[Aimster82]

Did you guys wait until you hit 1000 miles to drive the car "hard"?

[russelldav]

Drove it like I stole it from new.

#leasing

[TurtleBoy]

I took it easy during break-in. It is 1,200 miles not 1,000.

[dream54ing]

we are currently at 900 miles and should be at 1200miles by early next month for our road trip.
Been driving like a old fart since we purchased and planning to keep long term, so wanted to make sure its properly broken into.

[Marty in NY]

I was just at a BMW dealer yesterday talking with their local Genius who had just come back from training in Spartanburg. We were getting ready to take one out for a drive and he flat out told me I didn't need to worry about the break in period as they do that in Spartanburg. It was just a quick mention by him and we were talking about something else so we never got back around to addressing his comment. I wanted to ask them how they did it cause new X5's don't come to the dealer with 1K miles on them.

Anyone else heard of this?

[sk0rchi]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

I was just at a BMW dealer yesterday talking with their local Genius who had just come back from training in Spartanburg. We were getting ready to take one out for a drive and he flat out told me I didn't need to worry about the break in period as they do that in Spartanburg. It was just a quick mention by him and we were talking about something else so we never got back around to addressing his comment. I wanted to ask them how they did it cause new X5's don't come to the dealer with 1K miles on them.

Anyone else heard of this?

Vehicles at factories are often tested on a chassis dyno to simulate some initial driving - it's more of a test of the systems vs. a simulation of 1,000+ miles or "break-in". ECU would be reset to show zero miles. Miles on the odometer between that point and purchase are all delivery/porter related.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

I was just at a BMW dealer yesterday talking with their local Genius who had just come back from training in Spartanburg. We were getting ready to take one out for a drive and he flat out told me I didn't need to worry about the break in period as they do that in Spartanburg. It was just a quick mention by him and we were talking about something else so we never got back around to addressing his comment. I wanted to ask them how they did it cause new X5's don't come to the dealer with 1K miles on them.

Anyone else heard of this?

No, highly unlikely. He could have been referring to something else but the engine break-in is not done at the factory. If it was, they wouldn't put the details in the manual.

[edtreo]

More info on the link. Engine break in according to this video is done in the factory once but he recommends oil change at 500-600 miles. High RPM during break in period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM_sM9tsmoY

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by edtreo

More info on the link. Engine break in according to this video is done in the factory once but he recommends oil change at 500-600 miles. High RPM during break in period.

I have not watched the video but sounds like what they are recommending is in direct contradiction of what BMW recommends. I think sticking with the manual would be the prudent thing to do.

[Marty in NY]

BMW most likely does some sort of engine break in at their engine factories which is why you can safely go to 4,500 rpm and up to 100mph during your own break in period.
With all the data being processed by today's cars, I would think the computers that service centers use can see how an owner drove their car during break in. Hello warranty.

[LexxM3]

Interesting. Conflicting data. Hm. For me, I need to tow a boat soon and definitely don't want to do so (and shouldn't) before completing the manual-specified break-in. About half way there, rushing to get there. Even on a lease, will do a self-paid oil change upon reaching the target break-in mileage (2000 km). But man is it hard to not go fast and hard in this thing. I had to set the speed warning way way way above the highest speed limit as otherwise it was triggering non-stop.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

BMW most likely does some sort of engine break in at their engine factories which is why you can safely go to 4,500 rpm and up to 100mph during your own break in period.
With all the data being processed by today's cars, I would think the computers that service centers use can see how an owner drove their car during break in. Hello warranty.

Marty in Bgm you mean like in this video just before the 24 minute mark:
http://youtu.be/jqbFudVVfFc?t=1419

[natahoa]

So I watched the video about the break-in oil. Does bmw provide that in a new car?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

Marty in Bgm you mean like in this video just before the 24 minute mark:
http://youtu.be/jqbFudVVfFc?t=1419

No, more like this at the 12:00 mark. I was referring to their engine plants, not final assy. That said, I have been through factory tours at Spartanburg and at BMW Mini plant in Oxford, UK. At the time of my visit, each car was put on a dyno but it was for a short duration, too short for breaking in, it was more for testing the car as a system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z6E_1KonbA

[dream54ing]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

Marty in Bgm you mean like in this video just before the 24 minute mark:
http://youtu.be/jqbFudVVfFc?t=1419

very interesting, car when into the siemen booth

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I have not watched the video but sounds like what they are recommending is in direct contradiction of what BMW recommends. I think sticking with the manual would be the prudent thing to do.

This is what I did. I got most of my break-in miles on a long road trip.

[M40i4me]

In my 35+ years of driving I have always just varied the RPM’s (load and unload) to break in an engine for the first 1000 miles. At least in my experience I have run all my new vehicles to 200,000 miles or more without any oil burning or engine failures. Currently at 173,000 on my 328 and all still good. I subscribe to the seat the rings philosophy and will to the day I die!

[Anterialis]

Sorry for restarting this thread, but why hasn't anybody mentioned the fact that hybrids are in many circumstances driven electric only? Yes, it is probably a given for most people, but it is not stated (as far as I know) in the manual that one has to force the engine to run for 1200 miles. The hybrid turns on and off, how can I know when the engine has run 1200 miles (not the car)?

[thereef510]

Even though ours is a lease, the PCD guy made me swear I'd break it in before I drove it like I stole it. So I waited till I got to 1194 before I did the first of many, many, kick downs.

#neverbuyaCPO

[Anterialis]

Originally Posted by thereef510

Even though ours is a lease, the PCD guy made me swear I'd break it in before I drove it like I stole it. So I waited till I got to 1194 before I did the first of many, many, kick downs.

#neverbuyaCPO

but 1194 of what? combustion engine miles? electric miles?

I thought it was mostly the ice that needed breaking in. Does the car itself also need some breaking in?

[thereef510]

Originally Posted by Anterialis

but 1194 of what? combustion engine miles? electric miles?

I thought it was mostly the ice that needed breaking in. Does the car itself also need some breaking in?

1194 combustion miles. We dont yet get the hybrid variant here. the engine is the only thing that needs breaking in as far as what i've been told by the drivers and techs at the PCD. never thought to ask about the hybrid system

[Anterialis]

I agree. Sure, the mechanics in the transmissin, differential etc. would probably be better off "broken in" to a certain agree, but as far as I have been able to educate myself, its the piston rings / ICE that needs breaking in for the most part.

But it is interesting that - again, as far as I know - the manual doesnt differentiate between "engine miles" and "car miles". It just states 1200 miles... If you live in the city, achieving 1200 engine miles could take a year or more... I guess the answer is to take a long trip somewhere..