09-11-2022, 12:49 PM | #23 | |
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And you're right. Like Lexus is to Toyota, Infiniti is Nissan's "luxury" line, sharing components. So in 2006, Infiniti's QX56 was the same car as Nissan's Armada, which also shared the chassis with the Nissan Titan pickup truck. They just put some fancier trim and stuff in the QX56.
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Cross-continent road trip journal from BMW PCD to Alaska in new X7 M50i in this thread HERE!
New EVEN BIGGER road trip in X5 from BMW PCD to Alaska NOW ONGOING LIVE IN THIS THREAD! Wilderness road trip journal to Eastern Alaska in this thread And road trip journal to Denali and the Arctic Circle here in this thread! |
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09-11-2022, 01:57 PM | #24 | |
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I saw your plan, but if your plans change and you plan to go thru ohio, I highly recommend USAF museum in Dayton. Here's my x-country BMW trip report, like yours with food pics! https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=894582 |
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09-11-2022, 11:03 PM | #25 | |
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2017 M2, LBB, DCT, exec, car play, MPE, diffuser 2011 E90 M3 ZCP Past: E90 328i, F10 535i, F80 M3 (murdered) |
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09-11-2022, 11:15 PM | #26 | |
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Cross-continent road trip journal from BMW PCD to Alaska in new X7 M50i in this thread HERE!
New EVEN BIGGER road trip in X5 from BMW PCD to Alaska NOW ONGOING LIVE IN THIS THREAD! Wilderness road trip journal to Eastern Alaska in this thread And road trip journal to Denali and the Arctic Circle here in this thread! |
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09-12-2022, 10:13 AM | #27 | |
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At USAF museum, there was a story where No Kum-sok visits the museum annually to view his MiG 15 |
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09-12-2022, 12:14 PM | #28 |
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Day 7, transitioning from pre-PCD road trip to PCD: Oklahoma City to Greenville, South Carolina Total Miles: Reset to 0! So, all that driving and travel and fun in days 1-6, was just the warm-up. Now the real fun begins! Anyone that may have been skimming that first bit, wondering where the actual BMW stuff is, well here we are. Today marks the "official" travel to South Carolina, and the start of BMW's Performance Center Delivery (PCD) events. It's an "out with the old, in with the new" day. I left the old car in Oklahoma City with my daughter at college, and hopped a plane to South Carolina. Like many things, because inflation is just out of control in the United States now, flights are REALLY expensive. To avoid taking out a 2nd mortgage, I had to take a 6:30 AM flight from Oklahoma City. Ugh. Those flights are the worst, as it usually means you have to get up at something like 4:00 AM to get ready and get to the airport early. But not a thing where it's worth just staying up all night. I got a hotel shuttle to the airport with a flight crew. Thankfully, American Airlines upgraded both my flights today to first class, and I was able to get at least a couple hours of sleep on the first leg to Charlotte, North Carolina. I've traveled for a living my whole life. I'm not a fan of Charlotte's airport, for a few reasons I'll whine about briefly. Here's an airport map. Invariably, my flight will arrive at one corner of the airport in a big plane (gate B15 this time), and my next flight will leave from the opposite corner in a little plane (E36 this time). Or vice versa. Tons of walking, even with some moving walkways here and there. If I don't schedule a flight with extra layover time, I get worn out just trying to get to the next gate, which is a MAJOR trek. As a person with a disability, there's practicalities of how things are built, that just doesn't quite register with able-bodied people. Before my gimpy years, it didn't occur to me either. Charlotte is mostly carpet in the concourses, which is really, really difficult to push or pull my suitcase on, slowing down gate transition time much more. (also disappointing in long hotel carpeted hallways). And their transitions from carpet to tile and back have a little metal lip on them, which catches suitcase wheels and yanks them to a jarring halt. Unlike "normal" people, disabled folks often have to push a little more force onto their bag as they walk for stability. Airline lounge to the rescue! Having booked a longer layover, the Admiral's Club is always an excellent place to relax, have a snack, and comfortably pass the time. Boarding my next flight in a smaller Bombardier commuter jet, Charlotte was looking rather rainy, as they loaded our bags that needed to be gate checked due to the smaller airplane. We're less than 100 miles away from Greenville, and I've been tracking the weather. We'll be ok. Very grateful for the complimentary first class upgrade, due to my American Airlines status. Woot!!! Whining done. Let's go get ourselves a BMW! Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) is a smaller airport, halfway between the two cities, and the primary one used for BMW Performance Center access. Nice little airport. Just like my last year's PCD, less than 15 minutes after touching down, I had my bags and got picked up by the Marriott in a courtesy X5. Rick, my driver, was very friendly and helpful loading my bags, and getting me all the way through check-in to my room. They're very oriented to people doing a PCD. He even remembered my story from doing my X7 PCD last year! Side note, but I learned that the person that picked me up last year, Brian, has been promoted to hotel General Manager. Congrats!!! Marriott uses two X5's to pick up new drivers from the airport. BMW usually provides them with brand new models, but as is happening with so many things right now, including COVID, that's delayed as well, so these are 2020 models, and the same ones that picked me up last year. No complaints from me! Similar models to what I'm actually taking delivery of tomorrow. And the 3rd Bimmer in that picture there is a customer's M8Competition. Beautiful. On that note, let's talk about the PCD for those that may not be familiar. BMW provides this as a no-cost option to ANY buyer of a new BMW. Yes, ANY buyer, any model. (don't let your dealer tell you otherwise) Instead of using the $995 destination charge, that you have to pay regardless, to ship the car to you, BMW offers the PCD experience at no cost to you using those funds. For 2 people, they'll pick you up from the airport, put you up at the Marriott for a night, give you dinner, breakfast, and