Warm up is not necessary

[Dougeefresh]

I've been thinking about this after I got decatted due to the smell when starting in the garage and letting it idle to warm up.
I am an avid listener to Car Talk and there is always a listener or two every month asking whether a warm-up is necessary. They always say not at all and at most maybe 1 min is more than enough when it's extremely cold (below 0 degree). Every single article I've read says the same thing. Start the car and drive. It will not harm the engine/car.

So why does everyone on this board sounds like warm up your engine or it will blow up your engine(or rod bearings )?
Now, I am not talking about red-lining the car right off the bat, just casual driving keeping it under 4K.

I must admit I do this myself (at least 3 mins or longer) but I don't know why to be honest. Old habits die hard I guess.

[2 SLOW]

Originally Posted by Dougeefresh

I've been thinking about this after I got decatted due to the smell when starting in the garage and letting it idle to warm up.
I am an avid listener to Car Talk and there is always a listener or two every month asking whether a warm-up is necessary. They always say not at all and at most maybe 1 min is more than enough when it's extremely cold (below 0 degree). Every single article I've read says the same thing. Start the car and drive. It will not harm the engine/car.

So why does everyone on this board sounds like warm up your engine or it will blow up your engine(or rod bearings )?
Now, I am not talking about red-lining the car right off the bat, just casual driving keeping it under 4K.

I must admit I do this myself (at least 3 mins or longer) but I don't know why to be honest. Old habits die hard I guess.

The BMW manual even says, get in your car and drive it right away. I get in, put my music on, put on my seat belt, and go.

Keep it below 3k rpm until operating temp...the first dot on the temp gauge pretty much.

Anybody who starts their car and wait 3-5 minutes is just clueless

[jtodd_fl]

2 Slow: +1

I suspect, if asked, you Dougeefresh, would reply

I am just "Doin' what I gotta do". amirite?

[Dougeefresh]

When it's 0 degree, everything feels sluggish and frozen up so it makes me feel like things are being forced to move. I feel more "assured" driving it after it's warmed up, if that makes any sense. I have no scientific explanation behind this but you Floridians and Texans wouldn't understand...

[whats77inaname]

This is a complicated question given what has come to light in regards to eccentricity and oil thickness and proper lubrication of the rod bearings. The fact that BMW has changed the eccentricity throughout the S65 production and, more recently, the allowable oil viscosity leads one to believe that all things aren't as they seem.

Given all of that, on 0W-40, I'm inclined to drive it w/out as long of a warm up, as the oil is thin enough to lube the engine quickly when cold, and it comes up to temp much faster. On 10W-60, however, the car was getting warmed up.

As far as what the manual says, I have to ask myself "Who am I going to trust more: a car company whose sole purpose is to extract $ from my wallet, or a group of enthusiasts who have executed a litany of tests to determine that there may be a flaw with the S65?" Moreso, am I going to follow the advice given on a paper manual, when said bit of advice was given with the *assumption* that tolerances and specs w/in the engine were w/out fault?

To answer your question, all I can say is this: "an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure."

Originally Posted by 2 SLOW

Anybody who hasn't look at the data and made an educated decision for themselves is just clueless

Fixed that for you

Originally Posted by Dougeefresh

I have no scientific explanation behind this but you Floridians and Texans wouldn't understand...

Hey now

[gatorfast]

Who on this board is saying to let the car sit or your engine will blow up? Quite the opposite as the manual clearly states NOT to do this but rather start the car and drive away.

When most people refer to letting the car warm up they are referring to taking it easy until the oil is at operating temp...not to starting the car and just letting it sit there.

[BrewRifle]

I let mine warm up for about 20-30 seconds until the RPM needle stabilizes to around 700-800.

[Dougeefresh]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Who on this board is saying to let the car sit or your engine will blow up? Quite the opposite as the manual clearly states NOT to do this but rather start the car and drive away.

When most people refer to letting the car warm up they are referring to taking it easy until the oil is at operating temp...not to starting the car and just letting it sit there.

