Greetings All,

I have been browsing this site since before I ordered my new 08 MCS and have found it to be a very valuable resource. My MCS has arrived at Baron BMW-Mini in Kansas City and I'm scheduled to pick it up tomorrow afternoon.

I did a search for break-in and came up with the following posted by: Ryephile

Here's how you break-in your R56 for excellent ring and bearing seating:
1. Start engine and let warm up for 2 minutes
2. Pull out of showroom, turn onto street, and FLOOR IT all the way to redline
3. Engine brake from redline all the way back down to about 1500 RPM
4. Accelerate lightly to cruising speed, then engine brake lightly.
5. Stop at red light.
6. Repeat 2-5 several times for 10 miles, then be less aggressive for the next 10 miles.
7. Odometer = 20 miles. Viola, your engine is about 90% broken-in.
8. Go home and change oil and filter with OEM stuff [or OEM filter and your fave full-syn oil]
9. For the next 200 miles, be nice to the clutch and brakes as they're still bedding-in.
10. Drive it to enjoy it!

Was he kidding or serious? I thought I read in other post that we are suppose to keep it under 4500 rpm and 90 mph.

I do want the car to perform at its best, and last a long time, so I have to ask you fellow MCS enthusiast, what IS the proper way to break the MCS in without voiding the warranty?

 

Dang

I did some of what that list had...but my MCA said that the break in for the car was the first 1000 miles...but didn't give me any guidelines.

I'll be curious to know what the proper procedure is...

 

Congrats on getting your new MINI!! I also purchased from Baron MINI in KS, GREAT DEALERSHIP BTW.

The owner's manual says keep it under 4500 RPM and 100 MPH. Also, no wide open throttle during that time. Other people have different ideas about how to break it in (as you've seen). Also, I've read where people have been told a certain problem was no longer covered because the violated the RPM during break-in. Whether this is true or not...who knows. I tried to hold it under 4500 RPM but slipped a few times. I didn't exceed the 100 MPH or wide open throttle (and still haven't).

 

Verbatim from page 84 of the manual:

Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to
each other. Please follow the instructions below
in order to achieve the optimal service life and
economy of operation for your vehicle.

Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.

Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do
not exceed the following:
" Gasoline engine
4500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kick-down mode.
After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually
increased.

Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full traction
potential until after an initial break-in
period. Therefore, drive cautiously during the
first 200 miles/300 km.

Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 kmto achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and rotors. Drive cautiously during this break-in
period.

Clutch
The function of the clutch reaches its optimal
level only after a distance driven of approx.
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period,
engage the clutch gently.

 

discussion here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=94541

 

I followed the seat the rings procedure as I have on all of my cars...

 

How to break in a car best is hotly debated. There are typically two schools of thought - "the Manual is the Bible" way and the "floor it" way as described below. Which way is best? Don't know, but I've personally gone with recommendations from the manual mostly.

 

I prefer the 'floor it' method. That's how I broke in my Ariel Atom engine... but on a Dyno. Warmed up to operating temp... did an oil change. Warmed it up again and threw it on the Dyno. Then I did successive dyno runs from 2000 RPM up to Redline. I gained a little HP each time. Once there were no more HP gains, the rings were seated. Engine was broke in. 6000 miles and 2000 on track road racing miles... zero problems. Zero blow by. Zero oil burning. Zero Smoke.

The owners manual is one way... but it's not the only way.

 

Its say you bought the lot ho... and that little car was pounded on. I know i was shifting almost at 6500 just to see what the little thing would do... So did i just void someone's warranty? I also heard that BMW and Volkswagen's that have launch control keep track of the times you use it.. So if you blow the tranny or harm the engine in anyway they will void the old waranty because of X amount of launches.

 

i broke my car in like that, i pulls hard to redline now with 10,000 km's on it.

And also opens up the baffles on the muffler, my car growls nicely on the stock exhaust now. get louder every month.


Also hard pulls are best, so putting the car in 5th gear at 2000 rpm and flooring it to 5k helps built lots pressure in the cylinders improving break.