This will be my second MINI. I autoXed my old MINI - an R53 - for a couple years and now I have this second gen on the way.

How much break-in should be done before I take it out on the course? Our group typically sets up very fast, very aggressive courses.

 

I'm curious about this too... Is the manual's break-in period a suggestion? Or does it need to be followed to the 'T'?

 

Hey minimini ~ guess we have to wait a little bit for an answer, eh? haha

What does the manual say is the break-in period - I forget! It's been 6 years since I've had a new one!

 

I waited for 500 miles. The engine comes from the factory already broken in, you just need to get the brakes and suspension broken in.

 

Seriously? Wow! That is great news!

 

This is gonna be real tough to control myself for 500-1000 miles.

 

HAHAHAHA! What class does a JCW run in? Hey, I figure - I'll go for some long spirited drives. Hopefully Snape will be ready for his first autoX in July!

 

They don't come from the factory broken in. So give yourself about 1500 miles of break in.

As for a JCW, it will be in C-Stock, with RX-8's and high end MX-5. The RX-8's eat the JCW's alive. Believe me, I know.

 

The engines come from Peugot already broken in. Peugot, like many other companies, briefly run the engines in the factory with a heavy "traditional" oil to let them get a wear pattern while still being protected. An engine cannot do that with full synthetic, it's too slick. They are then installed at Mini and filled with a medium-weight Castrol full synthetic. Yes, they ARE broken-in before they are installed.

 

This might be true if the MINI engines were assembled by Peugot. My understanding is that the raw blocks are shipped to England where they are assembled in a BMW/MINI factory.

Heck, it is only 1200 - 1500 miles. What is that when you are looking at keeping it for 100,000 or more miles of happy motoring.