Break-In driving style

[Sassicaia]

What I hate about this debate is that it should be based on science, and non debatable. Effects should be measurable and there should be no debate (unless more then one approach achieves the same thing. The fact brake in procedures can very from driving hard to treating it like a baby makes zero sense and by sheer definition means there is no effective brake in.

[Bonzer103]

Interesting comment made by my CA on pickup regarding break-in. Don't worry about it, the car is set up prior to the 1200 mile service to protect itself from you. There isn't really anything you can do to hurt it.

[cmkde]

Originally Posted by Sassicaia

What I hate about this debate is that it should be based on science, and non debatable. Effects should be measurable and there should be no debate (unless more then one approach achieves the same thing. The fact brake in procedures can very from driving hard to treating it like a baby makes zero sense and by sheer definition means there is no effective brake in.

This is the real answer, The 1200 mi break-in the way I see it is that if something is wrong with the car from factory and has a flaw that if you're driving moderately and not driving it to hell is that there will be less damage done to the car/motor if it is serious enough.

You wouldn't want a major motor mishap at 7K RPM but maybe not so bad at 3500K RPM. Seems to me just a precaution for BMW to protect their interest which is smart and understandable. I say drive it as you see fit and have fun.

[VDBimmer]

If you accidentally surpass these 'limits' suggested by BMW its not the end of the world right?
800miles in already on our M4 and a friend got behind the wheel and was unfamiliar with it's power and accidentally accelerated to a bit north of 110mph on the freeway. I was kind of pissed but I didn't want to yell at him.

Not the end of the world eh?

[AM4ZING]

Owned the car for 2 weeks, put on 450 miles and ive been driving hard... No red line yet, hit 6000 a few times but have done WOT over 20 times until 5500 rpm

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by Bluex

Hmmm curious, I just have kept to the 5500 rpm rule, but wasn't paying attention to top speed. I hit 140+ indicated, but never even came close to 5500 rpm.

Issue? Seems to be running like a champ.....

I've kinda had an opposite experience... i've only hit tops 105 but i find myself accelerating to 5000-5500 on a daily basis...


Considering the fact that some owners are "driving like they stole it" from day 1, i dont think we should be worried... if the engine was gna fail then it would have already

btw, how does she handle at 140+?

[nicknaz]

Guys check out this article about the N63 engine

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...ns-bmw-n63-v8/

Great quote (supposedly from BMW engineers)

Insiders at BMW in Germany say the oil consumption happens to customers who don't ever flog their powerful, turbocharged V8s hard enough to fully break them in. Ironic.

My take away from this and other articles is "Warm it up and drive it hard"

[cmkde]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Guys check out this article about the N63 engine

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...ns-bmw-n63-v8/

Great quote (supposedly from BMW engineers)



My take away from this and other articles is "Warm it up and drive it hard"

+1 don't be a moron when it's cold wait the 10 minutes and have some fun. Car feels bulletproof.

[///F80M3]

I'm picking up my car from PA so it's 200 miles back home. I don't know if I can handle staying under 5k lol

[Ian1973]

I drove it pretty normally. I wasn't bouncing off the limiter all the time by any means, but I certainly took it up there. More concerning to me was heat cycles and varying the rpms so it wouldn't sit at one speed all the time. It will be years before any of us can revisit this and see who was right and who was wrong.

I have broken in many high performance engines this way and they have never seemed weak or burned oil.

[Robotechnology]

I hit 5,700 rpm one time before the break in service. Otherwise I was under 5,500 rpm the entire time and under 106 mph too. Under 5,000 RPM for the 1st 200 miles or so. No full throttle until after break in service either. I drove it so gentle, I felt like I made a mistake getting it because my Z4MC felt like it crapped all over it (changed my mind after break in!)

[rr006rbc]

Man, you guys really stayed strict with this whole break-in service deal. I must have redlined mine about 50 times before I hit my 1200 mile service. And a couple of them on the way home from the dealership after oil temps were optimal.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Sassicaia

What I hate about this debate is that it should be based on science, and non debatable. Effects should be measurable and there should be no debate (unless more then one approach achieves the same thing. The fact brake in procedures can very from driving hard to treating it like a baby makes zero sense and by sheer definition means there is no effective brake in.

Good point.

I also cant help but think that there must be some specific mechanical reason that BMW lays out such strict break in procedures. If there was no need for a break in then BMW wouldn't say anything and just tell everyone to drive their car like they normally would from day 1 right? But instead, they spell out specific guidelines to be followed.

[Fast4d]

driving at a steady speed at constant RPM is the worst. you need to keep the RPM moving about. get on the throttle all you want buy observe the RPM limits. babying it at low rpm constant cruising is not properly breaking in.

[04cobra]

I have never broken in my cars ever and have never had an problem. With that said, I took a little easier with this one. I haven't spun the tires, I haven't taken it to redline. But I have accelerated quickly to 5500ish in sport+ mode almost daily.

[MFNATIK]

Originally Posted by VDBimmer

If you accidentally surpass these 'limits' suggested by BMW its not the end of the world right?
800miles in already on our M4 and a friend got behind the wheel and was unfamiliar with it's power and accidentally accelerated to a bit north of 110mph on the freeway. I was kind of pissed but I didn't want to yell at him.

Not the end of the world eh?

Hey dude, where is my test drive????

[mptpa]

Originally Posted by 0-100 ninja real quick

Mine's a lease, under warranty, fuuuuuck it...... drive it like you rented it.

Same here.

[Ian1973]

This is why I would NEVER buy a lease turn in.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Good point.

I also cant help but think that there must be some specific mechanical reason that BMW lays out such strict break in procedures. If there was no need for a break in then BMW wouldn't say anything and just tell everyone to drive their car like they normally would from day 1 right? But instead, they spell out specific guidelines to be followed.

It is very tough to lay out some guidelines for "drive it hard but not too hard", and you would have some people revving up the cold motor and doing abusive things that aren't appropriate

There has also been some tech posted elsewhere about benefits of putting some load on the engine right away after it is warmed up

In the ideal world, it would be great if there is an option to ask BMW to do the break in at the factory (the cars are put on a dyno anyway to simulate a road test, and would be awesome if that dyno time can be extended to break in the engine for max power)

[M3ANOXGREEN]

I beat mine up pretty bad, along with all my other M's ive had. cut my oil changes in half and have been able to eat off my valve cover....

[VDBimmer]

Originally Posted by MFNATIK

Hey dude, where is my test drive????

You never asked for one!! haha, pretty soon you'll be rolling in that F80 anyway

[N55]

I drove it like I stole it!