confidence and reaction times. These are skills that you’ll be able to call upon for the rest of your driving life.
YOUR RACE PACE
Our lessons are all about pace – picking up the pace as you feel comfortable and going at your own pace for each driving exercise. It’s not about how fast you go here, but how well you can keep it all under control. Compete with yourself as you pick up the pace and become a more precise driver – shaving time off your runs with each pass around the track.
CONE THRONE
Our fun obstacle courses include cones and slick surfaces, giving students a first-hand look at what happens when a car suddenly stops doing what they think it will do. Learn understeer and oversteer, and hydroplaning on water. We simulate real-world issues that you can encounter, teaching you the skills to handle the situation without panicking.
PRO DRIVING INSTRUCTION
Our professional driving instructors have years of racing and coaching experience and are with you every step of the way, offering feedback and encouragement via radio. They’ll always demonstrate the exercise for you, illustrating everything – from proper seating positions to the best way through a corner.
REACH YOUR OWN LIMITS
We practice challenge by choice, so you’re always at a level of performance that you feel comfortable with. Our instructors provide instant feedback and positive reinforcement while encouraging each driver to have a little fun. Okay, maybe more than a little.
LEARN SKILLS THAT THRILL
WET SKID PAD
CPR. No, not that kind. We mean Correct, Pause, Recover. Our wet skid pad simulates ice and hydroplaning on water, giving you a real-world opportunity to practice understeer and oversteer. You’ll also participate in the Rat Race as you try to catch your opponent without slipping.
DOUBLE-LANE CHANGE
Available on the second day of classes, students will explore how a car handles changes in direction, as their vehicle’s weight shifts through a series of left to right turns. Avoid hitting cones, and you’ll win the day.
PANIC BRAKING
On day one, we instruct teens on how long it takes to brake at various speeds and how to avoid tailgating. Your teen will experience a sudden single-lane changes in a fun environment. On day two, we’ll practice interstate braking with ever-increasing velocity up to 70 mph.
INTERSTATE BRAKING
Students start out driving steady at 70 mph in a straight line. In their path is a box made of cones, and students must decide both at what point to hit the brakes and how much brake pressure is needed to stop correctly, all while keeping the car under control.
TIME CHALLENGE
Let your competitive side show as you combine all the skills learned into one cohesive lap. Can you lay down the best time in your group and win bragging rights? You’ll have multiple attempts to try and find your fastest time.
OFF-ROAD COURSE
Two-Day Driver’s School includes some off-roading in our BMW X vehicles. You’ll gain confidence in a controlled all-terrain environment as you drive through dips and ruts, and descend steep hills with Hill Descent Control activated. Big smiles are always included.
SLALOM
Instead of outright speed, the slalom course focuses on precision and vehicle control. Cones mark off direction and turn-in points, so keep your eyes up and out as far ahead as you can.
AUTOCROSS
Slice through a challenging coned-off track at low speeds – tight turns and proper vision will enable you to complete the course without hitting any cones.
PERFORMANCE DRIVE
Try a sample of thrills with our Performance Drive, where you’ll rotate among multiple BMW models for some exciting laps on our track. Model availability will vary.
ONE-DAY BMW DRIVER’S SCHOOL, OR TWO?
Pro instructors, the most advanced BMWs and our closed course – it’s all here for both one- and two-day events.
| Event | ONE-DAY DRIVER’S SCHOOL | TWO-DAY DRIVER’S SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Panic Braking | ||
| Emergency Lane Change | ||
| Time Challenge | ||
| Slalom | ||
| Rat Race | ||
| Wet Skid Pad | ||
| Performance Drive | ||
| Double-Lane Change | ||
| Off-Road Course | ||
| Autocross | ||
| Interstate Braking |
ONE-DAY BMW DRIVER’S SCHOOL
Start with a brief classroom session to go over key concepts, then take it to the track for pulse-elevating exercises involving slalom, braking and handling. After lunch, you’ll head out for some skid pad work, try the emergency lane change, face an opponent for the Rat Race, explore your limits in Timed Autocross and finally, a timed lap to bring together everything learned that day. You won’t need your typical morning coffee for this one-day intensive driving course.
