[harperium]

It's like playing "Just the tip"...

Why doesn't BMW break in the engines and transmission at the factory? Couldn't they put some kind of harness on them and run them at the right speeds and variations?

[08mojo]

If you're truly playing by the rules, the entire break-in is complete at 3,000 miles. You've got a long way to go!

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by harperium

It's like playing "Just the tip"...

Why doesn't BMW break in the engines and transmission at the factory? Couldn't they put some kind of harness on them and run them at the right speeds and variations?

It's more all components adjusting to each other, your engine and transmission saw already much higher revs than during the break in period.

[spta97]

They can, but choose not to.

I was watching a vid where I believe Audi's R8 (?) was broken in at the factory and track ready upon pick up.

Not sure how long you've had it, but it took me 6 months to reach the 1200!

Needless to say I do not drive a lot

[Transfer]

Pffftt just drive it how you want to. Maybe don't hang out prolonged at >5k rpms or repeatedly redline but you can get into that zone. That's my opinion at least. Or just go on a few road trips.

[ChipC]

My dealer (sales person, manager, service manager) told me to drive it like I stole, but not to miss the 1200 mile service. Be slightly early, but not late. Missing the service high could raise questions later.

[richard in NC]

It's not just the engine needing break-in, but the rear diff and other components too. They'd have to run the car on rollers for 20 hours.

During a Spartanburg factory tour, I watched them run most if not all cars thru a 3-5 minute simulator on rollers. A driver follows a script to warm the motor for a bit, get it up to 80 mph for a minute or two, and coast back down. If I recall correctly. More a confidence test in the components than a break-in.

My personal opinion has been to baby it and vary RPMs the first 100 miles. Drive it normally with a few moderate acceleration runs up to 500 miles or so (still no long periods on cruise), and gradually begin to occasionally run it hard but not full throttle 1st or second, up to the 1200 mile point. I may exceed 5k RPM in that period but not to redline (and always when warmed up).

[Walternate]

had mine done last friday, 11 weeks after collection @ 1197m

[Walternate]

... had the racechip sat here for 1000 of those miles ready to put on after RIS, but unlikely I'll do that now, don't see the point anymore.

[Agent 99]

We did the 1200 mile break-in in one week. It was really fun, every day we picked a new direction or route...had a great time learning the car.

[allinon72]

The break in period is so very overblown, overthought and overanalyzed. It's important to actually have the service done, but other than that drive the car as you normally would. At no time ever has BMW said to an owner "you've gone too hard during the break in period, warranty denied." In the rare event that something is worn prematurely if someone absolutely flogged the car in the first 1200 miles....guess what, it's covered under warranty.

[harperium]

To be honest, I don't even understand the language of the 1200-to-3100 mile part of the break in. "Engine and road speed can be gradually increased"... does that mean to avoid WOT and accelerate more slowly? Or does it mean "gradually increased over the range of 1200 to 3100 miles"?

Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do not exceed 5,500 rpm and 106 mph/170 km/h. Avoid full load or kickdown under all circumstances.

At 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Have drive-in checkup maintenance performed.

From 1,200 miles/2,000 km to 3,100 miles/5,000 km
The engine and road speed can gradually be increased to a constant speed of 137 mph/220 km/h. Use the maximum speed of 155 mph/250 km/h only briefly, for instance when passing.

[spta97]

Originally Posted by allinon72

The break in period is so very overblown, overthought and overanalyzed. It's important to actually have the service done, but other than that drive the car as you normally would. At no time ever has BMW said to an owner "you've gone too hard during the break in period, warranty denied." In the rare event that something is worn prematurely if someone absolutely flogged the car in the first 1200 miles....guess what, it's covered under warranty.

These types of not following break in problems show up AFTER the warranty.

If you plan to keep a long time, it is a good practice.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by harperium

It's like playing "Just the tip"...

Why doesn't BMW break in the engines and transmission at the factory? Couldn't they put some kind of harness on them and run them at the right speeds and variations?

I think most of us feel your pain. And like many have said here. It can tend to get over analyzed. Just have fun with the car (withing reason of course during the first 1,200) and have some moderately spirited short run. Then once the RIS is completed put your right foot down more often & let that glorious S58 sing!

[URBAN LEGEND]

Just step on it already. I don’t break in anything. I step on once fully warm on high performance vehicles and liter bikes.

[Spiderv6]

Originally Posted by harperium

Use the maximum speed of 155 mph/250 km/h only briefly, for instance when passing.

Roger that.

[serpentine]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

Just step on it already. I don’t break in anything. I step on once fully warm on high performance vehicles and liter bikes.

Me too, maybe I baby it for the first drive home. The it’s fair game. We did RIS at 1100 miles, two weeks after taking it home.

[Razel]

Originally Posted by Agent 99

We did the 1200 mile break-in in one week. It was really fun, every day we picked a new direction or route...had a great time learning the car.

Two days. South Carolina to Tail of the Dragon, to New Orleans (stopped for the night) then Houston Tx. 1200 mile service in Clear Lake, Tx. Yes on the "great time learning the car".

[harperium]

Just got the 1200 mile Break In Service complete... let the fun begin!

Damn this beast really hauls

[yamsta]

Originally Posted by harperium

Just got the 1200 mile Break In Service complete... let the fun begin!

Damn this beast really hauls

I just got it done as well yesterday. The exhaust note is very intoxicating at the higher RPM ranges. I attempted to try and do a launch but couldn't get launch control to engage. I just realized that I need to completely disable DSC vs what I had it set to (DSM). Will need to try that later on a closed road or something.

[harperium]

Originally Posted by yamsta

I just got it done as well yesterday. The exhaust note is very intoxicating at the higher RPM ranges. I attempted to try and do a launch but couldn't get launch control to engage. I just realized that I need to completely disable DSC vs what I had it set to (DSM). Will need to try that later on a closed road or something.

My favorite part of the S58's power is being pushed back into my seat on the highway during 70-100 mph pulls while overtaking... so much more acceleration than any B58 I've driven.

[Gsavarese]

This video has some dyno proof 1200 mi service doesn’t uncork any power

Lots of stuff to digest here. Not sure this content carries over to X3M or just the LCI but this suggests M3 has a dyno mode thru instrument cluster and you can reset car to mimic 1200 mi service. Of course you still need the fluid changes.

Troubling to me is his conclusion anything other than Comfort setting with a Jb4 actually restricts power. Maybe his JB4 is set wrong and needs throttle mapping adjustment. Now I’m questioning my Racechip and whether sport plus is going to rob power. Exhaust note is too tame in comfort