[eluded]

Manual states 1200 miles. The way we currently use the car, not sure when this thing will get 1200 miles of GAS motor usage. What have others done? This is not leased (otherwise who cares), and will keep for 5-7 years, or longer if its reliable, so prefer to follow the proper procedures for longer life.

[biterror]

Originally Posted by eluded

Manual states 1200 miles. The way we currently use the car, not sure when this thing will get 1200 miles of GAS motor usage. What have others done? This is not leased (otherwise who cares), and will keep for 5-7 years, or longer if its reliable, so prefer to follow the proper procedures for longer life.

I often drove my 45e in Sport mode to get enough miles with the ICE.

[Major-Zebra]

I drove home from the PCD at the factory, which was ~1,300 miles for me (98% of which was on ICE). I varied the speed and RPMs (manual shifting) to ensure appropriate range during the break in.

So the break in period was complete for me in 3 days.

Had I not done that, I would've driven in sport mode all the time to complete the break in.

[nZtiZia]

the 50e manual states to drive in Hybrid mode, so some will argue the break-in doesn’t necessarily mean the ICE, but I’m of the understanding it does because it states limiting speed <100mph and rpm <4500. 1) the vehicle can’t go over 100mph with the electric motor. 2) rpm are only displayed on the instrument cluster in Sport mode where the ICE in predominantly utilized. driving in Hybrid mode doesn’t guarantee the ICE will run as it depends on one’s use case. for me, Hybrid mode would’ve been all electric, so I also drove in Sport mode to break in my 45e

[cobramite]

An internal combustion engine does not need a 1,200 mile break in period, that is ridiculous. If this engine absolutely required that length of "break in" then the vehicle would force it to run for that term. The guys who claim to get a year out of a tank of gas would never have their engines "broken in" if this were actually true. A small dose of common sense goes a long way here. It could very well be that the BMW boys are asking new owners to take it easy for 1,200 miles to allow gearing etc to achieve some sort of break in. What happend to the so called 500 mile break in that was commonly recommended for decades?

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by cobramite

An internal combustion engine does not need a 1,200 mile break in period, that is ridiculous. If this engine absolutely required that length of "break in" then the vehicle would force it to run for that term. It could very well be that the BMW boys are asking new owners to take it easy for 1,200 miles to allow gearing etc to achieve some sort of break in. What happend to the so called 500 mile break in that was commonly recommended for decades?

simple: these vehicles aren’t the same. things change

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

simple: these vehicles aren’t the same. things change

The heads exploding over a few buttons didn't get that memo either.
You are absolutely correct. These vehicles are wildly different on many different levels than what we had 10 or 20 years ago.

[nZtiZia]

I look at the changes logically. if they make sense, I embrace them. that said, subjectivity can affect this; I haven’t always agreed/liked some things BMW changed since our first in 2008, but for something like break-in, I will trust what the engineers currently recommend, not what I was used to doing 10-30 years ago

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

I look at the changes logically. if they make sense, I embrace them. that said, subjectivity can affect this; I haven’t always agreed/liked some things BMW changed since our first in 2008, but for something like break-in, I will trust what the engineers currently recommend, not what I was used to doing 10-30 years ago

Your policy is a safe play, really can't go wrong that way.
Myself like many others pay little to no attetion to the break in periods that are usually somewhere in the owners manual and have never had a problem.

[mscot]

so, basically, don't floor it for the first month or so.

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by mscot

so, basically, don't floor it for the first month or so.

My M60i had a rev limit for the 1st 300 miles or so but I still had it to the floor day one as I have with every new car I have ever owned to include 911s, Z06s, etc. and never had a problem but I also don't keep cars very long.
Guys who are firmly convinced that these "break in" periods are chisseled in granite somewhere are never going to see it any other way and that's fine, its their car.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by cobramite

My M60i had a rev limit for the 1st 300 miles or so but I still had it to the floor day one as I have with every new car I have ever owned to include 911s, Z06s, etc. and never had a problem but I also don't keep cars very long.
Guys who are firmly convinced that these "break in" periods are chisseled in granite somewhere are never going to see it any other way and that's fine, its their car.

you have the experience to make that determination and stratify the risk, if any

[cobramite]

^^^^^^^Could not be said much better than this.

[jad03060]

A good break-in routine benefits a long-term owner much more than someone who doesn't keep their vehicles all that long. So, never having a problem with a vehicle you kept for 2-3 years or so isn't a really good indication of what may happen to a high mileage, long-term owner's results.

