I've read a bunch of threads where people pour out their opinions on different break-in methods and which is most effective but haven't seen much hard data. From what I read "following the book" vs "drive it like you stole it" are the two main break-in categories.

I've yet to find a post which revists the reliability of each person's MINI vs their break-in style. I'd love to see people post the following info:

1) Break-in style (By the book / fast and hard)
2) How many miles on your odometer today
3) Any major engine/transmission services? Which parts failed?

I know this won't be absolutely conclusive as other factors can lead to drive train components failing, but I feel it would just be one piece of the puzzle.

By the book, or at least close to it. 24,000 miles. No engine or tranny woes, no leaks, pops, snaps, or rattles. Just a real good hum.

one response i got was a question on whom to trust: the group of engineers that built the car, or a wrench monkey on the internet

What's the "by the book" procedure? Do you guys change the oil at the end of break in to dump all the metal particles out?

I pretty much went by the book...but with occasional hard spurts once the OIL was fully up to temperature. 10700+ miles and nothing other than an erroneous half power light that went away and has not come back.

Kept under 4,500 rpm and below 90 mph for the first 1,200 miles.

Around 8,000 miles, IIRC.

No.

I don't think the R56 has been around long enough to see much more than mfg. defects showing up. What you really need is to do compression checks, and other diagnostics to see how break-in affected the engine.

I assume the "book" is the owner's manual. It says, "Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do not exceed the following: 4,500/min or 100 mph/160 km/h
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the transmission's kick-down mode."

The "book" recommendation from MINI is to not change the oil until somewhere around 15,000 to 20,000+ miles -- depending on what the OBC computer recommends. I changed my oil at about 1,500 miles, and again at 6,856 miles. Oil analysis indicated that I should do subsequent changes about every 8,000 miles. This is using the MINI branded synthetic oil.

by the book with an oil change at 2k miles...

no issue here cept my scoop is melting,again (totally unrelated)

how much oil does the engine burn between oil changes, and does the OBC notify you if your need to top the car off with some more oil when its runnign low?

By the book- Varied RPMs and kept them below 4,000, below 80mph, gradually increased my allowable peak RPM after 1,300 miles.

39,000

I do have a rattle at cold start, it's been in for warranty service once which quieted it for a few days, but it's since returned and will be going back. No other drivetrain problems, but I do get the non-opening sunroof on days over about 85°F.

I burned about half a quart total over the entire first 18,000 miles, almost all of that during the initial break-in period.

I was wondering this myself today. I just hit 500 miles and was wondering when I should change the oil. What kind of oil does the Mini take?

What is transmission kick-down mode? Is this auto-tran specific?

thats pretty impressive and good to know.

Break in procedure is as over-rated as the 5000mile oil change interval.

1. By the book.Once 1,200 miles reached I put my foot to the floor,VROOM !!

2. Currently about 5900 miles.

3. None.

4. Oil/filter changed at 5070 miles.

What is over-rated? Please explain.

I got over zealous tonight in Sport Mode and hit 5000rpm faster then I was ready for just a hair of a second... 570 miles on the clock and I don't feel like it will do any harm. Anyways, I have been following my book, but it said nothing about varying the speed, or flooring the accelerator. Just keep it below 4500RPM and 90MPH. I could scan it if need be...

I DO intend to change the oil at 1200 miles...

+1. I find it insanely ironic that the same people who claim to "trust the book" on break-in, subsequently DON'T trust the book on oil changes. Why trust MINI on break-in but not on oil changes? It only needs an oil change once a year or 15,000 miles. I have had 3 BMWs on this plan for the last several years.

I personally think the break-in thing is only to cover themselves in case something DOES happen. It still isn't a hard and fast law. You never signed anything saying you would follow it, so they can't deny your warranty claims. It is "suggested." It's kind of like "suggesting" you take it easy after surgery. They don't think you should wind out every gear every day right when you get it.

1.) by the book-ish. slipped up to 5k once or twice, stayed under 90 100 mph for the first 1200 miles. i have been down-shifting while approaching lights / traffic. hoping to do the oil change this weekend (within the first 2000 miles). better safe than sorry, right?

2.) only around 1300 miles right now.

3.) only issue is a sunroof that won't open when it's hot, but nothing engine / transmission related.

Only 1000 miles, but no errors as of yet. Under 80 and 5k rpms, and I'm good to go!

33.5mpg average thus far on my 2008 MCS. Thumbs up!

I test drove a G37 about a month ago, the sales person drove it off the lot and then floors the gas pedal, the car reaches 100 mph and then he slams the brakes locking them up, comes to a standstill and then floors it again only to slam the brakes again so we can swap places... I'm like, ok, I'm not buying this car or any other car this guy has driven! I'm following my break-in by the book, 600 miles so far...

Follow MINI Owners Manual, but AVOID Driving for Fuel Economy for the first 1200 miles.

Other than High Heat, it would be most important to avoid gradual acceleration and steady cruising speed (or any prolonged idling).

"Drive it like you stole it" would be way over the top, but frequent High Torque (Not High RPM) acceleration from 3,000 to 4,000 and then close throttle back to 3,000 would best assure proper Ring Seating.

I am approaching my 1200 mile point and have my MINI Brand Oil and Filter for an 'early' change, no oil analysis planed, but you can smell fuel contamination from pre-seating of rings.

You're comparing apples and oranges. MINI's break-in recommendation is in line with every other manufacturer's recommendations whether they recommend a 7,500 or even 3,000 mile oil change interval. Mini's service interval is designed to be as minimal (read cheap) for BMW as possible to get the motor to survive until the standard warranty runs out. That goes hand in hand with the outrageous extended warranty prices which are about 3 times that of any other car or truck I've owned. I have not seen 1 single oil analysis from a MINI that even suggests the oil can go past 8,000 miles at most. 4.5 quarts just are not enough to last as long as MINI claims. It's not like a Mercedes motor that holds 9 or 10 quarts. And even Mercedes' computers don't call for oil changes longer than 10,000 miles.

In short, the break-in is a standard engineering/manufacturing recommendation while the "free maintenance" is a marketing ploy calculated on an accountants balance sheet.

-C

By the book. Oil change at 1200, then 5000. I'll have regular 5000 intervals beyond that.

No problems what so ever.

The engineers don't write the manuals.

Also, let's see some responses from the "drive it like you stole it" crowd!

Any engine today will easily last 250,000 miles no matter how it is broke in. All the alternate opinions that I have heard/read have nothing to do with longevity. Some are saying that "their" break in procedure allows the engine to perform better than if following the manufacturers recommendation. I am not advocating any procedure but this is what I have read about alternate break in procedures.

This has been written about many times on here all you need to do is search them.