[Speed-NYC]

I've always wanted to drive on the autobahn and doing it in my own new car would be amazing.....but

The break in period is the first 1200 miles or so with recommended limitations of 100mph and 4500rpm.

So is there any point to a euro delivery with these restrictions?

Would it really hurt the engine that much if a couple of days had some 150mph runs and a few red lines here and there?

[rak299]

"hurt the engine that much"??? You are more likely to hurt the engine a little. In the "old days", the most important warning was to vary your speed and not use cruise control. The reason was that when the pistons are going up, the connecting rods stretch a very small amount; they compress slightly on the way down. The faster the piston is moving (higher RPM), the more stretch there is. If run at the same engine speed for some time while the rings are seating, it is possible to develop a small ridge on the cylinder just above and below the piston travel. The metals are better, so there is less wear, but you can still see shiny flecks when you drain your oil the first time, so vary your speed.

Also, until the rings are seated completely, you might burn a little oil and there can be more "blow by", causing your engine to run a little hotter.

My advice is to extend your trip a couple of days and to drive more carefully at first.

[Speed-NYC]

Ok what I'm getting from that is to spend a couple of days sticking to the break in rules before a couple of days of breaking the break in rules.

If i make sure to keep the rpm varied then that shouldn't be bad enough for the engine to be concerned about.

Thanks for the advice.

[///M4ster Yoda]

Break in restrictions make me Maybe in the 1950s but in 2016 on Euro Delivery not a chance. Wife and I roll out of the Welt and hit the speed limiter on the Autobahn immediately. Never one problem. Engine, tranny, brakes etc etc....All fine. This summer we drove the car right up to the Nurburgring and ran multiple laps. I'll never understand going Grandpa on ED.

[Speed-NYC]

That's what I really wanted to hear

[F30MGM]

i agree with ///M4ster Yoda lol

[F32Fleet]

BMW break in is mostly all about giving you time to become familiar with the vehicle. Drive more worry less.

[metallicpea]

I have done ED 3 times, and hit the limiter on both of the the first two visits. My first was a 2002 325i sport and I think the limit was 136 MPH. Had it up there a couple times on my ED and had that car for 11 years with zero engine trouble. My next one was a 2009 135i m-sport with a limit of 155. Hit that a couple times too, and didn't have any trouble in 4 years of ownership. I did however stay away from redline. No launches and would creep up to top speed comfortably.
I never even thought about it on my most recent ED. Old hat perhaps...

[rak299]

As I said higher up, "you are more likely to hurt the engine a little". If the rings don't seat quite as well, your engine may run a little hotter. Later in life, you might start burning a little oil earlier. You are not going to cause your engine to fail after 20,000 miles.

[eluded]

Follow the break-in instructions carefully or your motor might blow up

[Speed-NYC]

Originally Posted by eluded

Follow the break-in instructions carefully or your motor might blow up

That might happen anyway, if the chance is only increased by a fraction of a percent then its no factor. The bigger issues seem to be oil consumption and performance in the long term.

I think this thread has some interesting opinions:
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...=711297&page=2

[Buzzo]

I stayed off the Autobahn for the first couple hundred miles while breaking in tires and brakes, and then adhered to only the <4500 rpm suggestion while on it, continuously varying speeds and gears. At 4500 rpm in 6th gear it still ran close to 125mph.
Also, know that staying off the Autobahn is far from a punishment. The roads are sublime and it won't be all that easy to always 'keep up' with the speed limit of 100kph.

[BEM-S4]

To be completely honest break in is good, I do it, but the benefits are hard to quantify. You've got a warranty anyway.

As long as it's not a real M car with break in fluids that are indeed different, fuck it and have fun.

[metallicpea]

Here you go.

That being said, top speed isn't super far above the rpm limit, so it might be worth the experience to creep up there gently for a short time near the end of your trip. That's more or less what I did.

