Break In Period

jclaib7 · 08-13-2013, 07:21 PM

So my 2013 128i (1st BMW for me) is on the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Turnadot headed this way from Bremerhaven, very slowly I might add. Is a little tail wind too much to ask for?

I'm going out of my mind with impatience so I thought i'd read the owner's manual in advance.

I found the section on the 1250 mile break in period where it says not to exceed 4500 rpms.

This will be difficult to me. How serious is this break in period business and are there real benefits to the car long term. I'll do it if it really makes sense, but I won't like it.

Specs:
2013 128i N51
Carbon Black metallic
M Sport Package
BMW Performance Exhaust

mb135is · 08-13-2013, 07:25 PM

People will argue vehemently for both methods - following the break in or driving it like you stole it straight off the lot.

People will say technical things like "seating piston rings" or something like that. I have no clue what any of it means or how either way works or doesn't work. I followed the advised break in procedure because it felt like the right thing to do with the car I'd just spent my hard-earned $ on. Maybe it was needless caution. Maybe not. There are many CPO BMWs that lived lives as test drive or loaner cars that hardly saw less than 4500 rpm in their formative stages of life, and from what I can tell, these cars are no worse off.

That is certainly not evidence. You're welcome for the non-answer

Iron Man · 08-13-2013, 07:44 PM

While I don't think it will hurt if you exceed 4500 rpm by a few hundred rpm once in awhile

, I think you should definitely stay away from redline until your engine is broken in.

I believe the factory seats your piston rings after assembling the engine, so you don't have to do that. However, I always thought for proper break-in, you want to vary your rpm (don't baby it the entire time either). Long trips at constant rpm are not good for an engine in the first few hundred miles.

CAVU · 08-13-2013, 08:02 PM

I plan to observe the break in guidelines, the drive from the PC to Ohio will consume 600+ miles... it may take another couple weeks to knock out the other 600 miles, but after an 10-week wait for the car itself, a couple of weeks at less than redline will be only moderately torturous.

CAVU · 08-13-2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian///M

Break-in on highway driving is not good though as revs need to be varied

We won't be on the highway... that's why the trip will take 3 days and 600+ miles!

bbbbmw · 08-13-2013, 08:57 PM

Many years ago my father bought a VW with the Porsche 914 engine, in Germany. The dealer told him not to worry about the break in period, as the factory had taken care of it. He drove off the lot, and onto the Autobahn, at 115mph. All the seals in the engine blew, and the car was never right after that...

I've also heard that you should vary the speed on a new engine (for the first 1,000 miles or so), and therefore don't use the cruise control. IMO, since no one seems to have "real" data about the break in concept, I'm always conservative with a new car.

jclaib7 · 08-13-2013, 08:59 PM

I'll go the conservative route I guess for 1200 or so. It is an expensive piece of machinery.

JimD · 08-14-2013, 07:44 AM

It's also nice that 4500 rpm and under doesn't mean going slow. I usually shift at under 3000 rpm. If I go up to 4500 I am trying to go somewhat fast. You do have to watch closely, however, because once you get up to that level, the n52 really likes to go quickly to redline. I tried to stay under 4500 during breakin but I'm sure I exceeded it some. My engine runs fine with no oil usage or other issues.

morningscifi · 08-14-2013, 07:59 AM

This is the only reason I was concerned about PDC delivery - the drive on the highway back and break-in concerns. Now I'm going to lose MORE sleep over it! =)

tuco44 · 08-14-2013, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morningscifi

This is the only reason I was concerned about PDC delivery - the drive on the highway back and break-in concerns. Now I'm going to lose MORE sleep over it! =)

No need to stress out over it. Just drive it normally, but try to vary your engine speeds and don't go over 4500rpm for extended periods. If you do go over 4500, it's fine, just don't run up there continually.

