2005 M3 break-in

Gr8ful · May 16, 2005

I just bought a brand-new M3 with 12 miles on it. The dealer told me I could drive it fast, but just not abuse it too much until I got the 1,200 mile break-in service performed. Well I've been driving it to about 7k rpm occasionally..flooring it sometimes, and have gone 130mph and the car has 500 miles on it now.

Reading in the manual it said not to go above 5,500 RPM and not exceed 105mph or floor the peddle, and I did all of the above. Do you think I've done any damage to my vehicle? I haven't been pushing it too hard, but soon as I got a hold of how the SMG works I started to test it out some.. What should I do now? Just drive it safely until my service..or should I worry about if I've already done any damage? Thanks in advance..!

Chesty Bonds · May 16, 2005

I doubt you'd have done any serious damage but it is a good idea to refrain from full throttle bursts with a brand new car until it has been fully run-in. After that, I generally increase the engine speeds progressively for about another 500km.

Don't worry though, the new engines are built with such accuracy that the usual 'running-in' period has become less critical. Having said that, I still like to do it properly...

deutsch100 · May 16, 2005

I just had my 1,200 mi service done on my 2005 M3. I had two service dept. heads tell me how VERY important it is not to take the RPM over 5,100, do not exceed 105mph and NEVER full throttle it. After the 1,200 mi service, then gradually increase RPMs and pushing the throttle...do this up to 3,100 miles.

Did you ruin you car? Probably not. Will you have problems later? Likely.

My Service Advisors told me that those who tightly followed the M engine break in procedures, end up with least "leaky, drippy" engines and components and trouble free trannies.

BMW M AG has these break in procedures for a reason. They are not German anal retentism [werd]

. Sometimes there are directions for a reason!!!!

Tom · May 16, 2005

I guess it depends on how often you do it, you probably won't see any major problems in the short term, but in the long run who knows.

MrElussive · May 16, 2005

I don't think you will have any problems for the life of the car. You may see some problems after 100,000 miles, but all new cars' lives are based on a 100,000 mile value anyways. It is more important to follow the break-in procedure for everything else, such as the gears, tires, brakes, and suspension. Moden-day 4-stroke engines do not really need a break-in period as they spin your engine to redline from the factory anyways.

Don't baby the car, drive it normally, but follow what the manual says. If you are still in the break-in period, you should try to follow the rules regardless of how you have been driving up to this point.

Kirby · May 16, 2005

Chesty Bonds said:

Unless it is a rental car!!! [rofl]

Average Jae · May 16, 2005

deutsch100 said:

geesh.. well so much for comfort eh gr8ful? no need to cry over spilt water now. just ease up until the 1200 mi oil change. get all the metal shavings and such out of the system. and then go back to your ripping ways, or whatever you like to do w/ your m.

if you were doing what you were doing, not only the engine, but the tranny could've taken a hit, esp at low miles. altho i can't say for sure, most parts are well tested, and should last a long time, even with abuse. that said, knock on wood. btw, congrats on the purchase. graduation gifts get nicer by the year huh?

Gr8ful · May 16, 2005

Well I just really hope I didn't ruin anything.. I'm taking it real easy now. I'm kind of upset that the dealer didn't tell me to be more careful. I called a couple dealerships near by and they all said it should be fine, but one dealership said I should bring it in and have them inspect it to make sure everything checks out. Is it worth it to take it in and have it looked at just incase? This is starting to stress me out.. will they even be able to tell if there is any damage? Thanks a lot for the info everyone.. M's are crazy!! I love my car so far..just getting paranoid that I did damage to it, I want it to last a looong time.. 200k+ miles.. thanks again.

MrElussive · May 16, 2005

Aw come on, you guys are scaring him. Maybe there is the 1,200 mile break-in period but the car will be absolutely fine. I mean seriously, you think he's the first guy to whip his M3 from day one? You think BMW will sell brand-new M cars just assuming everybody will follow the break-in period?

All this break-in period stuff really applies to older cars....nowadays everybody whips their cars from day one and such....cars barely care.

Gr8ful · May 16, 2005

Thanks a lot MrElussive..makes me feel a lot better at least..some good points too. I guess I'll just take it easy and get the service done..if there's any significant damage I'm sure they'll find it at the service..I'll make sure and ask them how the break-in went.. thanks again!!

Wadula · May 17, 2005

i think that this "once in a while" will not ruin anything. actually, engines are, more or less, broken in when they get in a car. the mill runs tests on them an believe me these tests are all but carefull.

still, breaking it in is a must but not deadly if you exaggerate once in a while. jsut be patient for a few more miles and you´ll be fine. take her to the freeway and cruise cruise cruise. change speeds now and then, shift her a little, punch her sometimes but not red line.....drive her sporty and she will be gr8ful, too [hihi]

bmw555 · May 17, 2005

Gr8ful said:

lol, this forum is fun! Dude, you are driving yourself nuts over nothing! Stop calling those freaken dealers and just drive it. M3 is made to be driven hard, if you push it once in a while during break-in then IT'S TOTALY FINE! In old times they used to put special limiter on the fuel line for some cars so engine could not be reved too high during break-in, those times are gone.

///M SPEED · May 17, 2005

I would always follow the recommendations set forth in the manual. There is a reason BMW places these guidelines on their cars (who knows their engines better than the ones who build them). I don't think it will out-right hurt the car, but in the long run is where it could rear its ugly head. It is always better safe than sorry....

Montana · May 27, 2005

Back when I bought the first Z3 in '96, I toured the South Carolina plant and on the assembly line, they start the cars up for the FIRST time and run the cars right up to 120mph on a dyno. Then they finish it on the line and take it out to the track for a lap or 2. They told me that break in in not needed anymore because the parts are so exactly manufactured....kinda like you don't need to change oil every 3k miles because oils are so much better than they used too.

I suppose a break in period certainly can't hurt but I doubt it matters too much, but then again, I'm no expert.

Chesty Bonds · May 30, 2005

Kirby said:

Hahaha so true! [hah]

Average Jae · May 31, 2005

i really wonder how "new" a new car is. parts have to pass certain amount of testing and such. i think most of us, including myself "baby" our cars too much. but until you really know, that's how you should be.

not like you are a 16 year old w/ a trustfund ya know?

epj3 · May 31, 2005

If you did anything serious, most likely you won't own the car if it surfaces. A lot of us drive our old and new bmw's like we stole it.... doubt much bad happened/

tool fan · May 31, 2005

I thought "break in" periods were more for trannies than engines?????

mc909321 · Jun 10, 2005

I was abiding by the rules until a 'stang GT pulled up next to me and looked over at a light. Plus my wife was in the car, yelling in my ear to turn down the music.

So at first I wasn't going to race him, and I let him peel off before me. Then I couldn't help it followed him.

I stuck to the below 4K rmp, (quick shifting), my car didn't peel out in second (like my SC300 used to), but I took him when he chickened out and slowed down at around 90. I was flooring it hard, in each gear.

The engine started to make that weird chemical smell, but that's when I now I worked her right. How can you get a new M3 and not try it out.

Does the post 1200 mile tune-up upgrade the performance?

2005 M3 break-in

Gr8ful

Member

Chesty Bonds

2

deutsch100

2

Tom

1

MrElussive

2

Kirby

2

Average Jae

2

Gr8ful

Member

MrElussive

2

Gr8ful

Member

Wadula

1

bmw555

2

///M SPEED

2

Montana

2

Chesty Bonds

2

Average Jae

2

epj3

Senior Member

tool fan

2

mc909321

Member