[BeEmVee]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

It is exactly the opposite.

https://www.bmw-m.com/en/topics/maga...nd-brakes.html
Your understanding was also mine until I asked a service tech and read in this article as well:

“Brake discs and pads also need running in to avoid brake noise. They too need time to get attuned to each other. The brake system will achieve full efficiency after about 500 km (310 mi). So don’t drive under full loads until then.
To avoid noises from the brake system after running in, occasionally brake heavily.”

From this, it sounds like running in means that the pads and rotors need time to work naturally with each other for the first 310mi and then they can be hard-stopped. The narrator says in order to avoid noises after the run in period, load the brakes with sharper braking maneuvers. All of that occurs after the softer first few hundred mike breaking in.

Am I still incorrect here, and if so, what type of damage can happen in your opinion if not hard-stopped in the beginning?

[TurtleBoy]

See the articles I posted above referring to bedding the brakes. Some people choose to do it and some don’t. Either way no damage can be done, it is all a matter of preference.

[eelnoraa]

Bedding in the brake is the correct thing to do. But I don’t see a need to do it specifically, meaning with normal daily driving, you are bedding the brake, just slowly.

Also, don’t over think it. Just use the car normally. In daily driving, you are no where near using maximum brake capacity. Just don’t take the car this auto cross or track event and start doing threshold braking turn after turn. Many components need some usage to reach full performance, even tires.