MightyMouseTech · 08-14-2013, 09:05 AM

Try doing a Euro Delivery. As I pulled onto the Autobahn the day our car was delivered, I kept hearing in the back of my head what our delivery specialist told us "don't go over 150 km/hr or 4500 RPM for the first 2000 km" NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Luckily I hit 1998 km as I turned onto the Stelvio Pass Rd.

morningscifi · 08-14-2013, 09:44 AM

I think that if there is a hell to go to and I'm an overly terrible person to get there, I'll have to drive in a similar scenario but the break in period never ends.

Qunadry · 08-14-2013, 09:50 AM

Most important if you plan on keeping the car for any length of time; change the oil, filter, gear box fluid and differential fluid at 1200 miles. I find it funny that lawn mower and snow blower manufacturers recommend changing engine oil after 5 hours use and every 50 hours thereafter and BMW says you can go a year or 15,000 miles. You will have to pay for it, but it is cheap insurance.

Dackelone · 08-14-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Try doing a Euro Delivery. As I pulled onto the Autobahn the day our car was delivered, I kept hearing in the back of my head what our delivery specialist told us "don't go over 150 km/hr or 4500 RPM for the first 2000 km" NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Luckily I hit 1998 km as I turned onto the Stelvio Pass Rd.

The low speed limit set for the break in period is more for the rear axle/diff bearings and transmission bearings. IF you drive a few German rental cars(SIXT, Europcar, ect) over here... you can hear which cars have not had an easy early life. When you go too fast too soon... and do not ad hear to the breakin period... the diff will start to howl under part throttle loads. Its a faint whine, but you can hear it with good ears.

It is also wise to also vary engine loads for the first 2K kms, always lift off the throttle at high revs(4.5K max) to get those rings seated. No full throttle starts or high loads on the motor. As your mileage gets higher(PAST THAT 2K kms... you can also rev the engine slowly(under part throttle), more and more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qunadry

Most important if you plan on keeping the car for any length of time; change the oil, filter, gear box fluid and differential fluid at 1200 miles. I find it funny that lawn mower and snow blower manufacturers recommend changing engine oil after 5 hours use and every 50 hours thereafter and BMW says you can go a year or 15,000 miles. You will have to pay for it, but it is cheap insurance.

+1 Qunadry!!

I changed my oil at 1,200 kms, 2,400 kms, 5K kms, 8K kms 12K kms, and 15K kms. After that I change my engine oil every 4 months or 7K kms - which ever comes first. I know some people think thats over kill... but the engine oil looks so nasty so fast in these engines(bc of D.I. and turbos) that I feel better changing my oil.

I also use a UUC magnetic oil pan drain screw... for the first four oil changes... I kept getting some metallic dust on the magnet. Now I get very little buildup - so I know my engine is clean inside.

UUC magnetic oil drain plug...
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=496058

The BEST oil is FRESH oil!!!

