They call Indian wells “tennis paradise” and frankly, it does justice to the name. But before I even got to the tournament, my weekend in Palm Springs had already started a high grade of a brand new BMW M5 tour from 2025. I flew to LA to drive a trip into the desert, and my journey turned out to be this new performance car, which pulled its eyes at every petrol station and at the traffic lights. The four-hour drive through a typical Socal arrest gave me the perfect window to get a feeling for the tour, as is the case in the real world, not just a track.
Without diving into the weeds of the car too deep, I only say the following: The M5 touring is the type of car that they wonder why we ever needed limousines. Same brutal performance, same comfort and adjustability, but with the actual place to throw in weekend bags, tennis rackets and probably one or two gold retrievers. It is quick if you want it, calm when you need it, and it felt like an appropriate luxury car in bumper and traffic traffic.
Indian fountain: where tennis California hits cool
As soon as we made it into Indian wells, the atmosphere turned into something that is difficult to describe if they were not there. The BNP Paribas Open are not just a tennis tournament – it is a scene. Flawlessly well -groomed terrain, clear blue sky, snow -capped mountains in the distance and a mood that ends up somewhere between the luxury resort and sports festival.
On Saturday we caught the men’s semi -finals: Rune vs. Medwedev and Draper against Alcaraz. It is not surprising that the crowd was everything for Alcaraz – who not only brings energy to the Court of Justice, but also has a BMW ambassador. Fittingly, there was an M5 tour based by Alcaraz near the entrance, which caused an entertaining connection between the athlete and the brand.
BMW’s big tennis moment
BMW has fully supported its partnership with the BNP Paribas Open, and its presence is difficult to overlook. At the front gates, a Vegas Red M5 found in the sun, which was positioned next to the preferred parking lot, which was reserved for the BMW owner. They had their own “X display” deeper in the field, which presented the new 2026 IX and the always popular X7 with a mini tennis court in which the fans could try to hit tennis balls on BMWs on a screen.
Other corners of the tournament had their own BMW moments – a year here, an M5 tour – and hidden in the arena. There is even a BMW lounge that is reserved for customers and guests. Think of air conditioning, cold drinks and a great view of the campaign – definitely a nice break from the desert heat.
It is easy to see why this tournament on tour is such a favorite. The players love it for the chill time plan and the high-end accommodation, and the fans receive this rare mixture of accessibility and first-class experience. The place feels bonus without ever tipping in preentios.
From tennis to track: the BMW Performance Center
The next day it was not about tennis – it was about driving. The BMW Performance Center West is located in Thermal, California just 30 minutes from Indian Wells. If you are ever in the area, it’s a must.
We jumped into a half-day M school program that is basically for adult Disneyland if you are interested in cars. After a quick briefing, we turned through a mixture of machines: M2, M4 competition, Z4 M40i and the large SUVs – X4 m and X6 m – on a compact track. Every car had its own personality, but they all gave them grin like an idiot under a helmet.
One of the most entertaining parts was a skid pad rat race in an M8 competition, in which two drivers ripple around a wet circle against a wet circle. It’s fun, it’s humble, and she teaches a lot about gas control (and how quickly you can pass from the hero to zero).
Then came something really next level: BMWS mixed reality experience. You drive a real car on a real route, but carry a VR headset that overlay a digital race track. It sounds strange, but it works. Corners appear, coins float like a video game in the air, and their brain somehow adapts. I tried an early version of it a few years ago, and now it’s even smoother and more and more.
To complete everything, we gave the keys to BMWS Pro drivers for a round of hot rounds. Our trainer, Derek, threw the car around with this perfect mix of skill and calm ruthlessness and turned every tip into a lesson and every corner gets out into a thrill. If they didn’t smile in the end, they were probably passed out.
Paradise, charged
In retrospect, it is difficult to recognize a better way to spend a weekend. You will receive the calm and class of the Indian fountain, the roar of an M5 tour on desert roads, the sound of tennis balls, which are picked up by rackets, and the unmistakable fragrance of Burning rubber on the track.
Tennis paradise? Secure. But for everyone who lives for both the elegance of sport and the adrenaline of driving, this was even better: a collision of two passions in an unforgettable environment.