OK, maybe my exaggeration was a bit over the top. I have read about people saying "I let my car warm up before I drive and keep it under 3K until it reaches the operating temperate blah blah" often.

Is everyone on this board from Florida and Texas?
If you do not live in a sub-zero climate you are not qualified to chime in.
Nothing against the two states, however

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Dougeefresh

OK, maybe my exaggeration was a bit over the top. I have read about people saying "I let my car warm up before I drive and keep it under 3K until it reaches the operating temperate blah blah" often.

Is everyone on this board from Florida and Texas?
If you do not live in a sub-zero climate you are not qualified to chime in.
Nothing against the two states, however

Irregardless of climate, BMW took the time to specifically state in the manual not to let the car sit to warm up. Take it for whats its worth.

[BrewRifle]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Irregardless of climate, BMW took the time to specifically state in the manual not to let the car sit to warm up. Take it for whats its worth.

Double negative, does not compute irregardless.

[jtodd_fl]

Originally Posted by Dougeefresh

OK, maybe my exaggeration was a bit over the top. I have read about people saying "I let my car warm up before I drive and keep it under 3K until it reaches the operating temperate blah blah" often.

Is everyone on this board from Florida and Texas?
If you do not live in a sub-zero climate you are not qualified to chime in.
Nothing against the two states, however

I lived in Detroit for 40 years, before moving to FL. Just saying'. Plus, you totally missed the reference to Doug E. Fresh album lyric. Or at least chose not to acknowledge. That's ok.

Anyway, when I lived in Detroit, I always just let it get to a stable idle. Usually less than a minute. I did not start it and shift it into gear while it was still turning over, but I didn't really let it "warm up" either. By the time I was belted in and the accouterments we attended to (climate, audio, etc.), I was off.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Irregardless of climate, BMW took the time to specifically state in the manual not to let the car sit to warm up. Take it for whats its worth.

Yeah, and for what's it worth, there is now enough information to show that bearing wear is a possible issue with this engine, as well. To each his own, I say.

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

Double negative, does not compute irregardless.

Beat me to it *lol*

[Dougeefresh]

Originally Posted by jtodd_fl

I lived in Detroit for 40 years, before moving to FL. Just saying'. Plus, you totally missed the reference to Doug E. Fresh album lyric. Or at least chose not to acknowledge. That's ok.

I must confess that I don't know much about the rapper. This was a name given to me by someone and I felt like a bad ass gangsta when they called me by this so I decided to call myself that.

[tacoman]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

I let mine warm up for about 20-30 seconds until the RPM needle stabilizes to around 700-800.

+1

[M3-S65]

Get in drive off and keep RPMS low and wait tell the crappy oil indicator reads the oil level, at that point your good to go............fast.

Whoops ..."If you do not live in a sub-zero climate you are not qualified to chime in." okay never mind my post...

[BMRLVR]

Idling your engine for an extended period is not a good proposition, blow by is greatest at idle and fuel dilution of the oil occurs with extended idling because the low cylinder pressures don't promote good ring sealing. With that being said, I like to let my car warm up for a minute or so before pulling away and drive very easily without putting any appreciable load on the engine (Less than 4K and never more than 30% throttle) until the engine is at operating temp.

[DestructoPower]

In the winter, i'll start up the car, let it get warm while i'm off clearing snow from it in an attempt to get the cabin to a livable temperature hahah

[4corners]

I start it, let it settle down. Then drive normal, but no hard driving until temp is fully up. Be nice to your engine.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by 4corners

I start it, let it settle down. Then drive normal, but no hard driving until temp is fully up. Be nice to your engine.

Agree. I wait until the cold start routine is done doing it's thing, as it's 'cold start', about 60 seconds, long enough to buckle, check mirrors, adjust HVAC, blah blah blah ... drive away.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

Double negative, does not compute irregardless.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irregardless

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irregardless

Straight from your source: "Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead."

[apecush]

Originally Posted by Mr Sparkle

That coming from an owner who lives in a climate that is freezing, or below freezing on a daily basis 11 months out of the year!

I really hope my sarcasm detector is broken.