Break in Tips

You have the right attitude. What _I_ did at 2000 miles was change all the driveline fluids. Engine oil (Amsoil 5W-30); manual transmission fluid (Royal Purple Synchromax); differential fluid (Redline 75W-90). Oh, an oil filter of course. The differential oil, in particular, looked like it needed changing. I have read that a differential produces a lot of wear metals in its first 800-1000 miles. Seeing what drained out, I believe it.

Bob

What does the owners handbook say?

You don't really need to treat it with kid gloves, however it will do no harm to do what you suggested if it's a personal car that you plan to keep for a long time. One thing worth noting is that car manufactures are pressurized by customers (particularly fleet/lease customers) to reduce servicing costs. Of course, this means that servicing schedules are greatly influenced by the manufacturers/distributors sales and marketing departments, not necessarily technical engineers. Therefore, servicing intervals increase and the amount done during the service is reduced, in order to create sales.

One thing working in their favor is more advanced oils and materials used in components now-a-days, although it is possible that they maybe a bit short-sighted about what happens after the warranty period. That said, BMW is at the forefront of technology therefore I would trust BMW more than other manufacture, who will try to keep up with them.

Are manufactures/distributors service schedules now-a-days correct? Mmm, decide for yourself.

What does the handbook say? Some have a 2000 mile interim service, some don't. If you're concerned then change the oil etc at 2000 miles.

Eh! Break in or running in went out with the ark didn't it?

Drive as a sensible person for the first few weeks and don't hold high revs nor full throttle until around 1000 miles then take it gradually.

With the manufacturing tolerances used today and the highly skilled robots - break in doesn't really need to be done.

Indeed, most engines are bench run now, so a formal run in is rarely required.

Still best to be kind to it for the first 1k or so - I remember getting behind a branny Ford one day which was being reated a little harshly - horrible metalic smell...

My 2001 BMW has a running in section in the handbook and an oil change scheduled at 1200 or 2000 miles or something like that.

Interesting - the US models haven't called for a break-in oil change for at least a decade.

Tom K.

The 03 manual said to keep the rpm under 4500 and the speed under 100 for the first 2000 miles. That worked quite well for me. As for oil changes: The reason that we had to change break in oil in the old days was that the manufacturing processes left lots of debris in the engine. That situation no longer obtains. It is quite common for an engine from any manufacturer not to need oil between oil changes. Mine did after almost 14000 miles. However, I now change it every 7500 miles because oil is far cheaper than engine rebuilds. U S makers usually recommend every 7500 miles, and they don't use synthetic oil.

Jim

"Jim" wrote

So, how do you explain the fact that the "M" cars (M3, M5, M6) have a factory-mandated 1200 mile oil change? Those engines are manufactured with tighter tolerances and more care than the "common" engines.

FloydR

I think the answer lies in the question, tolerances are tighter etc., and I dare say so are buyers' expectations.

If a new 528i blows up after a few weeks, they can always give you a new one, but a custom built M5?

I suspect a good part of this is checking for anything loose.

Isn't that just for the first time? As for why, it could be a lot of things besides what I mentioned.

Jim

...or not. Several M engines have gone bang due to bad bearings.

Well, that's the downside of tighter tolerance designs.

If it were me, I'd definitely do the oil, differential, and manual transmission fluid at a thousand miles. Maybe you won't get any gunk out, maybe you'll get a lot, but the effort is minimal and the possible return 200,000 miles later is great.

--scott

No it isn't.

Just take it easy for the firs 1000K miles the gun it gradually thereafter