TWO-DAY BMW DRIVER’S SCHOOL
Two-Day School includes everything from our One-Day School, plus skill-advancing exercises like the Double-Lane Change Course and interstate braking from 70 mph. You’ll also experience other BMWs as you head to the Off-Road Course to pilot X vehicles through adverse conditions. Take on the slalom, Timed Autocross and skid pad and keep it all under control. Enjoy a Performance Drive, where you can take three different BMW models around our track and learn the unique handling characteristics of each. Finally, hop in for a hot lap with one of our pro instructors. Prepare for two full days of adrenaline.
BOOK YOUR BMW DRIVER’S SCHOOL
BMW One-Day Driver's School
$1,200
Agenda
Subject to change
8:00 am - 8:30 am
Registration check-In
8:30 am - 9:30 am
Classroom session
9:30 am - 12:00 am
Track Time
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Track Time
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Hot Laps
UPCOMING BMW ONE-DAY DRIVER’S SCHOOL EVENTS
BMW Two-Day Driver's School
$2,400
AGENDA - DAY ONE
Subject to change
8:30 am - 9:30 am
Registration check-In
9:30 am - 12:00 am
Track time
12:00 am - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Track time
AGENDA - DAY TWO
Subject to change
9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Track time
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Track time
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Hot Laps
UPCOMING BMW TWO-DAY DRIVER’S SCHOOL EVENTS
GIVE THEM THE GIFT OF EXCITEMENT
Give someone a driving gift they’ll never forget. Good toward any class, each BMW gift card is delivered electronically, so it’s also perfect for last-minute gift giving.
SWEET SPEED DREAMS
With so much to see and do outside the track, you’ll want to turn your speedy adventure into a full-on South Carolina vacation.
THE BMW PERFORMANCE DRIVING SCHOOL
Set against the backdrop of a beautiful mountain range, The Thermal Club is an exclusive racetrack location that offers three unique layouts, plus our own challenge course to encourage maximum thrills.
Learn about the track
HOTELS, DINING AND MORE
Downtown Palm Springs is just 35 miles from the Thermal Club, and it’s filled with luxurious hotel and dining options. You can also get a discount for your stay if you book with a lodging partner.
Explore the Palm Springs area and hotelsBMW DRIVER’S SCHOOL AT A GLANCE
Where does the BMW Driver’s School take place?
We currently have two locations – in California and South Carolina.
BMW Performance Driving School West
86-050 Jasper Lane, Thermal, CA 92274
(888) 345-4269
Is the BMW Performance Center affiliated with area hotels?
Please visit our California location page for more information.
Can I make BMW Driver’s School part of a vacation?
There’s a lot to do in the areas surrounding Palm Springs, California. Please visit our Locations page for more information.
Is BMW Driver’s School a high-performance driving class?
Yes. You’ll be driving our M240i and M340i, which both feature nearly 400 horsepower. Each event takes place on a closed course under instructor guidance.
How old do you need to be to participate in BMW Driver’s School?
Because BMW Driver’s School is a high-performance driving class, you must be at least 18 years old. Try BMW Teen School for younger drivers who wish to learn ultimate car control.
How do I buy a BMW Driver's School Gift Card?
You can always give a gift card to BMW Driving School and other programs. Please visit our Gift Card page for more information.
Can I book a BMW Driving Experience the same day?
Yes. You can book up until the program start time online via book now, or call 888-345-4269 for more information before heading to the track to see what’s available.
Is an instructor in your passenger seat?
No. They instruct via two-way radio.
What's the difference between a Driver's School and an M School?
BMW Driver’s School’s main focus is on safety and accident avoidance, while BMW M School is more performance and racetrack oriented.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations for a full refund must be made within 60 days of your payment date. Cancellations made after the 60 days of payment will receive a credit to use toward another date or event. There will be no rescheduling if the cancellation is made within 14 days of your school or event.
How old do I have to be to participate in a BMW Driving Experience?
For all classes, you must be at least 18 years old, with a valid driver’s license, to participate.
