View Poll Results: How to brake in an engine so that you get the most out of it? (performance no.1, reliability no.2)
Don't baby it, in fact drive it like you stole it (rev it to redline in the 1st kms/reach top speed)
9.88%
Voters: 81. You may not vote on this poll
Engine brake-in...
07-17-2006, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by UUronL' post='311756' date='Jul 17 2006, 06:23 PM
Well, allow me to offer up my experience.
I followed the manual to the letter (as I have for the past 2 german cars I purchased). My car was one of the first N52 inline 6 (petrol) engines, made in March 05 and delivered in April 05. Many many many cars that were manufactured at the same time and delivered to members on this forum required numerous additions of oil, some very early in their life.
My car has only dipped down one line on the oil gauge, and this only happened at the 1 yr. mark - about the time that oil begins to break down a bit. I think lack of oil consumption is a great indicator of the general quality of the break-in and how everything seated. Mine has done far better than most, which could be accounted for by plain old luck (getting a "well built" one), but I imagine it has more to do with how I have treated it.
I followed the manual to the letter (as I have for the past 2 german cars I purchased). My car was one of the first N52 inline 6 (petrol) engines, made in March 05 and delivered in April 05. Many many many cars that were manufactured at the same time and delivered to members on this forum required numerous additions of oil, some very early in their life.
My car has only dipped down one line on the oil gauge, and this only happened at the 1 yr. mark - about the time that oil begins to break down a bit. I think lack of oil consumption is a great indicator of the general quality of the break-in and how everything seated. Mine has done far better than most, which could be accounted for by plain old luck (getting a "well built" one), but I imagine it has more to do with how I have treated it.
As you said the best way too see that your engine is healthy is the consumtion of oil 
07-17-2006, 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by BetterMakeWay' post='311525' date='Jul 17 2006, 12:51 AM
So is every engine from bmw. All our engines were broken-in first on the test bench.
The same probably for the tranny.
The same probably for the tranny.
Be serious, who do you think would run all those engines and trannies??!!
We're talking about massproduction!
07-18-2006, 12:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Ricracing' post='311954' date='Jul 18 2006, 02:32 AM
No way!
Be serious, who do you think would run all those engines and trannies??!!
We're talking about massproduction!
Be serious, who do you think would run all those engines and trannies??!!
We're talking about massproduction!
Trust me when i'm telling you...our engines were broken-in when tested on the test bench. You didn't think they just put all the pices together and shiped the car without any testing.
Those were for 535d engines. I really think that the engine is broken-in when running red exhaust. Don't you think?
07-18-2006, 12:51 AM
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Originally Posted by needforspeed' post='311899' date='Jul 18 2006, 12:39 AM
Interesting link and a very unusual view.
The thing is - when you get your new bimmer it will already have 10-20 miles on the clock. Every 'new' car I have owned has had this - and AFAIK this mileage is the drive off testing and loading / unloading mileage gained as part of the delivery.
So - is it too late for every car I have owned - I doubt it. When I get my new car in Sept I will go relatively easy for the first few hundred miles then gradually let it rip. Don't know what the posted run in period is for a BMW these days - but after 500 miles or so I'll be happy enough to start kicking off.
The thing is - when you get your new bimmer it will already have 10-20 miles on the clock. Every 'new' car I have owned has had this - and AFAIK this mileage is the drive off testing and loading / unloading mileage gained as part of the delivery.
So - is it too late for every car I have owned - I doubt it. When I get my new car in Sept I will go relatively easy for the first few hundred miles then gradually let it rip. Don't know what the posted run in period is for a BMW these days - but after 500 miles or so I'll be happy enough to start kicking off.
07-18-2006, 06:35 AM
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Originally Posted by BetterMakeWay' post='311889' date='Jul 17 2006, 05:20 PM
Oh yeah. That was the link i was looking for. Now even if you are crazy enough to follow that brake-in method well here are a few questions:
1. That was for bikes and even if he says it works for all 4 stroke engines, i suspect there are a few differences. I know that our cars, come with synthetic oil from the fabric. So in that case when you pick the car up from the dealer do a oil change on the spot with a non-synthetic oil? That's a bit crazy don't you think?
2. After let's say the change...warm the engine up (that's 5-10 miles gone from those most important 20 miles) and then let it run hard in 2nd,3rd an 4th gear with hard decelerations and hard accelerations again and again. Yes?
3. After those 20-30 miles kill the engine hot as it is an then what do an oil change? Still non-synthetic oil?
4. Probably after the oil change do what? The same thing till 1500miles or so when you change to synthetic oil?
5. What about top speeds? I understand that it isn't necesary to run at top speed (in the first miles) only 2nd 3rd and 4th?
This is a bit too crazy...i mean i'm willing to consider a hard brake in but not like this. I was wondering what the dealer would think when you come by:"Hello sir, i came to pick up my car" and then after he tells you all the stuff about it you say" hey i want an oil change witht his oil" ...thinking about the dealer's face Or what come with your own mechanic to qucikly change the oil while the car hasn't been even moved ? And then after 20 miles with the exhaust running hot comming back saying " i want another oil change"....ahahahah i can't stop laughing.
