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Technical Topics Mechanical Maintenance and TSBs: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing / TSBs and Service Bulletin Breaking in a new car?

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      12-31-2019, 02:23 PM   #1
mTonio
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Breaking in a new car?

Is breaking in a new car still a thing or does bmw break in the cars during production? What's the proper method to breaking in your car? I currently have 230 miles on my m340 and I've been driving aggressive at high rpm's without remorse. After all, it's a lease and fully covered under warranty so why bother babying it during the first 1000 miles?
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      12-31-2019, 02:47 PM   #2
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What's the point of asking now after you have admitted to driving it hard already? what does your manual say?

Ps. Most here will tell you it makes no difference. Regardless I followed the manual and mine still required a quart of oil just past 3k miles so I guess let her rip. Keeping RPM's down for the first 2k miles had no added benefit in my case.
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      12-31-2019, 03:31 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mTonio View Post
Is breaking in a new car still a thing or does bmw break in the cars during production? What's the proper method to breaking in your car? I currently have 230 miles on my m340 and I've been driving aggressive at high rpm's without remorse. After all, it's a lease and fully covered under warranty so why bother babying it during the first 1000 miles?

Nope, run-in period is for the owner- there are clear instructions in the app regarding this
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      12-31-2019, 03:52 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mTonio View Post
Is breaking in a new car still a thing or does bmw break in the cars during production? What's the proper method to breaking in your car? I currently have 230 miles on my m340 and I've been driving aggressive at high rpm's without remorse. After all, it's a lease and fully covered under warranty so why bother babying it during the first 1000 miles?
BMW recommends waiting until 1,200 miles before driving aggressively. I think the recommendation is to not exceed 4,500 rpms or drive above a certain speed during that break-in period. Whether it makes a difference or not long term is up for debate.

I'm also leasing, however I adhered to the break-in period because:

1) I respect my car - to me it's more than just a machine, and I treat it as such with care.
2) At some point once I've turned in my lease, it will hit the used car market, and another owner will take possession of it. If I've treated my car like shit while it was in my possession, all I can say is, karma's a bitch.

I'm past the break-in period at this point, and I do drive it aggressively sometimes "the way it's meant to be driven", but I'm not needlessly reckless with it.
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      12-31-2019, 04:15 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mTonio View Post
Is breaking in a new car still a thing or does bmw break in the cars during production? What's the proper method to breaking in your car? I currently have 230 miles on my m340 and I've been driving aggressive at high rpm's without remorse. After all, it's a lease and fully covered under warranty so why bother babying it during the first 1000 miles?
You're going to be just fine and the car is going to be just fine. I wouldn't worry about it. You paid for it. It's your car and you can drive it how you want. Revving the engine aggressively is not going to void your warranty. I've never broken in my vehicle and haven't had any major issues for the past 3 leases. My brother babies his cars and he's had numerous mechanical issues-go figure.

I have had to put new tires on before i turned in my lease so keep that in mind- and also now-brakes are no longer covered.

Just one tip-brand new tires don't have have full grip yet so don't take corners too hard for the first few hundred miles.
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      12-31-2019, 05:55 PM   #6
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I'm sure the lovely people at VPC are extremely gentle with our vehicles.
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      01-17-2020, 09:11 AM   #7
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One reason I like ordering cars that aren't already in inventory -- during test drives, cars get pushed hard (and the salesmen encourage it). I think hard driving in the first month or so isn't the best plan for longevity for the vehicle, but then I buy instead of lease and tend to keep vehicles 5-7 years. Folks who lease probably don't care as much about this.

When I hear people say BMW reliability isn't what it could be, I think it has far less to do with the actual quality of the vehicles than it does the typical driving habits of BMW owners versus other brands. Buyers who are interested in a performance brand are going to push their vehicles more than average. I'd be willing to bet a granny-driven BMW will outlast a granny-driven Ford any day.

Good video on break-in.

