From the horse's mouth: Break-in/First Service

[James T. Kirk]

I took my 2011 M3 DCT ZCP car in this weekend for it's first 1,200-mile service. While I waited later to pick it up I had a long conversation with the Service Manager (not my SA) on exactly what really goes in an M first service.

Yes, they change the fluids to flush out any sediments and residue from the new engine, but he also said this:

1) Before first service, the M3's RPM was "governed" so that full revs would be limited during the break-in period.

2) During the break-in period, the car operates at around 30% less horsepower than it's full HP at approximately the low 300's.

3) All those limits are re-calibrated and unlocked at first service.

Let me tell you guys... my car is a completely different animal now that I have her back from service. It sounds different, revs more freely and has ALOT more torque. NO WAY this was just a fluid change.

[trism3]

Originally Posted by shift@red

1, 2, and 3 are all 100% BS.

I second that.

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

I took my 2011 M3 DCT ZCP car in this weekend for it's first 1,200-mile service. While I waited later to pick it up I had a long conversation with the Service Manager (not my SA) on exactly what really goes in an M first service.

Yes, they change the fluids to flush out any sediments and residue from the new engine, but he also said this:

1) Before first service, the M3's RPM was "governed" so that full revs would be limited during the break-in period.

2) During the break-in period, the car operates at around 30% less horsepower than it's full HP at approximately the low 300's.

3) All those limits are re-calibrated and unlocked at first service.

Let me tell you guys... my car is a completely different animal now that I have her back from service. It sounds different, revs more freely and has ALOT more torque. NO WAY this was just a fluid change.

Haven't you learned by now that the least informed people on BMWs are those that sell and service them?

I have heard of cars being inadvertently delivered to the customer in a reduced power condition used solely for the shipping process, but I'm not even sure that's true.

And yes, it's just a fluid change. Sorry.

[Bosna]

Originally Posted by trism3

I second that.

Third. I got my RPMS in the eight thousands during breakin. Also, the car felt exactly the same after service.

[PKL]

Originally Posted by BigHat

Haven't you learned by now that the least informed people on BMWs are those that sell and service them?

100% fact.

[BigHat]

I'm in no way poking fun at Captain Kirk; after all, it makes sense to think you're getting straight scoop from a guy that feeds his family by working for BMW. Sadly, some of them are truly clueless and I'm embarrassed for them.

Every now and then you'll see someone swear that a Comfort Access key charges in the ignition like a normal key does. Now that's covered in the clealry in the manual, but a number of salesman and service reps don't even know this isn't the case and will steer customers wrong. Amazing.

[Kyoshi71]

Originally Posted by shift@red

1, 2, and 3 are all 100% BS.

+1

Originally Posted by BigHat

Haven't you learned by now that the least informed people on BMWs are those that sell and service them?
And yes, it's just a fluid change. Sorry.

+1

Originally Posted by Bosna

Third. I got my RPMS in the eight thousands during breakin. Also, the car felt exactly the same after service.

+1

[Jaypod]

Originally Posted by BigHat

I have heard of cars being inadvertently delivered to the customer in a reduced power condition used solely for the shipping process, but I'm not even sure that's true.

There is a transport mode - maybe this guy is confused with that. I cant remember - but I think it limited RPM's to aprox. 4000 rpm. When they PDI the car the remove it from that. A member here had is car delivered to him in Transport mode (I believe that is what he called it)

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by Jaypod

There is a transport mode - maybe this guy is confused with that. I cant remember - but I think it limited RPM's to aprox. 4000 rpm. When they PDI the car the remove it from that. A member here had is car delivered to him in Transport mode (I believe that is what he called it)

It was me and it was 4500 RPM.It went away by itself after a few run cycles.After that my car had full RPM and power.The 2000 km service did nothing to change the power.

[James T. Kirk]

I KNEW you guys were going to react this way. LOL!

