[Xplosiv166]

Hi,

I am picking my car up tomorrow

What is the best way to run in the engine? or is this already done at the factory?

I have read a few post on breaking-in / running in the piston rings, does this apply to a diesel? (i have a F30 330D auto)

and how do you do the run-in with a auto box?

i am planning on taking the county route back from the garage will will involve lot's of stopping and accelerating to 60.

Should i bother adding a full tank of Shell Nitro?

NOTE: This will be my first ever new car

Thanks,

[dopper99]

The handbook says run it in for the first 1200 miles. Just dont over rev it, I think it says the max revs in the handbook for both petrol and diesel.

[TonyS]

For the first 1200 miles or whatever the handbook now says, don't use full throttle too much (difficult!), over-rev it beyond the handbook recommendation, or let it labour in too high a gear. Lots of variation in engine revs and gears - avoid long periods of constant speed on motorways, for example. Also remember that brakes and tyres need some bedding in too, so be kind to them as well as to the engine and powertrain.

Other than that, just enjoy

[nordberg]

Surely if you let the gearbox do the work, you can't over-rev an auto?

[F30Andy]

Take it from someone that has run in literally dozens of new cars that you don't want to do a hard break in. Just do it by the book.

Also no kickdowns, no sport mode on the gearbox, no launches, just stick to eco pro or comfort.
They day you have run in and finally chuck everything in sport will be a day that your face will hurt from smiling so much.

[TonyS]

Originally Posted by nordberg

Surely if you let the gearbox do the work, you can't over-rev an auto?

Yes, that's a good point. My other points hold true though.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Xplosiv166

Hi,

I am picking my car up tomorrow

What is the best way to run in the engine? or is this already done at the factory?

I have read a few post on breaking-in / running in the piston rings, does this apply to a diesel? (i have a F30 330D auto)

and how do you do the run-in with a auto box?

i am planning on taking the county route back from the garage will will involve lot's of stopping and accelerating to 60.

Should i bother adding a full tank of Shell Nitro?

NOTE: This will be my first ever new car

Thanks,

Diesel? Don't go over 5,500rpm

[ll71]

Agree with Andy. Smooth run in, I normally do 2000 miles. Keep it in the right gear, I would suggest comfort, ECO can lug occasionally, but fine on the motorway. Stick to A/B roads, don't go out and drive 4 hours brand new on the motorway is my main bit of advice. Vary the loads and speeds. Give it enough throttle on uphill sections in the right gear, this helps bed in the rings. Don't exceed 80 for extended periods. Nothing wrong with the odd burst of acceleration keep it below 4000 odd rpm most of the time.

I've spent the last couple of days giving mine a bit more stick now it's run in, and it's noticeable how the engine is freeing up, economy is also improving. Up from 47 mpg average to a bit over 50. Well over 64 when cruising.

None of this stuff matter more than the number one rule, don't rev it hard when it's cold. Wait until you see c. 70 deg on the oil temp. In fact I wait until it's properly warm at c. 100. Call me an old lady.

[Xplosiv166]

is it a good idea to drive the car like a pensioner (like i plan on doing) or will this mean the engine will not be run in correctly.

Do i need to make sure i load the engine enough during the first 40 miles?

I was planning on placing it into ECO-Pro and only accelerating very slowly etc for the first 2,000 miles. (meaning i would not be going over 2,000 rpm)

[Bens3T]

I understand re. Brakes and Tyres but do you really have to run in a modern engine these days? What difference will it make it you don't?

[nordberg]

I don't think it makes a great deal of difference to be honest.

I will take it steady but I won't be shy of kick down or a bit of rapid acceleration.....

[ll71]

I'd suggest not doing that. Just drive it normally, just avoid hard acceleration, lugging the engine on uphill sections, don't over rev it, which you'll struggle to do in comfort. You'll be fine with a self imposed rev limit of 4k, but I wouldn't go much higher than that except for brief spurts. Avoid kicking down the auto box. As someone else said, you'll struggle to over rev it anyway, just be sensible. Don't pic it up and get straight on the motorway, that's my main bit of advice. Vary the trip and loads.

