[Daz_England]

What's the recommended way and timescales to run in a new car?

What are people's experiences on how the engine changes when it's run in?

Cheers

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by Daz_England

What's the recommended way and timescales to run in a new car?

What are people's experiences on how the engine changes when it's run in?

Cheers

I picked up my 330d on Thursday. I'm just driving it like I did my old car. Various driving speeds and I've giving it a bit of stick already. Cars don't need running in like they used to. Just give it a bit of respect for the first few hundred miles.

[Rich9600]

I went more or less by the guide in the manual.

1200 miles of relatively gentle normal driving less than 90 ish mph and 4000 rpm.

I stuck to comfort mode gearbox and tried to avoid kick down.

I think at one point or another I marginally exceeded all of these with a fully warm engine... Going from a 20d its hard not to. However, seasonal grip levels should reign in excesses for you.

Now knocking on for 9k the engine has loosened up, gained power and increased fuel efficiency.

Best of all it's still running in... Enjoy your new motor.

[....,,,,..,,..]

I sort of followed the run in period.

Initially, you want tyres and brakes to bed in properly.

Then you need to keep it within your limits (sensible ones) as you learn how to drive the car and interact with things like Idrive, adaptive lights etc as you drive.

The engine needs plenty variation once at temperature, drive in Eco, comfort, sport.
When you get used to the car try it with stick to the left in comfort and in sport, get used to using paddles.
Got pro media? Practice with setting it up and using diverts while on the move.

Most of all have fun and enjoy.

[335dJa]

I used full throttle regularly but kept it in manual to stop it over revving. After 500 miles started increasing the maximum revs in small increments until at 1k I gave it everything

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

I went more or less by the guide in the manual.

1200 miles of relatively gentle normal driving less than 90 ish mph and 4000 rpm.

I stuck to comfort mode gearbox and tried to avoid kick down.

I think at one point or another I marginally exceeded all of these with a fully warm engine... Going from a 20d its hard not to. However, seasonal grip levels should reign in excesses for you.

Now knocking on for 9k the engine has loosened up, gained power and increased fuel efficiency.

Best of all it's still running in... Enjoy your new motor.

Mines done nearly 18k now and i think it's still loosening up!

[SkyJawa]

Followed the manual and kept varying revs and speed

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Daz_England

...What are people's experiences on how the engine changes when it's run in?

Cheers

Having 'run-in' quite a few engines from new, I don't think there is much difference as such when an engine has simply covered run-in mileage. No magical feeling that some appear to notice. Some engines free up quickly, other engines seem to change very little over the first couple of thousand miles, while others can get better and better as the miles are added. Many a modern engine seems to need well over 10k miles to get to best performance and efficiency, some much longer. We've had vehicles in the family that have only achieved best fuel efficiency after 20k miles.

I suppose some of it depends on the tightness of the engine, (the build tolerance stack), and how an engine is actually run-in.

HighlandPete

[d4springer]

Originally Posted by Daz_England

What's the recommended way and timescales to run in a new car?

What are people's experiences on how the engine changes when it's run in?

Cheers

There's some guidance on the BMW site here, point number 10:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/footer/q-...-and-tips.html

Brakes, Tyres and Clutch apparently need running in up to 300 miles (cautious driving), Engine needs up to 1300 miles at varying speeds (guess this depends on the engine?).

After that, go for it! (legally and within safety limits of course!)

[Consett Mag]

I would not use sport mode in the 1000 miles and not do overtakes with the throttle floored with a cold engine.
I think being gentle with it is probably all you need to do.

[F30AM]

There is not enough room inside the car to run in it!

[YORKY1]

My 2012 316d sports now on a 102k miles had no kid gloves running in.....the reliability has been great and only had rear discs pads changed. Its no 330d but today's cars are all built to withstand thr performance they deliver,.....my tip drive it that's what you bought it for!

[bwrlane]

Originally Posted by F30AM

There is not enough room inside the car to run in it!

Yes, I would strongly recommend to avoid running in a 330d, especially if you have the upgraded leather.

Xdrive models excepted.

[335i nthehouse]

If I was a serial car changer always operating within warranty then no brainer - why wait for big fun

Personally - as someone who intended to keep car beyond warranty, the few weeks of gentleness in line with manual for peace of mind was worth it.

I agree to loosening though, sure my car seems louder and faster than it did a couple of months ago - up to nearly 9k miles and getting better

[batty]

I kept the engine speed within reasonable limits.
Also, I gave it regular bursts of full throttle at low revs - the theory being that it helps bed the piston rings in and prevents bore glazing. Although I think this more applies to petrol engines with lower cylinder pressure - the diesel has plenty of pressure to activate the rings anyway. But whatever it was fun to do and non-damaging.
I found that if you use sport+ in manual mode then full throttle doesn't activate kickdown (so you don't get excessive revs).
Mine's now at 14k miles and never used a drop of oil.

[IanJ]

I remember my brother getting a replacement engine in his E36 M3 with some nice running in instructions left on the passenger seat for him.

From memory it was no more than 4000 rpm for the first 1000 miles, which If I remember correctly was about 140mph ish in 6th

[RichardM]

I drove it like I stole it from day one, after waiting for the engine to warm up of course. After 30,000 miles it's driving better than ever and has never used any oil.

I have no intention of keeping it past 2 years let alone 3.

[Consett Mag]

Originally Posted by RichardM

I drove it like I stole it from day one, after waiting for the engine to warm up of course. After 30,000 miles it's driving better than ever and has never used any oil.

I have no intention of keeping it past 2 years let along 3.

That's the thing with an engine as good as these are. You can probably enjoy getting some performance from them without sending them to the knackers yard if you warm them up first.
I like the sound of my 330d. It sounds smooth as a purring kitten