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      02-05-2020, 03:40 PM   #8
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The modern car engines are designed to gradually run in, reaching optimal performance/efficiency at around 25,000 miles. Most engine experts say drive it moderately (not babying it, but not WOT either) and varying RPM/load for about 500 miles. I don't know if "rushing" the run in by driving aggressively right away would affect the longevity but I do think it's better than babying it the whole time. Most owners don't keep these cars past 25,000 miles so this may be a moot point.
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      02-06-2020, 02:58 PM   #9
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BMW shouldn't lease cars to the immature. It is lease, so if you can't afford to buy it new, then do you think it's ok to beat on a car you don't even own...
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      02-06-2020, 08:38 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OnlyGerman View Post
BMW shouldn't lease cars to the immature. It is lease, so if you can't afford to buy it new, then do you think it's ok to beat on a car you don't even own...
I’m assuming then that you buy cars on straight cash? Bc you technically don’t own it until it’s paid up with financing either.
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      02-07-2020, 07:47 AM   #11
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OnlyGerman View Post
BMW shouldn't lease cars to the immature. It is lease, so if you can't afford to buy it new, then do you think it's ok to beat on a car you don't even own...
I'm assuming then that you buy cars on straight cash? Bc you technically don't own it until it's paid up with financing either.
Yes, the only way to buy. And banks just want their money. Lease, BMW wants their car back in reasonable condition. But that's not always the case as some kids have no respect for it just because they can afford a lease payment.
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      02-07-2020, 09:06 PM   #12
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Regardless of what everyone says, I have always followed the manual.
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      02-07-2020, 09:15 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RedKloud View Post
Regardless of what everyone says, I have always followed the manual.
Same.
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      02-27-2020, 07:35 PM   #14
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Wow, I'm reading some of these comments and just wow. One guy says "respects the machine" and "karma is a bitch" another guy judes an induvidual for "leasing his car and driving it hard" and being "immature". It's comical really. For one, it's a production car, there are thousands of the same model car rolling off the assembly line, and the b58 engine and other components are throughly tested before it rolls off the line. I understand a break in period for an engine you've built yourself, because of metal shavings that are being created and to make sure that everything operates as it is supposed to. But regardless if you leased, or bought it out right, you are paying $$$ for it. Money that you spent earning. Its meant to be driven to your liking and if you wanna WOT it all the time, go on ahead. Respecting the machine and caring about "karma" is the most rediclous thing I've ever heard. You'd be surprised how many of the cpo M division cars were tracked. And if you bought one used, yours was probably doing laps before "break in" period was over😂.
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      03-09-2020, 01:30 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by Shinel View Post
Wow, I'm reading some of these comments and just wow. One guy says "respects the machine" and "karma is a bitch" another guy judes an induvidual for "leasing his car and driving it hard" and being "immature". It's comical really. For one, it's a production car, there are thousands of the same model car rolling off the assembly line, and the b58 engine and other components are throughly tested before it rolls off the line. I understand a break in period for an engine you've built yourself, because of metal shavings that are being created and to make sure that everything operates as it is supposed to. But regardless if you leased, or bought it out right, you are paying $$$ for it. Money that you spent earning. Its meant to be driven to your liking and if you wanna WOT it all the time, go on ahead. Respecting the machine and caring about "karma" is the most rediclous thing I've ever heard. You'd be surprised how many of the cpo M division cars were tracked. And if you bought one used, yours was probably doing laps before "break in" period was over😂.
Nowhere in my post did I state how I feel others should drive their vehicles. I simply stated what's in the manual, and my personal reasons for adhering to what's in the manual.

I'm also not against tracking a car, but I personally would buy the car rather than leasing it if my intention was to track it. And I sure as hell wouldn't track it within the break-in period.

The other point I will make is this - many people use the fact that they're leasing to mean they can openly abuse their cars because at the end of the day, it's not their car, it's owned by BMWFS. This doesn't sit well with me morally, and you may find that "comical" or "ridiculous", but I'm not telling you how you should treat your car, nor am I judging.
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      06-17-2022, 06:31 PM   #16
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According to the manual, right? 1,200 miles, not above 4,500 rpm.

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      06-18-2022, 05:14 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mTonio View Post
Is breaking in a new car still a thing or does bmw break in the cars during production? What's the proper method to breaking in your car? I currently have 230 miles on my m340 and I've been driving aggressive at high rpm's without remorse. After all, it's a lease and fully covered under warranty so why bother babying it during the first 1000 miles?
if you are like me and want the car to last forever, I break in my car so that it doesn't use a quart of oil every 1000 miles, diff exploding because of metal shavings, etc.

but if you are like you and you leased the car and don't care what happens to it after the warranty period, then you trash it and provide another statistic to "BMW explodes/never need an oil change coz you put in 10 quarts every 10,000 miles anyway".

i think the worst crime is BMW stating that M340i oil change period is 15-20,000 miles and then the finest of fine print "only if driven in normal conditions". without defining that normal conditions mean cruising on the highway and nothing else but cruising on the highway at all times.
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      06-25-2022, 08:33 AM   #18
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Got mine and it's pedal to the metal for me. I'm driving like the cops are chasing me. That's what they told me at the factory in Regensburg so that's what I do.

The break in results in the most power and it never using a drop of oil. My last BMW never had any oil use even though most report significant use and the same for my motorcycles.

The used cars I've owned had oil use, but never the new ones. I'll stick to what the people who design and build the engines say. Don't be too hard on new brakes though or they won't bead in properly.
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      06-25-2022, 04:18 PM   #19
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that's why i never buy a used performance car
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      06-27-2022, 02:00 PM   #20
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https://www.bmw.com/en/automotive-li...a-new-car.html

From BMW
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      07-17-2022, 07:55 AM   #21
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There are a couple of things at play with regards to automaker recommendations.

No 1:. They want the owner to take time to become familiar with the vehicle and how it drives.

No 2: Legal liability - This should be obvious. They won't recommend a break in process which could injure the driver.

No 3: Warranty - Same as number 2 above but they don't want new owners damaging the vehicle.

No 4 -. For decades the manufacturing process has resulted in tighter tolerances and is much cleaner (less residues left behind).

I've owned a handful of BMWs over my lifetime and the ones which I didn't break-in always burned oil (Apparently my M54 was always going to burn oil due to a design issue).


My two cents.
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      07-18-2022, 02:05 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
There are a couple of things at play with regards to automaker recommendations.

No 1:. They want the owner to take time to become familiar with the vehicle and how it drives.

No 2: Legal liability - This should be obvious. They won't recommend a break in process which could injure the driver.

No 3: Warranty - Same as number 2 above but they don't want new owners damaging the vehicle.

No 4 -. For decades the manufacturing process has resulted in tighter tolerances and is much cleaner (less residues left behind).

I've owned a handful of BMWs over my lifetime and the ones which I didn't break-in always burned oil (Apparently my M54 was always going to burn oil due to a design issue).


My two cents.
Same with me. The BMW designers in Regensburg told me once the engine is up to temp, pedal to the metal, let cool down, pedal to the metal. I've done all my new cars and bikes like this and not a one had ever burned a drop of oil, even though BMW's are known for burning some oil.

All the used cars I've owned burned oil. Probably babied during break in. You do want to take it easy on the brakes and tires during break-in though.
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