So what's what with this? What do you people think?
1. That was for bikes and even if he says it works for all 4 stroke engines, i suspect there are a few differences. I know that our cars, come with synthetic oil from the fabric. So in that case when you pick the car up from the dealer do a oil change on the spot with a non-synthetic oil? That's a bit crazy don't you think?
2. After let's say the change...warm the engine up (that's 5-10 miles gone from those most important 20 miles) and then let it run hard in 2nd,3rd an 4th gear with hard decelerations and hard accelerations again and again. Yes?
3. After those 20-30 miles kill the engine hot as it is an then what do an oil change? Still non-synthetic oil?
4. Probably after the oil change do what? The same thing till 1500miles or so when you change to synthetic oil?
5. What about top speeds? I understand that it isn't necesary to run at top speed (in the first miles) only 2nd 3rd and 4th?
This is a bit too crazy...i mean
i'm willing to consider a hard brake in but not like this. I was wondering what the dealer would think when you come by:"Hello sir, i came to pick up my car" and then after he tells you all the stuff about it you say" hey i want an oil change witht his oil" ...thinking about the dealer's face Or what come with your own mechanic to qucikly change the oil while the car hasn't been even moved ? And then after 20 miles with the exhaust running hot comming back saying " i want another oil change"....ahahahah i can't stop laughing. So what's what with this? What do you people think?
U can have BMW or your own mechanic change the oil for u at your own expense if u like.
Like I said, it's a hard for people to take this in kindly, it's fighting what you are normal told.
It's in the same line as changing oil every 3 miles not 15,000 could be argued either way.
By the way those are some nice pics, thx
07-18-2006, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by BetterMakeWay' post='312113' date='Jul 18 2006, 04:48 AM
Trust me when i'm telling you...our engines were broken-in when tested on the test bench.
I have been to the BMW factories in Munich, Dingolfing, & Spartanburg, yet have never seen engine assembly.
Is each engine tested on a bench before sending to the appropriate factory for auto assembly?
Where are BMW engines built anyway?
In Munich, or Regensburg?
07-18-2006, 07:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Mercy' post='311847' date='Jul 17 2006, 10:44 PM
Thanks for the link, very interesting!
"The biggest factor is that engine manufacturers now use a much finer honing pattern in the cylinders than they once did."
This I believe, the brake in period is for getting the ruff egdes off.
But as said:
"This is a very controversial topic" and still is.
Maybe but only maybe, old knowlegde is old knowlegde?
Let the discussion continue..
07-18-2006, 07:49 AM
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Originally Posted by mullman' post='312164' date='Jul 18 2006, 05:58 PM
Can anyone here actually verify this?
I have been to the BMW factories in Munich, Dingolfing, & Spartanburg, yet have never seen engine assembly.
Is each engine tested on a bench before sending to the appropriate factory for auto assembly?
Where are BMW engines built anyway?
In Munich, or Regensburg?
I have been to the BMW factories in Munich, Dingolfing, & Spartanburg, yet have never seen engine assembly.
Is each engine tested on a bench before sending to the appropriate factory for auto assembly?
Where are BMW engines built anyway?
In Munich, or Regensburg?
07-18-2006, 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Mercy' post='312154' date='Jul 18 2006, 05:35 PM
I did my own out of scheduled oil changes. I used BMW oem-syn. oil
U can have BMW or your own mechanic change the oil for u at your own expense if u like.
Like I said, it's a hard for people to take this in kindly, it's fighting what you are normal told.
It's in the same line as changing oil every 3 miles not 15,000 could be argued either way.
By the way those are some nice pics, thx
U can have BMW or your own mechanic change the oil for u at your own expense if u like.
Like I said, it's a hard for people to take this in kindly, it's fighting what you are normal told.
It's in the same line as changing oil every 3 miles not 15,000 could be argued either way.
By the way those are some nice pics, thx
BTW how did you brake-in your engine?
07-18-2006, 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by mullman' post='312164' date='Jul 18 2006, 05:58 PM
Can anyone here actually verify this?
I have been to the BMW factories in Munich, Dingolfing, & Spartanburg, yet have never seen engine assembly.
Is each engine tested on a bench before sending to the appropriate factory for auto assembly?
Where are BMW engines built anyway?
In Munich, or Regensburg?
I have been to the BMW factories in Munich, Dingolfing, & Spartanburg, yet have never seen engine assembly.
Is each engine tested on a bench before sending to the appropriate factory for auto assembly?
Where are BMW engines built anyway?
In Munich, or Regensburg?
"BMW's Dingolfing Plant is an integral part of BMW's production network. Indeed, it is BMW's largest and most flexible production plant building the 5, 6, and 7 Series and at the same time supplying other BMW Plants the world over with tools, facilities, pressings, as well as chassis components."
"Dingolfing receives engines from BMW's Plants in Munich".
But I'm still sure that the engines are not broken in in a test bench but probably tested that they wotk OK.