OK..the time is finally here!!! I was driving by the dealer last week and spotted my MCS IB/W with all 3 packages, the Harmon Kardon, and the Lapis Blue leather. I left a deposit on the car and went off to sell mine...I am picking her up tomorrow! I just want to get a quick refresher course. What is the proper way to break in the S? Can't wait to start motoring. Two years of waiting for the right opportunity to have the funds and the right car at hand are finally about to pay off!
-Justin

 

You'll find all kinds of stuff by doing a search ("break", "breakin", "break-in", etc.).

Have fun!

 

The MC and the MCS are pretty much the same. 1250 miles. Less than 4500 RPM, no WOT (wide open throttle), and no more than 95 mph.

You'll probably garner more using the search function like 911fan said. Probably a few posts about how the break in period just all out sucks. Even on the plain ol' MC.

 

Ya do a search for any of those and I bet you get about 700 responses and none will anything what so ever to do with actual tips regarding break in.

I personally do not believe in the strict recommendations the manufacturer provides. They will tell you to keep it under 4500 rpms untill you hit 1200 miles. I did that to an extent but did not shy away from the occasional bump up to around 6000. The key is too vary your rpm and not let the engine run at the same rpm for any significant period of them.

You will discover many different philosphies and I tend to agree that the car should get a taste of what is to come sooner rather than later. I never intended to baby my MCS so I did not shift every time at 4300 rpms.

some say 'drive it like you stole it' or at least they used to. but I intend to keep my MCS for a long long time so I did not drive it like I stole it cuz I paid about $26000 for it.

note- At no point prior to this post was I made aware of my Miranda rights so anything I say can not be used against me in a court of law or an attempt to void my warranty or anyother rights I have whether I am aware of those rights or not.

 

One more thing...


CONGRATULATIONS!

 

Awesome! Thanks guys! That is going to be the longest 1250 miles I have ever driven.
-Justin

 

My personal conspiracy theory is that the conservative break in procedure saves BMW/MINI money on warranty replacement of defective engines and transmissions. If they can get you to go easy on a faulty engine, it is likely that it will cost BMW/MINI less to fix it and less likely they will have to replace an entire engine.

 

FWIW, change the oil and filter sometime during the break in period.

 

Within the first 30 miles, I broke all the rules!!
120+mph
redlined
and smiled all the way home....

 

this isn't a follow up question on the procedure itself, but a question as to why there's the break in at all.

Both Saab and Honda led me to believe that modern engineering tolerances have improved to the point where this is no longer necessary for their vehicles.

is this a tacit admission by BMW/Mini that they're a bit behind on this?

 

>>Awesome! Thanks guys! That is going to be the longest 1250 miles I have ever driven.
>>-Justin

Good luck and have fun Justin. I thought the first 1200 or so miles would never pass but after getting Greta the JCW kit, the second 1200 mile break-in seem like it will never pass.

Only a 200 more miles to go. Gotta get motoring

 

Congrats.
:smile: :smile: :smile:
All the info is in the manual

 

Best break in hint ever.......warm it up, drop the hammer.

 

i actually took my 04' CR/W MCS to the dealer to address a squeaky clutch and had one of the techies take it out for a spin. i only had about 900 miles on it and he pulled out and went WOT as i'm in passenger seat screaming "no, no, no!" according to him, by the time you get home from the dealership your already 90% broken in. i still tried to abide by the 4500/95 rule tho.