lunch the next day, do an extended 2 hour delivery with you and a delivery expert, and then provide you a full day of BMW fun with a factory tour, and multiple exercises performance driving sweet BMW's on their controlled tracks. All "free". All you have to do is get yourself there, and drive (or otherwise transport) your new BMW home. I still maintain, as long as someone has the time and practical means to get themselves to and from South Carolina, I don't know why anyone would NOT do a PCD. Heck, if I can do a PCD from Alaska, TWICE, anyone can! It really is that awesome. The Marriott is a nice, 3 star hotel, which is very clean and has been maintained and updated over the years. Not the fanciest, but very nice for the PCD. I think one top highlight of the whole experience is the service. Both Marriott and BMW really focus on you, the customer. You're treated extra special at every step, from pickup, to check-in, dining, driver instruction, and delivery. This is to be commended, as it makes for a great experience. If I look for minor quibbles with the hotel, the soap bar provided is the moisturizing kind that leaves behind a film that has to be scrubbed off. I'm pretty sure these dispenser tubes in the shower are new, since last time, but unfortunately my body wash tube was empty, so I had to use the soap. The hot water took a long time (4 minutes?) to heat up to take a shower on arrival, but was fine the next morning. The room hair dryer didn't work unless you jiggled the plug and then held it in place. And there was this little peeling crack in the ceiling over the sink. So I think the hotel could use a little updating, but it was all minor. Didn't detract from the overall experience. Nice view from the room window. Greenville is also rainy today, but we'll still be good tomorrow. There's a special menu to choose from at hotel dinner for PCD guests, which has been updated. And you also get 2 drink tickets. Being by myself, I guess I could have done 2 drinks, but just did the Cabernet Savignon, which was just excellent. I chose the soup of the day, a clam chowder, for the first course. Superb, with the little bacon pieces. Along with the Cabernet Savignon, probably the best part of the whole meal. Last year, I did a strip steak, which has been replaced on the menu. So this time, I tried the salmon, which was average. A little mushy. Plain cheesecake for dessert. Yummy. It was fun to watch other people come in the restaraunt during dinner. I was guessing that most, if not all, had that "BMW look" and were there for the PCD. Quite excited for tomorrow, which is the big day. Get up for it! Fun and excitement coming!
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Cross-continent road trip journal from BMW PCD to Alaska in new X7 M50i in this thread HERE!
New EVEN BIGGER road trip in X5 from BMW PCD to Alaska NOW ONGOING LIVE IN THIS THREAD! Wilderness road trip journal to Eastern Alaska in this thread And road trip journal to Denali and the Arctic Circle here in this thread! Last edited by Wild Blue; 10-24-2022 at 08:46 PM.. |
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09-12-2022, 12:55 PM | #29 |
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A little late, but caught up with the read! Tagging along for this adventure! One day, when the kids are order, we will do a PCD pickup!
Dumb question, Do you know if we can bring anyone else on the PCD pickup? i know its for 2, but can we add two little kids |
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09-12-2022, 12:57 PM | #30 | |
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(and you're not late... we're only getting started on this journey!)
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Cross-continent road trip journal from BMW PCD to Alaska in new X7 M50i in this thread HERE!
New EVEN BIGGER road trip in X5 from BMW PCD to Alaska NOW ONGOING LIVE IN THIS THREAD! Wilderness road trip journal to Eastern Alaska in this thread And road trip journal to Denali and the Arctic Circle here in this thread! |
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09-12-2022, 01:04 PM | #31 | |
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On the X5 we have now, we really wanted to do the PCD, but didnt have the time, plus wife was pregnant with our first child. next one for sure! |
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09-12-2022, 02:30 PM | #33 |
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You know it's going to be a good thread when the fans of your laptop start making a lot of noise.
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09-12-2022, 04:44 PM | #37 |
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Wow, Wild Blue, what an(other) epic road trip. I'm sorry to hear about your medical status, but good for you to see the glass as half-full and make the best of your time and your health -- an inspiring lesson we can all learn from.
Thanks for sharing these photos and the travel notes. My journey back from PCD was not nearly as long or adventurous as yours, but you're definitely planting some seeds in my brain for the future. Looking forward to seeing your new car and your circuitous journey home. Safe travels and enjoy.
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09-12-2022, 05:16 PM | #38 |
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I will definitely have to do PCD. I'm missing out! I would have done it last year but I was desperate to take delivery of the car before the end of the year. (Tax and penfed purposes)
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09-12-2022, 06:20 PM | #40 |
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I'm enjoying your journey! Keep 'em coming!
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09-12-2022, 06:40 PM | #41 | |
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09-12-2022, 06:49 PM | #42 | |
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09-12-2022, 09:27 PM | #43 | |
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09-12-2022, 10:31 PM | #44 | |
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Alaska obviously has the northernmost point of any state, continental or not. It also has the farthest western point, in the Aleutian Island chain of Alaska. But the Aleutians also barely cross over the International Date Line as well. So Alaska officially has the furthest northern, western, and eastern points, of the USA.
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Cross-continent road trip journal from BMW PCD to Alaska in new X7 M50i in this thread HERE!
New EVEN BIGGER road trip in X5 from BMW PCD to Alaska NOW ONGOING LIVE IN THIS THREAD! Wilderness road trip journal to Eastern Alaska in this thread And road trip journal to Denali and the Arctic Circle here in this thread! |
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