Recommended warm up & cool down for the 135i?

[Bullitt]

I've seen a few posts here and there regarding different opinions about proper warm up and cool down, but I thought it would be helpful to have a centralized thread for those, like myself, who would like to know more about the proper method for the 135i.

I'm all for preventative maintenance as I am not leasing and plan to own the car for as long as I can. Keeping the machine at optimum health is one of my main goals.

This is my first BMW and also my first turbocharged engine, so what is the recommendation for warming up and cooling down this baby? Also, what to avoid doing (such as revving the car at idle).

If possible, please also be specific if methods change for certain scenarios:

A) A short uneventful trip to the local grocery store - still necessary?
B) Spirited driving through the mountains
C) A day at the track
D) A long drive with several hours of highway cruising at a constant speed
E) A hot summer drive to the beach
F) A chilly winter drive through a forest

[gio]

There are probably others out there that know better than me, but I'll offer up my opinion in the meantime anyways. I've never owned a BMW before, but I've owned a turbocharged engine before and here is what I've learned:

For warming up, it's the same as any car. Wait until the temperature needle is in the middle (where ever it ends up during normal operation)
before really pushing the engine hard. This could be as little as a few minutes when it's warm out, or as many as 15 minutes in the winter. This ensures that oil has had enough time to flow through the engine. The best way to warm up an engine is to drive it and not let it run idle. At least that is what they say. It's frequently unavoidable to let it idle to warm up though, especially in the cold area where I live (you shouldn't have that problem though). There is such a thing as a car that is too cold to drive (like when you need gloves so thick you can't hold the steering wheel).

As for cooling down, there is no need after normal driving. The only time when you might want to let your engine cool down is after aggressive driving such as at the track. And even then, usually a couple of minutes is all it needs, if that even. Any more and you'll end up just transfering heat from the engine to the turbos instead of cooling the turbos which is what you want to do. Highway driving is usually low RPMs at high speed so your engine is getting plenty of air to cool it. Overheating is usually only an issue at slow speeds (like stop and go traffic on a hot day) or high-RPM performance driving (like on a track). I tend to let my car sit for a few minutes running after a long trip but it probably isn't necessary. It's just a habit I've gotten into.

[morscode]

I agree with gio, although I can't speak for the comment about not letting it idle for too long because the heat will transfer to the turbos; I don't know about that.

Although, for a track day, you'll definetly want to cool it down a few minutes, after a cool down lap ( I usually just run around the track one more lap 1 gear higher then I would normally). Let the car idle after and do not set the brakes.

[Rye]

With turbo's, it's more important that the oil temp is up to operating temperature rather than just the engine temp when really driving aggressive where the turbos are boosting frequently. For cool down, just really only need it after aggressive sprints.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by mzaiderman

... Let the car idle after and do not set the brakes.

Do you mean the emergency brake?

[morscode]

Yes, E-brake or pedal. Don't set the brakes at all until they've cooled. You'll be clamping down the pads onto an extemely hot rotor and risk warping and ruining your rotors.

[Bullitt]

Thanks, great point. I'm glad you clarified that.

[morscode]

In case you're wondering about rolling off, What I usually do is throw a tire iron, (the 4 star lug tool) and drive up to it, or some sort of stopper

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

I've seen a few posts here and there regarding different opinions about proper warm up and cool down, but I thought it would be helpful to have a centralized thread for those, like myself, who would like to know more about the proper method for the 135i.

I'm all for preventative maintenance as I am not leasing and plan to own the car for as long as I can. Keeping the machine at optimum health is one of my main goals.

This is my first BMW and also my first turbocharged engine, so what is the recommendation for warming up and cooling down this baby? Also, what to avoid doing (such as revving the car at idle).

If possible, please also be specific if methods change for certain scenarios:

A) A short uneventful trip to the local grocery store - still necessary?
B) Spirited driving through the mountains
C) A day at the track
D) A long drive with several hours of highway cruising at a constant speed
E) A hot summer drive to the beach
F) A chilly winter drive through a forest

I never floor the gas pedal until the oil temp needle gets up to at least 150 degF. I always drive easy the last few miles before I get home or to work, etc. All new turbos have water cooling but it's a good idea to drive easy before you park to let the heat dissipate.

Heat issues really depend on engine loads. If you're just driving around town to the store and back there is no need for cooldown.. because you never drove it hard to build up excessive heat to begin with.

I agree with the emergency brake info. I normally don't use it after hard driving unless parked on a very steep hill, which is very rare around here.

I was able to get over 200k miles from the original non water cooled garrett T3 turbo in my other car I normally drive to work. That was after running it at ~18psi vs. ~12psi stock for 8-10 years.

[Brandon26pdx]

Common sense to wait at least 20-30 seconds before pulling away on a cold start. Allows the oil pressure a chance to reach operating level.

[Robinc]

I wait till oil temp has reached 200 degrees before getting on full boost, usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. As for cool down, a few minutes after spirited driving.

[akak1997]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

Common sense to wait at least 20-30 seconds before pulling away on a cold start. Allows the oil pressure a chance to reach operating level.

Common sense? The owner manual says something different.
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/downl...out_iDrive.zip

Page 49:
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the vehicle remain stationary. Start driving right away, but at moderate engine speed.

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by akak1997

Common sense? The owner manual says something different.
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/downl...out_iDrive.zip

Page 49:
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the vehicle remain stationary. Start driving right away, but at moderate engine speed.

What they mean is for people living up north like me when its -40 celcius drive the cart instead of starting it with the remote starter and let it idle for 25 minutes(a lot of people do so). I dont see that happening in LA

[akak1997]

well, at -40c everything is different, for starters, I won't be driving a RWD car that's for sure... Thank God I don't have to do deal with -40c anymore (I spent just one year in the mountains in BC, enough!).

[rcracer_tx]

as a general rule for turbo cars, wait till the engine has hit around 78-80 degrees Celsius before spooling the turbos hard.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

Common sense to wait at least 20-30 seconds before pulling away on a cold start. Allows the oil pressure a chance to reach operating level.

I agree that it is common sense, but for the 135i, I've heard the contrary to this more often than not. Several members have said to warm up the car with light driving as opposed to standing idle.

[Oregon]

Start the car, after a few seconds, the choke(whatever you kids call it these days) will drop RPM, drive away, when operating temp is achieved @ around 240 degrees/15 minutes, it's time for play.:wink:

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

I agree that it is common sense, but for the 135i, I've heard the contrary to this more often than not. Several members have said to warm up the car with light driving as opposed to standing idle.

I don't believe people are recommended letting the car sit at idle unless you live in the Antarctic. Let it warm up while you drive easy.. before going full throttle.

I believe the warning against letting a car sit at idle has something to do with the catalytic converters but I don't recall the details.

[Brandon26pdx]

No, I don't mean let the car idle for a long ass time until warmed up...that's not necessary and probably not too great for the car either. 20 or 30 seconds of idle after engine start is all it takes to get the oil pressure fully up.