[insanecoder]

Its hard to resist on a stretch like the autobahn..
I dont see a problem w/ breakin as long as you accelerate very gradually to speed and shift to keep the rpms down as much as possible
but man its gonna be hard not to test the 155

[Meast]

My vote is to lease the ED car and then Yolo down the autobahn. :

[rfcoolz]

Originally Posted by Meast

My vote is to lease the ED car and then Yolo down the autobahn. :

That is what I plan to do as soon as I got my next 340i

[Fugly M3]

I just did my ED and I kept it calm (120 mph) within the first 100 miles or so. Next day wasn't really a chance to get it up high due to alps and speed limits. By third day when I was closer to 350-400 miles on the car...BURIED IT! Only hit 152 that day per GPS. Later, this same day, it was time for 5 laps around the ring...4 by me and 1 by my Ring pro instructor, Andy Carlile (holds fastest time on a bike on the ring) who took it "somewhat easy." On the final morning en route to the Frankfurt drop off I got her all the way up to the limiter a couple times...so cool to feel it hit, back off, and then repeat. It was slight downhill and GPS readout was 157! By this time car had about 1150 miles on it. Car handled it brilliantly and I'm not worried about it.

[motch]

Another ED opinion..
I did mine on the 9th of Sept. Was on the Autobahn the first day. But I never went over 100mph (160km) and also didn't break 4500 rmp.

I did ALOT of driving. Hit the 1000 mile point just before I got to the NurburgRing. Afterwards, I fully opened her up~

All told, 2 weeks and 2600 miles. Definitely bucket list experience. Recommend it (though, not happy with BMW NA.. may switch to another manufacture next time..).
Oh.. 154mph with the top closed, 144 with it open! And a 12 min lap at the Ring (due to traffic and not wanting to crash!)

Enjoy
Always
Motch

PS> Seems the German Owners Manual doesn't have the same engine break in recommendation?

[Speed-NYC]

how did bmw NA lose your business?

[motch]

Originally Posted by Speed-NYC

how did bmw NA lose your business?

Long story..
But lets see-
Telling me I could order my 440 in March, then April, then June.
Then, in June.. telling me they couldn't place my order since they didn't have the pricing guide, when I had it in my hand! (Dealership Sales Manager)
Then telling me that I couldn't have my color combo. (Same Manager)
Then telling me I couldn't have the rims I wanted. (403M's)

Sending me my ED information email that had incorrect info on it.
Then telling me I couldn't have my delivery date (ended up getting that back)
Receiving my 'Welcome to ED package a month AFTER I did my actual ED!
(The package with the welcome kit, bag tags, etc)

Never returning emails or phone calls on time
Still waiting for documentation about why I couldn't get the car debadged. Was told 'it's a US Customs reg'. Looked it up, no reg exists.

Finally.. bought some items at BMW Welt while I was there. 2 items still had their security tags on them! Didn't find that out until a few days after I had left Munich and was driving around Germany. Went to 2 different BMW dealerships hoping they could remove the tags. No dice. Went to a regular store to see if they could do it, No dice.
Get home, call BMW NA and took me over a month till it got resolved. I just ended up sending the items back to BMW NA and threaten to get a lawyer, and file a complaint with the BBB.
Surprisingly, then my dealership here in NJ called me.. to tell me that they were ordering the items, to keep the items I had (HAD already FedEx'ed them to BMW NA!) and that I was being given a 'credit' for this mistake and issues I had to go through.

Can I mention that the BMW configurator lists the MPPSK, black Kidney Grills and diffuser.. but was 1st told I could have it port installed, then told I could not. In the end, (again) my Service Department came through and did the install in a few days when I didn't need my car. And at a great price.

BMW NA is not very professional when it came this this order. Had it not been for my salesperson (EP) and the service department manager and my SA, I would have walked away back in the Spring.

Buddy of mine just did a Porsche ED. Not as many bells and whistles (it seems) as BMW's Welt.. but no where near as painful.
While I understand my car is only a $80K car and to BMW, means nothing.. but it meant something to me (just turned 50, so it was a Bucket List item) and it felt like they could care less.

That being said, I love my car. Color Combo is perfect! [Tanz Blue, Golden Braun, Ash Trim]. With the MPPSK it also sounds terrific.
Wish the IDrive was a little better still~

Always
Motch

[Fugly M3]

wow your experience is discouraging...from everything I've heard and read BMW is far and away the best at this process. I've actually heard you have to fight Porsche dealers tooth and nail to get an ED...I think they've made that easier now but there is still no discount.