I am picking up my new MCS, and immediately I need to drive the car long distance for about 400 miles. I know it is highly advised against driving the car long distance during the break in period. Aside from shifting between 4th to 6th gear, varying the speed, and keeping rpm below 4000, any other tips on how to break in the car during a long distance trip? I hope to at least break in 100 miles or so or day to day normal driving before taking the long distance trip.. any tips would be appreciated!

 

I think you have it. There is not much else you can do. I doubt that it will hurt it.

Have fun on your trip.

Pat

 

If time is not a factor, divide the trip into mix of highway & surface streets. Drive some of the "twisties" as you break-in.

 

Go to mapquest and request a map for the trip. You can request an option to avoid interstates. Find a mix of rural routes. That will also likely take you through some towns where you'll have to do stop and go. It may make a 400 mile trip significantly longer. I did a 100 mile trip when I picked my car up with 2 miles, I just got off the interstate every now and then and started from a stop.

 

I've always understood that a long trip is just a PERFECT way to run in a car. It's really gentle compared to stop-start driving. The 2 main tips repeated in handbooks are:
1. not to drive at the same speed the whole time. What I do is every 5 minutes or so step the speed up or down 5-10mph. Switching between 4th 5th & 6th probably accomplishes much the same for the engine, but you're running in the gearbox and diff too and varying the speed helps that.
2. don't rev the engine hard for the first 500-1000 miles. I kept my MINI to 3000rpm for as long as I could stand (600 miles from memory) then gradually increased my rev limit for the next 600 or so.
Otherwise, basically just be nice to your car. I restrain my driving by thinking of it as an investment in the car's future performance, and how much I'll enjoy THAT!

 

Its not going to hurt your car...on the contrary it is a great way to break in your new car. Vary RPM's and dont use cruise control, as long as you dont hold RPM's for long periods of time you will be fine. During your first couple of hundred miles do a couple of cool downs, let your car sit for 30 minutes or so. Its good for break in to have the parts heat & cool.

 

i took my 09 on a 600 mile road trip immediately after purchase 'cause I wanted to get the bulk of the break-in out of the way. All of the above suggestions are good. I took it fairly easy, never exceeded 80, never used cruise, and varied my rpms/speed. also, it's OK to let yr engine rev up to 4500-5500 every now and then, just dont leave it there.

 

don't worry, break in isn't as important as it used to be.

I'd advise to leave early and take the back roads.

get the rpm's up, then let them back down low again to "cool off" the heat generated from the friction. This happens naturally in stop and go situations. you can make it happen on the highway by slowing down, putting in 4th, then speeding back up somewhat rapidly and putting into sixth. Wash, rinse, repeat.

 

Just drive it!

Traffic anymore is such that the only place you can really run the exact same speed and RPM is accross the great plains, and even then you'll still probably vary it. Just don't set the cruise and go have fun with your new car!

 

Like he said, just get in it and drive the thing. My MA scoffed at the idea of breakin .

 

We had to drive over 1200 miles back home... made it a 2 day trip. It's all good! Have fun and enjoy!

 

Breaking in mine is a little different.. My commute is around 50 miles one way with autobahn that is mostly no speed limit.. So hard to control myself. I have taken it up to 100 a couple of times and it seems to do quite nicely but I won't exceed it yet.. intentionally.. I just hit 500 miles tonight, so I have about 7 daily commutes to go!