[JOHNBMWM5]

OK I know this is a bone of contention but who does what in the first 1200 miles?.

What was the Oil consumption afterwards?.

[BMWRyan]

I'm going to ride like the wind bullseye!!!

[SomeRandomer123]

Followed the manual, but I don't drive aggressively often. That said, touched 100mph a couple times and 5-6k on occasion (mostly around 500-800miles). I didn't feel the engine and transmission were fully broken in until 6000ish miles as the changes became somehow even more imperceptible and the engine was more free-revving and eager to go.

25,500mls now and it's only used a little bit of oil (less than 1/4), which I'm just going to let service sort out on the 24th of this month.

Hasn't used any oil previously. My E90 LCI 330d took a 1L refil after 1200mls.

[Alkidrew]

To paraphrase James may, "drive it like a stabbed rat"

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

OK I know this is a bone of contention but who does what in the first 1200 miles?.

What was the Oil consumption afterwards?.

I'm confused. Do you mean breaking-in or braking whilst in the car which is not unusual.

If it's the former, I drive it like a mildly demented granny (not too fast), don't rev it like a frustrated F1 driver, apply the brakes as gently as possible like a whore on her night off so that they bed-in and don't squeak, look after the tyres by not cornering like NISFAN () and generally respect the car as if it was a treasured virgin. Only up to 1200 miles. Then I let rip and how.

Oh, BMW checked my oil level last week (I'm that lazy) and it has not used any. I've only done 900 miles in 7 months as I've got a Freedom Pass!
But I'll be racking up the miles during the next few months.

[Captain Cow Pat]

I ran mine in as per the manual apart from the odd bit of hard accelerating once the oil was at temp.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by F30AM

I'm confused. Do you mean breaking-in or braking whilst in the car which is not unusual.

If it's the former, I drive it like a mildly demented granny (not too fast), don't rev it like a frustrated F1 driver, apply the brakes as gently as possible like a whore on her night off so that they bed-in and don't squeak, look after the tyres by not cornering like NISFAN () and generally respect the car as if it was a treasured virgin. Only up to 1200 miles. Then I let rip and how.

Oh, BMW checked my oil level last week (I'm that lazy) and it has not used any. I've only done 900 miles in 7 months as I've got a Freedom Pass!
But I'll be racking up the miles during the next few months.

Love it, yea typo not good Breaking was the meaning.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Come on NISFAN whats your way?.

[Torque of the Devil]

No running in apart from low revs until oil up to temp

[RichardM]

I drove mine pretty hard from new, as above always waiting for the oil to warm up first though.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by F30AM

I'm confused. Do you mean breaking-in or braking whilst in the car which is not unusual.

If it's the former, I drive it like a mildly demented granny (not too fast), don't rev it like a frustrated F1 driver, apply the brakes as gently as possible like a whore on her night off so that they bed-in and don't squeak, look after the tyres by not cornering like NISFAN () and generally respect the car as if it was a treasured virgin. Only up to 1200 miles. Then I let rip and how.

Oh, BMW checked my oil level last week (I'm that lazy) and it has not used any. I've only done 900 miles in 7 months as I've got a Freedom Pass!
But I'll be racking up the miles during the next few months.

Oi, you'll be starting vicious rumours.

I was going to post some driving video footage on the xDrive thread to show why AWD is not needed, but got roll eyes on a 0-xx launch in a straight line, so thought better of it.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Come on NISFAN whats your way?.

Hi John, you lucky M5 awaiting chap (not jealous at all )


One of the biggest issues with turbo charged engines is blow-by, gasses escaping through the piston rings. This phenomenon breaks up the oil layer below the rings and causes the piston skirt to scuff. More scuff more chance of blow-by and the cycle continues.

This blow-by is also linked to oil usage, on over run, oil will be sucked up into the combustion chamber - oil loss.

Therefore: A key element when breaking an engine in, is to ensure the rings bed in. Rings are designed to be pushed outwards when subject to high in cylinder pressures. A slow and easy approach means that this ring bed is delayed.

I use a method that is generally taking it easy, making sure the oil temps are fully up to normal levels, then doing some hard acceleration - decelleration runs (the decelleration is equally as important). This is done within the first 100 miles. You don't have to go to the red line doing this, 5-6k will be more than OK, as long as you are WOT and on boost.

