Did you ignore BMW's recommended Break-In Procedure on your E9X M3?

[Gearhead999s]

Look at how Ford says to break in the 7500 RPM Boss 302 5 litre engine.No pussyfooting around here!

[AMPowerJ]

Way to go FORD! I love it.

My brother just bought a Mustang GT 5.0. The car feels huge, but has no useable back seat. Weird. BUT that thing can run. For the money, FORD has a real winner in the GT's, Boss 302, etc.

[AMPowerJ]

Originally Posted by sameh

Not if you do a long road trip and be done with the first 1200 miles in 2 days!!!!! I have NO IDEA how can someone buy/lease a new M3 and make it sit in the garage, taking a month to get to 1200 miles...I spent more time in my M3 than in my bed first 2-3 days (if not driving it, in the garage getting to know it)..

Actually a long road trip IMO, can be a terrible way to break in and engine. Getting on the interstate, setting the cruise, and having the engine run at the same RPM for hours is no good. Those first 500-700 miles if I had to be on the interstate for a while, I would drive in 4th, then 5th, then 6th, then back to 4th, etc.

The real key here is varied RPMs and not doing anything crazy until the oil is up to operating temp. The way you should drive anyway.

[sameh]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

Actually a long road trip IMO, can be a terrible way to break in and engine. Getting on the interstate, setting the cruise, and having the engine run at the same RPM for hours is no good. Those first 500-700 miles if I had to be on the interstate for a while, I would drive in 4th, then 5th, then 6th, then back to 4th, etc.

The real key here is varied RPMs and not doing anything crazy until the oil is up to operating temp. The way you should drive anyway.

Agree, I didn't suggest to set your cruise control on and get your 1200 miles over with..moving thru the gears and RPMs is needed. But still you can easy get your 1200 service on the 4th day of ownership.

[AMPowerJ]

Originally Posted by sameh

Agree, I didn't suggest to set your cruise control on and get your 1200 miles over with..moving thru the gears and RPMs is needed. But still you can easy get your 1200 service on the 4th day of ownership.

Yep. And no you didn't suggest just running on cruise but I was afraid someone would take it that way.

[stefan]

There is no reason to not follow the BMW advised break in period other than total stupidity. It's in the manual for a reason. To the people not following this procedure, the used community hates you.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by stefan

There is no reason to not follow the BMW advised break in period other than total stupidity. It's in the manual for a reason. To the people not following this procedure, the used community hates you.

How do you figure this?Many of my engines that have been broken in quick have been driven over 400000 kms with no issues by the next owners that I sold to.One of my race engines from my 325 after 18000 track kms that was installed in a street car went 180000 kms with no issues before I lost track of it.Show me your examples.I have many more to support my method of "breakin".

[EVO350]

I'm not here to advocate not following the break-in procedures, but every car nowadays is pre-broken in from the factory. Most of the break in recommendations are precautionary at best.

[1cleanm6]

I followed break in procedure to the spec.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

How do you figure this?Many of my engines that have been broken in quick have been driven over 400000 kms with no issues by the next owners that I sold to.One of my race engines from my 325 after 18000 track kms that was installed in a street car went 180000 kms with no issues before I lost track of it.Show me your examples.I have many more to support my method of "breakin".

Really? You think on an issue that is discussed this hotly that the damage associated with bad break-ins wouldn't be speculative? Seriously? Did you actually believe I'd come back with an example of "this DB didn't break in his car and now his engine blew up".. lol..

The point here is that a certain engine problem could have potentially have been *assisted* by a poor/abusive/failed break in procedure. Nobody knows for sure, as you clearly know but felt like asking a loaded question. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. It gives the next buyer peace of mind as well.

Let me ask you this instead, what basis do you have for assuming BMW is out to lunch on their break-in recommendation? e.g., why are they wasting the ink in the manual? I don't mean your "race engines" or whatever else you have. I mean why is BMW doing it? You suggest that you are still in fact, doing a break in procedure of sorts, so you must not entirely disregard a break in.

[Rupert330i]

...But my dad, a mechanic of 25 years, owner of many a performance vehicle and current owner of '98 MB slk230 put it quite plain and simple to me and my buddy a few months ago who had just gotten his 2011 camaro with aprox. 10 miles on the clock, he explained that an engine fresh off the assembly line has clearly never been run before, sure everything has been put on it but had it ever fired up and run? Have the various gaskets been sealed or held pressure under normal driving conditions? Have the cylinders pumped up and down against the cylinder walls and gotten warm before? The answer is clearly no. The engine has not run. Just as it can be bad to rev to the limit on a cold start in the dead of winter it can be bad to run an engine hard that's never even been warm in it's life. Another proof to this is that when they do the 1200 mile service and you happen to look in the oil that has been drained you'll notice plenty of metal shavings, the engine has to wear itself in. Damn people.. You don't have to be an M-division head engineer to put the pieces together as to why a break-in period is a smart move.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by Rupert330i

when they do the 1200 mile service and you happen to look in the oil that has been drained you'll notice plenty of metal shavings, the engine has to wear itself in.

+1. I saw my STi's broken-in oil and it was a little unnerving. Lots of particles.

