[Mr_Burt]

My Bavarian cousin-in-law is an equally loyal BMW customer. We've both been driving 3's, 4's, X6's, and 7's for decades. However, I was kinda of shocked to find out that he never observes his new vehicle's running-in period. So much so that I ended up wondering if it was "just me" who did the 1200 mile running-in thing, but then, said cousin was equally surprised when he saw the instruction in the owners manual. He says he didn't know and his dealer never mentioned it.

We both lease our cars (3 years) and this may have something to do with his more "carefree" deviation from good engineering practice.

What do people here do with regards to running-in? I feel it's the right thing to do, for the car and future owner, and to honour the engineering, but is that just sentimental thinking?

[Wing Co]

I've followed the run-in, but that's mainly because there is so much traffic that you can't drive quick anyway and wouldn't go into Germany when it was too cold as the performance tyres offer zero confidence in these conditions. Even though I'm now run-in as I'm in the UK, for a short while, it's the same story where to drive quick? A few surges out of roundabouts and off a traffic lights and then before I'm anyway near max revs (and that's a diesel!) I'm either up someones rear end or about to get knicked. On the ownership, I own mine outright and look after my cars so much that BMW say they are returned better after 3 years for px better than 6 and one year old cars. But the price I get is no better than one trashed and washed by guys at the supermarket. I once returned a car for a new MB CLK and the didn't even look at my px. At least I feel good at what I think is doing the right thing with care and thought for the future owner though.

[dhoggm3]

I'm doing the run-in. German engineers tend to know what they're talking about, and I can't believe they'd force a buzz kill like this if there were no point to it.

[uniqueMR]

Always done run-in.