Run-in procedure

[Ricky318i]

Hi Everyone

Did you buy your BMW new? Did the dealership prescribe a run-in procedure?

As some of you might have read in the other thread i started: I had my engine replaced at 109 500km for sleeve damage.

How did you drive-in your new car's engine? If you even bothered to do so..

 

[Sankekur]

If I am not mistaken it is something like keeping the revs below 3 or 4000 or something like that.


Edit: It says this in my car's owners handbook:

The first 1,250 miles/2,000 km:
Attempt to constantly vary both vehicle and engine speeds during these initial miles while remembering to avoid engine speeds in excess of 4,500 rpm and/or vehicle speeds of over 100 mph / 160 km/h: Always obey all official speed limits. Refrain from using full throttle and avoid pressing the accelerator beyond the kickdown point. You can then proceed to increase both engine and vehicle speeds once the initial 1,250 miles/2,000 km have elapsed. Please remember to observe these same break-in procedures if either the engine or the differential should have to be replaced later in the course of the vehicle's service life later on.

 

[zaleonardz]

Now I am lead to believe that engines from BMW out the factor have already been run in on a bench. And there is no need to run them in.

I dont know how true it is, but the reseach I have done for the bird lead us to keep her below 3,000 for the first 1,000. So far we have done 600

 

[Swiegie]

When I drive a brand new car, I usually keep the revs below 3500RPM and only use PART throttle.

After about 1000km, I will start to give the engine some stick for short bursts. When there is 2500km on the clock, then drive it like you stole it!!

Most important to me is to drive the car for at least 10km or 10mins when cold before giving it stick!!!

 

[Jandre]

Also, don't let the engine labour too hard at low revs. Basically going up a hill in 5th gear with the rpm sitting at 1500 and your foot on the floor, is not a good idea.

Rather reduce your speed and slowly gear down to 4, or even 3 if needed. Without over revving it again.

 

[zaleonardz]

I never got the end of your engine troubles with BMW. If you received a brand new box motor from BMW, its should be run in already.

I will not state my life on it though...

 

[Philip Foglar]

Mine was used, so hopefully the previous owner treated it well. As cliché’s go, but apparently was the case, the previous owner of my car was an older woman, so I reckon it was treated sensibly from the beginning. Then again, I think it did a fair amount of town and stop/start traffic based on the mileage and the impression I got regarding where she worked and lived...

I firmly believe in treating any new vehicle gently from new and gradually allowing the various components to wear in. Also while not under or over revving it is important to never stick to constant speeds when cruising - rather accelerate gently and then slow down again etc. The reason being, you don't want constant speed vibration wear to develop.

Ultimately though, I reckon these days it's probably less of an issue compared with older manufacturing techniques. Plus, do you really think that your sparkling brand new car has not experienced some form of abuse before being handed over to you?!?! Remember that 1M clip from a few weeks ago...

 

[rick540]

It's not particulalry rev related, labouring and full throttle with a new engine is what kills it. Both of these create extreme pressures and heat.

Just drive it light to medium throttle in different gears, different revs, if you get a big hill, choose a lower gear and higher revs and never labour it.

Though with modern oil technology and the much thinner oils as well as finer machining tolerances we use these days, you can probably drive a new engine how you please and it won't make a diference at all to it's life.

 

[Ricky318i]

Thanks guys.

Next question: did your fuel consumption get better with time?

 

[Philip Foglar]

I would think as a new "stiffer" engine loosens up (less internal friction) the economy and performance should improve. But again, we are talking about newer engine manufacturing technologies compared to older engine, so may not be as much of a difference.

The only recent experience that I can share regarding this, our bakkie was as dead as a dodo up until 15k km, but now with over 30k km on the clock she has livened up quite a bit, economy being a diesel is fairly constant, but I would say is better overall to a small degree. Obviously this is a tractor compared to BMW engines...

 

[drugekull]

BMW engines are run in at the factory this is confirmed when you do the first oil change at 25000 km's when you buy the car

In the old days they were not and the first oil change was at 1000km's

That being said you need to run in all the drive gear though
Gearbox Diffs Drive shafts and so on

In the owners manual it says no reving past 5000 rpm on a petrol engine and 4000 rpm on a Deisel engine for the first 2000km

Your engine failing at 109000km's is more than likly due to an overheat or a oil pressure loss some time in its life

 

[Ricky318i]

BMW engines are run in at the factory this is confirmed when you do the first oil change at 25000 km's when you buy the car

In the old days they were not and the first oil change was at 1000km's

That being said you need to run in all the drive gear though
Gearbox Diffs Drive shafts and so on

In the owners manual it says no reving past 5000 rpm on a petrol engine and 4000 rpm on a Deisel engine for the first 2000km

Your engine failing at 109000km's is more than likly due to an overheat or a oil pressure loss some time in its life

That was not the case.

 

[drugekull]

What type of damage was done to the sleeves?

Were they worn out was there play on the pistons were the rings worn out?

109000km seems very little for this type of damage to occur

 

[Ricky318i]

Scratches and score marks on sleeves led to poor compression and leakage.

Question: did anyone's fuel consumption decrease noticeably after their first 2000km's?

 

[Chucky]

Had a e90 from new and yes fuel consumption and oil consumption did improve over time and it feels more responsive in mid range also, compared to when it was new.

 

[Diablo Jnr]

BMW engines are run in at the factory this is confirmed when you do the first oil change at 25000 km's when you buy the car

In the old days they were not and the first oil change was at 1000km's

That being said you need to run in all the drive gear though
Gearbox Diffs Drive shafts and so on

In the owners manual it says no reving past 5000 rpm on a petrol engine and 4000 rpm on a Deisel engine for the first 2000km

Your engine failing at 109000km's is more than likly due to an overheat or a oil pressure loss some time in its life

was told the same thing when I picked up my car after the engine was replaced

 

[Epoc]

I was told ... do not rev over 3000 / 4000 or drive hard for the first 5000 km, when my block was replaced (piston, rings etc) at Forsdicks.

Also there is no need for oil change until next scheduled service or the need to "re-torque" the head.

But I did get a certificate to prove change of engine # which I now need to get changed at Langlaagte station.

 

[Ricky318i]

I was told ... do not rev over 3000 / 4000 or drive hard for the first 5000 km, when my block was replaced (piston, rings etc) at Forsdicks.

Also there is no need for oil change until next scheduled service or the need to "re-torque" the head.

But I did get a certificate to prove change of engine # which I now need to get changed at Langlaagte station.

Thanks, my point is that they never told me that and never really showed an interest in me as a customer or the 'post-repair' procedures.

I also got the letter and the engine clearance was done, but the changing o vehicle details at the traffic department, i still need to do.

 

[drugekull]

The run in Procedure for an engine overhaul is different to when you buy a new car

The new car engines are built at the factory and run in there but an engine overhaul is brand new and I would think it would need to be run in properly for at least 5000 km's

I don't know how they can say you dont have to change the oil though I would do it anyway since it will be your problem if something breaks later on

Do they know what caused the scratching on the sleaves very strange that

Was this on your e90 323?

 

[zaleonardz]

But did they replace the complete sub assembly or just re-engineer it ?