Who's Breaking In their Countryman?
 

OK, I couldn't resist starting this thread even though my Countryman is in the middle of the Atlantic.

So I'm looking at the Countryman manual and it is showing 1,200 miles for engine break-in period where you need to beep it under 4500 rpm and 100 mph. I only work 2 miles from home so with my 03, I finally had to take a last minute road trip to Seattle for Krispy Kreme to get the last hundred or so miles on.

Now we have Krispy Kreme in Portland so perhaps this will have to be a trip to In-N-Out Burger:nod: in California or something?

Where did you get the manual? Wow 1200, more than I thought, but a little over a week for me :)

You can download them from the Owner's Lounge now assuming you've logged in and have your Countryman VIN in there.

Cool, Thanks!

I guess I'll be running lots and lots of errands!
Isn't there something about not going into sport mode during the break in?

Actually, as long as you've got an active Owner's Lounge account the manuals are available for all years and models.

I would say two runs to In-N-Out should do it, that 1200 goes by quickly.

I may have to borrow the wife's Countryman a few times or it will not be broken in until our planned June trip. :sly:

Only 15-18 miles a day to and from the office. :roll:

Maybe a winter jaunt to TN/NC for some Dragon time. :nod:

We are taking the countryman and driving to South Carolina to visit my husband's family during Christmas.

This is going to be my hardest 1200 miles ever.

I asked before leaving the dealership and the sales manager said 1500 miles under 4500 rpm. The manual, page 96, does say 1200 miles with full throttle and auto transmission kick downs to be avoided.
It is not too hard to comply, the car pulls really well up to my imposed 4000 limit. You get the 'back in the seat' push from the turbo well before 4000 so I do not feel I am missing anything now.
I noticed that the RPM's are a bit lower at highway speeds (70) then in my '02 S, both 6 speeds, about 3000 in the '02, 2700 in the '11. I have not compared gear ratio's.
Anyway, the 1200 miles will go by quickly then Game On!:lol:

OK, had the Countryman for almost a month and just broke 1200 miles. Didn't help being gone for a week each for Macworld and CES. Got about half of it in a trip to Seattle.

So how about you all? Broken in yet?

1100 miles to go. Work is 1.7 miles one way so don't feel sorry for me. I've motored on the weekends a bit, but will probably be March before I get to 1200.

Picked up a week ago and have 500 miles on him. I am having so much fun with the snappy handling compared to my Touareg that it isn't such a big deal to wait another couple of weeks to peg that tach. We have roundabouts all over our little town and my wife grabs the "oh Jesus" handle knowing that I am going to fly around them.

so far 29 miles, sitting in driveway for the past 4 days, due to snow ice etc. I wont drive him for a while due to NYC pot_holes. I do start him up every day for about 15-30 min

So what happens if someone doesn't keep it under 4.5k rpm for the first 1200 miles? When my wife drives the CM, once we get it this month, I doubt she will pay attention to anything.

Well I am at 1600 miles today. I drive 45 mi round trip to work so it did not take me long. I picked it up on 1/8/11, so I am not even a month of having it.

A little disappointed at gas mileage. Getting about 26.6 MPG. MY 07MCS got signifigantly higher MPG even after the turbo was replaced. :eek:

200 more to go......it took a little bit to keep it under a 100, it just wants to fly. I know the manual doesn't say to, but is anyone changing oil after the break in period?

Considering all the winter weather we've had here since the Countryman arrived and the fact that the car it replaces was drivem less than 5K miles per year, it may be a long time before we exceed 1200 miles.

We are 900+ on the CM, we drive in a spirited manner with the CM so the avg mpg is under 25. :wink:

After the first 500, I kinda forget that the recommended is 1200 miles. I am of the philosophy to break in your new car like you will drive it.

Once or twice (or more) over the rev. limit will not hurt, it is more important to keep the revs. varied and not put a heavy load on the engine (don't pull a trailer or leave it in cruise for hours), during break-in.

As for oil changes, I plan on dumping the break-in oil at about 2K or 2500, we shall see. Then 7K intervals after.

I will pay for the mid-cylce oil changes, the Turbo is sensitive to thick or bad oil and low oil levels on the Prince engine.

Drive it, rev. it and enjoy. :)

Don

We are at 3987 miles as of today. I just love driving this car. With the amount of snow and ice today I was really glad in driving the CM instead of the R52.

And now your ready for the first customer paid oil change. :)

Make your CM happy and go for 7500 on the next one or to the freebee change, if it comes up first.

I'm personally changing the oil in my wifes with Royal Purple once it reaches the 2-2.5k. I really don't want MINI changing the oil because I refuse to have Castrol in the car since it is not a TRUE 100% synthetic.

At the dealership they told me just to drive it normally, not high revs,but to leave the car running about a minute before turning off to let the turbo to cool down a bit to have a longer turbo life!!! I will break it till 1500 Kilometers and avoid high revs!!!!

Finished break in last weekend and wound it up. With the All4 I didn't chirp, but, it does get going quickly. Maybe not as fast as the R56 I had, but, I'm happy. Does ok on corners too.

Monday I'll let you know how it likes the Galveston Island beaches.

Bill

I would be breaking in moi CM but I am stuck here trying to make money to pay for it. Such a shame, esp when it is great outside.