[TonyS]

Originally Posted by Xplosiv166

is it a good idea to drive the car like a pensioner (like i plan on doing) or will this mean the engine will not be run in correctly.

Do i need to make sure i load the engine enough during the first 40 miles?

I was planning on placing it into ECO-Pro and only accelerating very slowly etc for the first 2,000 miles. (meaning i would not be going over 2,000 rpm)

No, that's just what you don't want to do or things won't bed in correctly. Put it under reasonable load and keep it varied. Avoid the extremes of long periods of very light or heavy loads. Don't stress out over it, just drive it "sensibly" and enjoy it. It's all too easy to be in a constant state of worry over whether you're "doing it right" rather than enjoying your new car.

[nordberg]

I don't really understand the motorway bit... How can an engine be more susceptible to damage at a relatively constant speed than it is at a varied speed?

[ll71]

It's about the piston rings bedding in, you can develop a glaze on the cylinder walls if an engine is run at a constant speed early in it's life. With a varied speed and load, it helps the rings to bed in. It's also important to raise the temperature of the engine slowy (at all times) but especially when it's new.

[TonyS]

Originally Posted by Bens3T

I understand re. Brakes and Tyres but do you really have to run in a modern engine these days? What difference will it make it you don't?

None probably, in the short term. Long term, potentially quite a lot. No guarantees of course that things will go wrong, just like you can smoke 40 a day and live until you're 95 if you're lucky - doesn't mean it's a good idea though.

Also. why would BMW put it in the manual if it wasn't recommended?

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Xplosiv166

is it a good idea to drive the car like a pensioner (like i plan on doing) or will this mean the engine will not be run in correctly.

Do i need to make sure i load the engine enough during the first 40 miles?

I was planning on placing it into ECO-Pro and only accelerating very slowly etc for the first 2,000 miles. (meaning i would not be going over 2,000 rpm)

Believe it or not, driving older engines like a pensioner used to do more harm than good. A coke ridge would form where it wouldn't in an 'occasionally revved' engine, blunting performance. Not as big a problem on modern engines, but neither is babying the thing.

At the end of the day, do what YOU feel comfortable with. You probably won't own the car long enough to know whether you ran it in badly or not.

[Bens3T]

I'm just going to take it easy for the first 500 miles so the brakes and tyre are bedded in and then gradually pick up the pace..

Is it me or do Hire Cars that have no running in seem quicker!

[Pablo68]

Drive it normally... Drive to work, do shopping, visit relatives, whatever, you don't have to nanny it just don't track it or such. You will give it all the breaking in it needs (including varying revs)

The odd bit of quicker than normal acceleration once the engine etc has warmed up won't hurt it.

But I mean seriously how often do you really red line a car day day?

My father worked his entire life in the motor trade as an engineer and he had several new cars a year to "test" and he always maintained the best way to produce a well bedded drive train that ran optimally and would give good life and performance was to be brisk but not harsh with it in the initial miles.

Edited to say: I just went and read my handbook and it says in the running page "In general" don't over rev etc. Which implies as I have said....giving it the odd bootfull once warm won't harm it just don't drive around bouncing it off the rev limiter.

However you will need to allow some miles (300ish) for brakes, clutch, tyres etc to bed in too before they perform optimally.

[Tengocity]

I think surely not driving like twat or taking things to the edge of the their performance levels is sufficient! You shouldn't rev too hard until the engine and oil is warmed up, irrespective of whether you're running the car in or not.

I will be reasonable disciplined for a while as intend to keep the car long enough such that I may benefit, but so many just keep their cars for 3 years, which is unlikely to be long enough for any issues to come out related to running it in (as NISFAN already said), and warranty would cover it anyway.

Other than that just enjoy!

[F30AM]

I drove mine normally and did not worry about runnung it in. I did not thrash it but then I never thrash engines. Anyway, I won't be keeping it for very long, so if anything goes wrong it won't be when I am the owner.

[RichardJ]

I found this from Honest John helpful when running in my 330d

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/running-in-a-diesel/