[dammitcubs]

I'm going to find out if i have a M2 allocation in Texas tomorrow but if it is true then there might be a possibility of myself driving from Texas to Northern California and raking 1400 miles.

What are you do's and don'ts during a break in period? I typically buy cars used instead of new so this is rather new to me.

Thanks.

[WAY]

Engine need load during break in. So taking in 1400 miles of interstate freeway driving for would not be good for the engine.

[dammitcubs]

thats interesting advice and something I'll have to keep track of. I think if this is the case, then i'll have to ship the car from texas and pay the 1500 bucks.

[moldcad]

Funny.... What prevents you from varying engine load/RPM on an interstate?!!

[MR.]

Read the manual guys... It states exactly what is not allowed!

[WAY]

Originally Posted by moldcad

Funny.... What prevents you from varying engine load/RPM on an interstate?!!

You can, but it's a tedious exercise. I've done it before.

[GoSlow2GoFast]

Wellllll, it's an ///M, so what you doing on the interstates anyway...

Find yourself some twisty roads and enjoy the drive. Let's see, 1 day on the interstate, 2 days on secondary 'fun' roads...

~gs2gf

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by dammitcubs

thats interesting advice and something I'll have to keep track of. I think if this is the case, then i'll have to ship the car from texas and pay the 1500 bucks.

You can absolutely drive the car home if you want to, just don't use cruise control and vary your RPMs as much as you can. May also want to get some blue masking tape to cover the front of the car and the mirrors to prevent stone chips. Good news is by the time you get back your break-in will be done, you can change the fluids and be on your way.

[Artemis]

And then there are also those who opt for European Delivery of their ///M cars, give it the beans on twisties of the Black Forest (Bavaria - Germany), Switzerland, Austria and/or Northern Italy, and also lap the Nürburgring before dropping off the car at BMW.

I will give my level best to respect the run-in instructions.

[gtaM2]

Originally Posted by Artemis

And then there are also those who opt for European Delivery of their ///M cars, give it the beans on twisties of the Black Forest (Bavaria - Germany), Switzerland, Austria and/or Northern Italy, and also lap the Nürburgring before dropping off the car at BMW.

I will give my level best to respect the run-in instructions.

yes this will be challenging for me but according to the manual if i can keep it under 5500RPM it should be good right

[epinfren]

Originally Posted by moldcad

Funny.... What prevents you from varying engine load/RPM on an interstate?!!

Just fluctuating between 70-90ish on the freeway is not varying the engine load enough. Breaking in a car at highway speeds is just not ideal for a new motor.

Unless of course you literally want to get off the freeway every three exits and get back on so you're actually going down in to first and back up to sixth over and over again. That would certainly make for a long drive though.

[MR.]

Originally Posted by epinfren

Just fluctuating between 70-90ish on the freeway is not varying the engine load enough. Breaking in a car at highway speeds is just not ideal for a new motor.

Unless of course you literally want to get off the freeway every three exits and get back on so you're actually going down in to first and back up to sixth over and over again. That would certainly make for a long drive though.

I am not going to drive my first 2K KMs only on mountain passes and city roads. I need my car to be ready within two weeks after delivery or so, to do some big tours across Europe.

So I am going to drive across Europe taking highways and just vary engine speed, and if I take a normal day during the week I will be in traffic anyhow :P

MR

[W///]

Originally Posted by MR.

I am not going to drive my first 2K KMs only on mountain passes and city roads. I need my car to be ready within two weeks after delivery or so, to do some big tours across Europe.

So I am going to drive across Europe taking highways and just vary engine speed, and if I take a normal day during the week I will be in traffic anyhow :P

MR

Why not? That's in my opinion way more ideal than just going on a highway. Just being on the mountains doesn't mean you have to go over 5500 rpm or be at 100% throttle either.

I'll absolutely be cruising in the mountains when it's time to break in my F80. Just go easy.

[CAVU]

Before driving back to Ohio from PCD, I planned out a route that took me on a variety of roads, highways, and freeways. I heeded the break-in recommendations the entire way and never felt like I way babying the car or missing out. And it was so much more enjoyable than the typical 'let's get there as quickly as possible' freeway trip.

I'll be doing the same thing with my M2 PCD later this year. The break-in instructions would probably be harder to follow if I was doing ED ...

[Kantalias]

I'm really happy to see this topic, I was planning to research it. Thanks, dammitcubs!

Now I need to plan my 600 mile journey through oil drilling and wheat farming country -- hope I don't get run over by any rigs or tractors.

[Rock Sweden]

Originally Posted by MR.

Read the manual guys... It states exactly what is not allowed!

Where can i find the manual? I tried the app but it didn't have the M2. My SA only gave me the chassis number not the full VIN. THX in advance

[MR.]

Originally Posted by Rock Sweden

Where can i find the manual? I tried the app but it didn't have the M2. My SA only gave me the chassis number not the full VIN. THX in advance

Search on the forum there is a topic on how to set it up.

You need to enter a VIN of pre-production car and then you have access to all the data.

MR

[juyeop]

I actually drove first 500 miles on the way back from a dealership. I tried to vary my speed from like 80 to 50 mph and it was pain in the butt because there is a limitation as far as when you can drop the speed to 50 mph since it is "highway" I think following every bit of break-in procedures will be very hard.

[RingMeister01]

You have to load the engine guys. Full throttle on and off to compress and seat the rings of the piston. Those of you who are "babying" your break-ins are doing irreparable harm to your pistons. You'll experience better gas milage and power if you vary your engine speeds and load the motor. For example, hit the highway and do 40 - 80 mph pulls at full throttle at low, mid and then higher rpm's maybe 10 times. Do an oil change and you'RE done. Thats the break-in.


FYI you do know that before any cars leaves the BMW factory ill go through a dyno pull...right?

[F1zbo]

Originally Posted by RingMeister01

FYI you do know that before any cars leaves the BMW factory ill go through a dyno pull...right?

Really? Where can I get more details regarding this? Are there any offical statements from BMW regarding this?
I would guess not as it would contradict the break in procedure described in the manual.

BR

[RingMeister01]

Originally Posted by F1zbo

Really? Where can I get more details regarding this? Are there any offical statements from BMW regarding this?
I would guess not as it would contradict the break in procedure described in the manual.

BR

No manufacturer would recommend this. How could they? They would be encouraging you to break speed limits and potentially endangering other motorists by ripping in a car you are yet familiar with.

Every race motor from Moto GP to Formula One are done in similar fashion on an engine dyno.

IMO this suggested break in by manufacturers are to get you familiar with your new car safely.. It's their attorney that wrote what's in your manual.

When I bought my $36,000 Panigale R (I'm just representing that this is a valuable bike) the dealer told me to go straight on the highway and do 8 full throttle 4-5th gear pulls from 100-160 (aerodynamic so you need high speed for wind resistance). Motor is a gem.

[RingMeister01]

Originally Posted by F1zbo

Really? Where can I get more details regarding this? Are there any offical statements from BMW regarding this?
I would guess not as it would contradict the break in procedure described in the manual.

BR

In further response to your curiosity, i got a video and literature about the development of the E46 when I bought mine back in 2001 and in this documentary they showed a dyno at the end of assembly and stated "every BMW is tested to ensure it meets its specified power.." Something like that. They show the pull and the computer with instruments measuring power output. Then the car gets released. I think they now test the motors before they go in to save on production delays, not sure but really cool.