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by jad03060

A good break-in routine benefits a long-term owner much more than someone who doesn't keep their vehicles all that long. So, never having a problem with a vehicle you kept for 2-3 years or so isn't a really good indication of what may happen to a high mileage, long-term owner's results.

This may or may not be true and should NOT be presented as gospel here. To make a statement like this in a sweeping blanket fashion about "break-in" when there is really no concrete evidence of such is nothing more than an opinion.











.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by cobramite

This may or may not be true and should NOT be presented as gospel here. To make a statement like this in a sweeping blanket fashion about "break-in" when there is really no concrete evidence of such is just BS and should be ignored.

seems more true than not, but break-in could be more of a recommendation rather than a requirement per the wording in the manual. it’s really up to the owner, but the the risk of not doing it is implied and therefore shouldn’t be regarded as BS and ignored

as an analogy, it’s like a wok that performs better after proper seasoning (akin to “breaking in”). seasoning isn’t required but highly recommended.

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

seems more true than not, but break-in could be more of a recommendation rather than a requirement per the wording in the manual. it’s really up to the owner, but the the risk of not doing it is implied and therefore shouldn’t be regarded as BS and ignored

as an analogy, it’s like a wok that performs better after proper seasoning (akin to “breaking in”). seasoning isn’t required but highly recommended.

To clarify, as you have misunderstood my post. At NO point did I declare anything about our owners manuals.
I merely pointed out what is clearly a non scientific but all encompassing recommendation which is nothing more than the "opinion" of another poster who is regularly shown to be in error.

[tooloud10]

I don't know how this is even a discussion. New car manufacturers have commonly called for break-in periods for as long as I've been alive, and BMW specifically calls it out in the manual.

Hell, many of the M-cars require a form of 'break-in' every time you cold start the engine; my M3 will not allow RPMs anywhere near the redline until it decides the engine is properly warmed up.

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by tooloud10

I don't know how this is even a discussion. New car manufacturers have commonly called for break-in periods for as long as I've been alive, and BMW specifically calls it out in the manual.

Hell, many of the M-cars require a form of 'break-in' every time you cold start the engine; my M3 will not allow RPMs anywhere near the redline until it decides the engine is properly warmed up.

My LCI had a rev limit imposed for the first 300 or 310 miles. Why was this not in effect for the entire 1200 mile "break-in" if these limitations are so very important?
Huge grey areas about all this.
Absolute declarations about right and wrong here simply cannot be made and are nothing more than unverifiable opinions.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by tooloud10

I don't know how this is even a discussion. New car manufacturers have commonly called for break-in periods for as long as I've been alive, and BMW specifically calls it out in the manual.

Hell, many of the M-cars require a form of 'break-in' every time you cold start the engine; my M3 will not allow RPMs anywhere near the redline until it decides the engine is properly warmed up.

I am not sure this qualifies remotely as "break-in". It is just warming up the engine and oil.

[tooloud10]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

I am not sure this qualifies remotely as "break-in". It is just warming up the engine and oil.

It's not called 'break in' but the logic is the same; the manufacturer is advising you that it's not a great idea to run a cold or brand new engine right up to redline, for obvious reasons that have been known for decades.

In both situations the user is being asked/told by the manufacturer how they should treat the engine--I prefer accepting said advice.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by tooloud10

It's not called 'break in' but the logic is the same; the manufacturer is advising you that it's not a great idea to run a cold or brand new engine right up to redline, for obvious reasons that have been known for decades.

Personally, I take oil warm up a lot more serious than engine break in. Not that I advocate not following break in recommendation tho. Reason is I have seen more than 1-2 occurrence of M cars rod bearing failing on track events. Cold oil may not be the sole reason for this, but we all know it contributes. As for break in, I have done Euro deliver twice, 150mph at 10-15 miles on odometer. I still have both cars, 10 and 20 years old by now. Both are still healthy as far as I can tell. Sure small sample, isolated experience. But that is the closest to home experiences I have.

I think we are over thinking break in by a large margin. I would say for average usage, commute, pickup kids, grocery, just be mindful, use the car normally. The car is more than capable of doing these with large margin to spare. Just don't take it to drag strip or race track. If situation calls for it, and you need push a car a bit to get out of dangers, it is ok to go beyond recommendation. The car is not that fragile. And this kind of corner case doesn't happen every day either.