Proper Way To Break In A New Car?

itsxtian · 04-17-2008, 11:20 PM

Sorry if this has been discussed before. I tried searching, but no major threads are really coming up.

I hope this is the right forum...
My question is what is the proper way to break in a new car?

I know members have recommended getting an oil change at 1200 miles.
Before those 1200 is there certain stuff you cannot do? A suggested speed to go under, etc?

My delivery will be ~180 miles north of my home, so I'll have to take the 101 freeway all the way home... grandma speeds all the way?

eazydoezit · 04-17-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsxtian

Sorry if this has been discussed before. I tried searching, but no major threads are really coming up.

I hope this is the right forum...
My question is what is the proper way to break in a new car?

I know members have recommended getting an oil change at 1200 miles.
Before those 1200 is there certain stuff you cannot do? A suggested speed to go under, etc?

My delivery will be ~180 miles north of my home, so I'll have to take the 101 freeway all the way home... grandma speeds all the way?

I say fuc**ng gun that ishhh till you get home.... that should break 'er in.

I got my car in LA on a friday and drove it up to berkeley on that saturday. around 400 miles in 2 days.... Its still all good.... I went about 110 max on my way up.

rdsport323 · 04-17-2008, 11:39 PM

drive it like you stole it.

1WickedE90 · 04-18-2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsxtian

My question is what is the proper way to break in a new car?

I know members have recommended getting an oil change at 1200 miles.
Before those 1200 is there certain stuff you cannot do? A suggested speed to go under, etc?

My delivery will be ~180 miles north of my home, so I'll have to take the 101 freeway all the way home... grandma speeds all the way?

Simple break-in rule: don't baby it & don't abuse it

Between 1200 miles & 1600 miles is good for 1st oil change, to get out all the break-in gunk from the engine (I know, very scientific term, huh?)

gos · 04-18-2008, 01:48 AM

Don't rev it when it's not warmed up.

Stress the rings as much as possible by accelerating hard, then letting off the gas in a variety of gears. Do this without red-lining.

Don't wrap it around a pole.

MrSteak · 04-18-2008, 09:17 AM

Yeah... I've seen a TON of posts about breaking it in hard, and babying it. IMO, I'd work the powerband (without redlining it!) and drive normal and let it get used to your driving style. (And don't do anything stupid, or start modding it too early, or let it run out of gas or anything like that.)

thegeneral101 · 04-18-2008, 10:14 AM

If you purchased it: drive it properly and don't abuse it
If you leased it: abuse it from the first mile

rdsport323 · 04-18-2008, 11:25 AM

I heard spark plugs on the windshield glass is an easy way of "breaking into" a car...

e92phreak · 04-18-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdsport323

drive it like you stole it.

LOL... I actually thought this thread was about the proper way to "break into" a new car.

GreenThree · 04-18-2008, 11:28 AM

Not over 4500 RPM for first 1200 miles

muisui · 04-18-2008, 12:01 PM

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Just a second opinion.
I use this methold unintentionally on my Mitsubishi EVO V and R34 Skyline GTR and intentionally on my Mini Cooper S and v8 4.2 S4 Avant.

I will do it again once I got my 335xi.

itsxtian · 04-18-2008, 01:50 PM

Lol, yes. Not looking for tips on how to break into a new BMW on a car lot. lol.

Same rules apply to Manual and Automatics?

Seems like the idea is to drive it strong, accelerate a little, but don't red line it.

04-17-2008, 11:20 PM	#1
itsxtian Private First Class 12 Rep 189 Posts Drives: Nice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Proper Way To Break In A New Car? Sorry if this has been discussed before. I tried searching, but no major threads are really coming up. I hope this is the right forum... My question is what is the proper way to break in a new car? I know members have recommended getting an oil change at 1200 miles. Before those 1200 is there certain stuff you cannot do? A suggested speed to go under, etc? My delivery will be ~180 miles north of my home, so I'll have to take the 101 freeway all the way home... grandma speeds all the way?
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04-17-2008, 11:39 PM	#3
rdsport323 Captain 50 Rep 879 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: OC, CA iTrader: (0)	drive it like you stole it.
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04-18-2008, 01:48 AM	#5
gos Captain 27 Rep 959 Posts Drives: E90 330xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Don't rev it when it's not warmed up. Stress the rings as much as possible by accelerating hard, then letting off the gas in a variety of gears. Do this without red-lining. Don't wrap it around a pole. __________________ -- 330xi SG/Terra/Burl -- ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, CA, Sirius, PDC
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04-18-2008, 09:17 AM	#6
MrSteak Captain 83 Rep 634 Posts Drives: 08' 335i Coupe (6-speed) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Yeah... I've seen a TON of posts about breaking it in hard, and babying it. IMO, I'd work the powerband (without redlining it!) and drive normal and let it get used to your driving style. (And don't do anything stupid, or start modding it too early, or let it run out of gas or anything like that.) __________________ ED & PCD = DONE & DONE! 08' AW/Coral 335i coupe 6-speed (Premium Pkg, Sports Pkg, Heated Seats) *European Delivery
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04-18-2008, 10:14 AM	#7
thegeneral101 Colonel 76 Rep 2,304 Posts Drives: '15 Z06,'13 750Li,'11 Raptor Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami/Michigan iTrader: (0)	If you purchased it: drive it properly and don't abuse it If you leased it: abuse it from the first mile __________________
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04-18-2008, 11:25 AM	#8
rdsport323 Captain 50 Rep 879 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: OC, CA iTrader: (0)	I heard spark plugs on the windshield glass is an easy way of "breaking into" a car...
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04-18-2008, 11:28 AM	#10
GreenThree Colonel 210 Rep 2,110 Posts Drives: 2011 e90 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Not over 4500 RPM for first 1200 miles __________________ 2015 335xi \| Mineral Grey Metallic \| Black Dakota Leather \| NAV \| SportLine \| ZPP \| ZDA \| ZCW \| Munich Build Retired: 2008, 2011, 2013 328xi
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04-18-2008, 12:01 PM	#11
muisui Private 0 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 08 335xi couple space grey Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm Just a second opinion. I use this methold unintentionally on my Mitsubishi EVO V and R34 Skyline GTR and intentionally on my Mini Cooper S and v8 4.2 S4 Avant. I will do it again once I got my 335xi.
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04-18-2008, 01:50 PM	#12
itsxtian Private First Class 12 Rep 189 Posts Drives: Nice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Lol, yes. Not looking for tips on how to break into a new BMW on a car lot. lol. Same rules apply to Manual and Automatics? Seems like the idea is to drive it strong, accelerate a little, but don't red line it.
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