Even if you guys, who apparently are more qualified to speak on M3s than my own BMW Dealership Service Manager, are all correct that it's a bunch of hooey, then why in the bloody hell would a Service Manager concoct such a story if there was nothing to it? We're talking about a senior manager at this dealership for over 16 years. I had already finished my break-in period and had nothing to gain by a fictitious story.

I can assure you one thing... the performance change in my M3 is REAL. I'm an experienced driver now on my 4th Bimmer, 2nd M3, and I have never felt such a dramatic difference from a measly fluid change service. The difference more resembles the time I had my 335i chipped up an additional 70 HP. The engine sounds different. My same foot, on the same pedal, pressed the same distance down is shooting my revs higher than before the first service. So either something significant changed under the hood or I'm just plain insane from being so excited that I can finally DRIVE my M3 like an Ultimate Driving Machine!

Is there a BMW certified mechanic out there who can settle this? My engineering expertise is limited to warp drives and phaser arrays.

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

I KNEW you guys were going to react this way. LOL!

Even if you guys, who apparently are more qualified to speak on M3s than my own BMW Dealership Service Manager, are all correct that it's a bunch of hooey, then why in the bloody hell would a Service Manager concoct such a story if there was nothing to it? We're talking about a senior manager at this dealership for over 16 years. I had already finished my break-in period and had nothing to gain by a fictitious story.

I can assure you one thing... the performance change in my M3 is REAL. I'm an experienced driver now on my 4th Bimmer, 2nd M3, and I have never felt such a dramatic difference from a measly fluid change service. The difference more resembles the time I had my 335i chipped up an additional 70 HP. The engine sounds different. My same foot, on the same pedal, pressed the same distance down is shooting my revs higher than before the first service. So either something significant changed under the hood or I'm just plain insane from being so excited that I can finally DRIVE my M3 like an Ultimate Driving Machine!

Is there a BMW certified mechanic out there who can settle this? My engineering expertise is limited to warp drives and phaser arrays.

[dirtyfreebooter]

^^^ LOL!

[James T. Kirk]

Great. I am going insane.

[toper]

unless they updated your DCT software as well, your car drives EXACTLY the same now as it did before your 1200m service (maybe they turned on the special ZCP break-in switch?).

[BigHat]

You're insane Kirk, but enjoy the unencumbered joy of post-break-in driving.

[Crazy Bimmer]

Waxing the car gives it better aerodynamics too.

I can go flat out with a coat of Zaino.

[Poleposition]

First off, youre bewilderment at the notion that the esteemed 16 year service mgr at your dealership is misinformed is completely understandable. The fact is, he's not the horses mouth you refer to in your title. Do a euro delivery and youll get to meet some of the horses mouths. I agree with the others in saying he is grossly misinformed.

[VictorH]

Sorry, but your service manager is mis-informed. I have personally driven a less than 5 mile new M3 to the redline multiple times (after the sales associate set the WOT & redline example for me). Engine tone and acceleration felt identical to car I eventually purchased.

[gthal]

I noticed NO change after break-in. In fact, I called one of the techs at the BMW dealership that I know personally after reading this and he said this is a load of garbage... only difference is freedom to play in upper RPM range. Anything else is placebo effect.

[///M Rakete]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

I took my 2011 M3 DCT ZCP car in this weekend for it's first 1,200-mile service. While I waited later to pick it up I had a long conversation with the Service Manager (not my SA) on exactly what really goes in an M first service.

Yes, they change the fluids to flush out any sediments and residue from the new engine, but he also said this:

1) Before first service, the M3's RPM was "governed" so that full revs would be limited during the break-in period.

2) During the break-in period, the car operates at around 30% less horsepower than it's full HP at approximately the low 300's.

3) All those limits are re-calibrated and unlocked at first service.

Let me tell you guys... my car is a completely different animal now that I have her back from service. It sounds different, revs more freely and has ALOT more torque. NO WAY this was just a fluid change.

Please verify that your car's Power setting is not now at Sport Plus and that's the reason you think it's "different".

[saeedg48]

1 2 & 3 all a lie .. annoying when people say shit like that

[schnell325]

My vote for the worst SM story of '10.