I also have a method to condition the brakes.

As you know I broke in the M6 and it didn't use a drop of oil in the 3000miles I had it. It also had no brake squeal.

At the end of the day, you use the method that you are most comfortable with.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Hi John, you lucky M5 awaiting chap (not jealous at all )


One of the biggest issues with turbo charged engines is blow-by, gasses escaping through the piston rings. This phenomenon breaks up the oil layer below the rings and causes the piston skirt to scuff. More scuff more chance of blow-by and the cycle continues.

This blow-by is also linked to oil usage, on over run, oil will be sucked up into the combustion chamber - oil loss.

Therefore: A key element when breaking an engine in, is to ensure the rings bed in. Rings are designed to be pushed outwards when subject to high in cylinder pressures. A slow and easy approach means that this ring bed is delayed.

I use a method that is generally taking it easy, making sure the oil temps are fully up to normal levels, then doing some hard acceleration - decelleration runs (the decelleration is equally as important). This is done within the first 100 miles. You don't have to go to the red line doing this, 5-6k will be more than OK, as long as you are WOT and on boost.

I also have a method to condition the brakes.

As you know I broke in the M6 and it didn't use a drop of oil in the 3000miles I had it. It also had no brake squeal.

At the end of the day, you use the method that you are most comfortable with.

OK Gordon Nice I will be using this method, I use the deceleration through the gears a lot, this may well be whats been keeping my Oil usage to a minimum.
I warm up the oil to full temperature, then accelerate up the rev range and use the gears to drop the speed, I do this a lot.
Anyway roll on September.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

OK Gordon Nice I will be using this method, I use the deceleration through the gears a lot, this may well be whats been keeping my Oil usage to a minimum.
I warm up the oil to full temperature, then accelerate up the rev range and use the gears to drop the speed, I do this a lot.
Anyway roll on September.

On a car like an M5, I think the driver needs more breaking in than the car ......they can bite

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

On a car like an M5, I think the driver needs more breaking in than the car ......they can bite

Well thats one of the reasons I am buying one , I want the "Bite" to keep me on my toes.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Well thats one of the reasons I am buying one , I want the "Bite" to keep me on my toes.

Indeed .........that is why I am eagerly awaiting the M4, I think that is going to be an awesome car

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Indeed .........that is why I am eagerly awaiting the M4, I think that is going to be an awesome car

Test drove that AMG A45 Merc the other day.
I hate mercs but that did go well.
But the technology in those cars is rubbish.
Fit and finish was below BMW by a mile.
They state 40MPG I got 20 and it was not really hammered.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Test drove that AMG A45 Merc the other day.
I hate mercs but that did go well.
But the technology in those cars is rubbish.
Fit and finish was below BMW by a mile.
They state 40MPG I got 20 and it was not really hammered.

Oooh must give it a go

MB are good at cheating the CO2 / MPG test you'll get nowhere near the claims.

[sdb123]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

I also have a method to condition the brakes.

As you know I broke in the M6 and it didn't use a drop of oil in the 3000miles I had it. It also had no brake squeal.

Hi NISFAN, care to elaborate on the "breaking in" of the brakes?

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by sdb123

Hi NISFAN, care to elaborate on the "breaking in" of the brakes?

Here we go.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by sdb123

Hi NISFAN, care to elaborate on the "breaking in" of the brakes?

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Here we go.

Ha ha

If you google "AP racing bedding procedure" you will get a link on the full procedure. But simply you go for a series of hard braking cycles from around 60mph to 5mph, drive back up to 60 then repeat about 7 more times. By the last one the brakes will be very hot, often smoking. Then drive to bring temps back to normal before stopping. It is important NOT to stop completely as the pads on a hot disc can warp it locally.

The above deposits a layer of brake friction material on the steel discs, which improves brake force in general, but also eliminates bare steel squeal

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Test drove that AMG A45 Merc the other day.
I hate mercs but that did go well.
But the technology in those cars is rubbish.
Fit and finish was below BMW by a mile.
They state 40MPG I got 20 and it was not really hammered.

Well I also had a go in one and then went home for a crap which was more enjoyable.