[Legion5]

Please see this post for what you need to know about the break in:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...4&postcount=19

[Seattle S65B40]

I think the poll results are pretty indicative of how most owners treat their cars. I think it's safe to say that roughly 10 to 15% of M3s have not been broken in "properly."

As others have pointed out though, modern engines may not need it. I don't know what to believe anymore.

I still think it is best to follow BMW procedure than to go with the methods outlined in HB's post. Too much could go wrong it seems like and the last thing you need is BMW pulling up the data on a computer and denying a warranty claim for failure to follow break in procedure. I believe such a denial may be plausible under the law if they have evidence of abuse or owner misuse.

Originally Posted by Legion5

Please see this post for what you need to know about the break in:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...4&postcount=19

Yes, this is the same thing HB posted. I don't think you will find many owners breaking in their car under that method. I wish a BMW engineer could come on here and justify the break in procedure ON THE MERITS. Not with some marketing or gimmicky bullshit. Frequent oil changes early on sounds like a very interesting proposition to keep in mind for future reference ...

[AMPowerJ]

Originally Posted by Rupert330i

...But my dad, a mechanic of 25 years, owner of many a performance vehicle and current owner of '98 MB slk230 put it quite plain and simple to me and my buddy a few months ago who had just gotten his 2011 camaro with aprox. 10 miles on the clock, he explained that an engine fresh off the assembly line has clearly never been run before, sure everything has been put on it but had it ever fired up and run? Have the various gaskets been sealed or held pressure under normal driving conditions? Have the cylinders pumped up and down against the cylinder walls and gotten warm before? The answer is clearly no. The engine has not run. Just as it can be bad to rev to the limit on a cold start in the dead of winter it can be bad to run an engine hard that's never even been warm in it's life. Another proof to this is that when they do the 1200 mile service and you happen to look in the oil that has been drained you'll notice plenty of metal shavings, the engine has to wear itself in. Damn people.. You don't have to be an M-division head engineer to put the pieces together as to why a break-in period is a smart move.

I find it hard to believe, in fact I would say it is impossible, that a car is not started at the factory. Does that constitute a break-in, obviously not, but they are most certainly started. Do you think they push them out of the factory?

If break-in was so important, don't you think all manufacturers would follow a very similar process? The fact that BMW says 1200 miles and Ford says 100 miles should prove most of worry is over nothing. A engine is basically a engine, with many common parts, no matter if it is in a tractor, plane, or a car. BMW doesn't really have anything unique going on here.

[FJS]

I agree with the hard break in but in this case, I was told that the computer holds that data and it's pulled at the 1st service and it could be an issue for the warranty. I did a few pulls to the top and that helps a lot and they don't care about that.

Here's one for you all www.youtube.com/watch?v=26X_s28ilYs

[Seattle S65B40]

Originally Posted by FJS

I was told that the computer holds that data and it's pulled at the 1st service and it could be an issue for the warranty.

There you have it, Folks. Number one reason to follow the break in right there...

[ruff1017]

Just like to point out that you can follow the BMW break in procedure however it is a bad idea to baby the new motors because

Driving the new car under 2500 rpm in first to fourth gears can put high load on the motor and piston rings will not break in properly. When that happens engine will consume more oils. I did the break in procedure my way (driving harder for the first 200 km ) and happy to report that my all my cars have no issues.

Happy Motoring

[Rupert330i]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

I find it hard to believe, in fact I would say it is impossible, that a car is not started at the factory. Does that constitute a break-in, obviously not, but they are most certainly started. Do you think they push them out of the factory?

If break-in was so important, don't you think all manufacturers would follow a very similar process? The fact that BMW says 1200 miles and Ford says 100 miles should prove most of worry is over nothing. A engine is basically a engine, with many common parts, no matter if it is in a tractor, plane, or a car. BMW doesn't really have anything unique going on here.

Ok so maybe that was me(and not my dad) saying they are never started at the factory but still definitely not a break-in like you said, also Ford, as great a company and manufacturer as it is, is most certainly not BMW quality, Ford's motto, if I recall correctly, is not 'The Ultimate Driving Machine', they sell trucks and cars to a different customer, someone who doesn't necessarily plan to do regular and even early maintenance on their vehicles.
To put it simply Ford sells cars and trucks hence the 100 mile break in period, BMW sells lifelong driving beasts. Big difference in manufacturing ideals will often result in different caretaking recommendations.
Just saying yo..

[Rupert330i]

Originally Posted by ruff1017

Just like to point out that you can follow the BMW break in procedure however it is a bad idea to baby the new motors because

Driving the new car under 2500 rpm in first to fourth gears can put high load on the motor and piston rings will not break in properly. When that happens engine will consume more oils.

This is also true, a real and well done break-in simply consists of driving the car under normal daily driving conditions, start the car and drive off. Don't let it warm up per-say just get in start and drive and don't over-rev, however don't sweat it if you do, just don't do it to often.

[Rupert330i]

[QUOTE=AMPowerJ;10072066]

Originally Posted by Rupert330i

A engine is basically a engine, with many common parts, no matter if it is in a tractor, plane, or a car. BMW doesn't really have anything unique going on here.

Ok so tell me man, if BMW isn't really doing anything unique why would it be the 3rd brand in the world, why would people still buy them since they're so much more expensive then the average car...

Cmon.. That just didn't make any sense