08-13-2013, 07:21 PM	#1
jclaib7 First Lieutenant 142 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Black Shadow Edition Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: United States, Beverly Ma. iTrader: (2)	Break In Period So my 2013 128i (1st BMW for me) is on the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Turnadot headed this way from Bremerhaven, very slowly I might add. Is a little tail wind too much to ask for? I'm going out of my mind with impatience so I thought i'd read the owner's manual in advance. I found the section on the 1250 mile break in period where it says not to exceed 4500 rpms. This will be difficult to me. How serious is this break in period business and are there real benefits to the car long term. I'll do it if it really makes sense, but I won't like it. Specs: 2013 128i N51 Carbon Black metallic M Sport Package BMW Performance Exhaust
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08-13-2013, 07:25 PM	#2
mb135is Captain 89 Rep 912 Posts Drives: '13 135is #180/586 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	People will argue vehemently for both methods - following the break in or driving it like you stole it straight off the lot. People will say technical things like "seating piston rings" or something like that. I have no clue what any of it means or how either way works or doesn't work. I followed the advised break in procedure because it felt like the right thing to do with the car I'd just spent my hard-earned $ on. Maybe it was needless caution. Maybe not. There are many CPO BMWs that lived lives as test drive or loaner cars that hardly saw less than 4500 rpm in their formative stages of life, and from what I can tell, these cars are no worse off. That is certainly not evidence. You're welcome for the non-answer __________________ E82 '13 135is - Space Gray/Coral Red, 6 MT, Heated Seats, 50% tint, clear bra, BMW Perf. Grilles, BMW Perf. CF Diffuser - #180/586
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08-13-2013, 07:44 PM	#3
Iron Man Major 189 Rep 1,026 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	While I don't think it will hurt if you exceed 4500 rpm by a few hundred rpm once in awhile , I think you should definitely stay away from redline until your engine is broken in. I believe the factory seats your piston rings after assembling the engine, so you don't have to do that. However, I always thought for proper break-in, you want to vary your rpm (don't baby it the entire time either). Long trips at constant rpm are not good for an engine in the first few hundred miles.
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08-13-2013, 08:02 PM	#4
CAVU Captain 151 Rep 929 Posts Drives: '16 F87 M2 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	I plan to observe the break in guidelines, the drive from the PC to Ohio will consume 600+ miles... it may take another couple weeks to knock out the other 600 miles, but after an 10-week wait for the car itself, a couple of weeks at less than redline will be only moderately torturous. __________________ *F87 '16 M2 ...* Mineral Grey, 6MT, Exec, MPE Gone: E82 '13 135is 475/586 ... Mineral Grey / Oyster, DCT, Premium, Tech, HK, Michelin PSS, BMW Performance Suspension
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08-13-2013, 08:57 PM	#6
bbbbmw Major General 2394 Rep 6,083 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southwest iTrader: (0)	Many years ago my father bought a VW with the Porsche 914 engine, in Germany. The dealer told him not to worry about the break in period, as the factory had taken care of it. He drove off the lot, and onto the Autobahn, at 115mph. All the seals in the engine blew, and the car was never right after that... I've also heard that you should vary the speed on a new engine (for the first 1,000 miles or so), and therefore don't use the cruise control. IMO, since no one seems to have "real" data about the break in concept, I'm always conservative with a new car.
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08-13-2013, 08:59 PM	#7
jclaib7 First Lieutenant 142 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Black Shadow Edition Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: United States, Beverly Ma. iTrader: (2)	I'll go the conservative route I guess for 1200 or so. It is an expensive piece of machinery.
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08-14-2013, 07:44 AM	#8
JimD Brigadier General 368 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	It's also nice that 4500 rpm and under doesn't mean going slow. I usually shift at under 3000 rpm. If I go up to 4500 I am trying to go somewhat fast. You do have to watch closely, however, because once you get up to that level, the n52 really likes to go quickly to redline. I tried to stay under 4500 during breakin but I'm sure I exceeded it some. My engine runs fine with no oil usage or other issues. __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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08-14-2013, 07:59 AM	#9
morningscifi Null 12 Rep 227 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	This is the only reason I was concerned about PDC delivery - the drive on the highway back and break-in concerns. Now I'm going to lose MORE sleep over it! =) __________________ 2013 135is \| Le Mans Blue \| #542 / 586
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08-14-2013, 09:05 AM	#11
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Try doing a Euro Delivery. As I pulled onto the Autobahn the day our car was delivered, I kept hearing in the back of my head what our delivery specialist told us "don't go over 150 km/hr or 4500 RPM for the first 2000 km" NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Luckily I hit 1998 km as I turned onto the Stelvio Pass Rd.
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08-14-2013, 09:44 AM	#12
morningscifi Null 12 Rep 227 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	I think that if there is a hell to go to and I'm an overly terrible person to get there, I'll have to drive in a similar scenario but the break in period never ends. __________________ 2013 135is \| Le Mans Blue \| #542 / 586
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08-14-2013, 09:50 AM	#13
Qunadry First Lieutenant 31 Rep 388 Posts Drives: 2012 135i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northeast iTrader: (0)	Most important if you plan on keeping the car for any length of time; change the oil, filter, gear box fluid and differential fluid at 1200 miles. I find it funny that lawn mower and snow blower manufacturers recommend changing engine oil after 5 hours use and every 50 hours thereafter and BMW says you can go a year or 15,000 miles. You will have to pay for it, but it is cheap insurance.
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