I did a search and couldn't find a discussion of the 4500 rpm limit for the first 1200 or so miles.

Actually, the truth is we've only been driving our new Mini for a about a week and we finally got around to READING the owners manual to discover the limits. I'd specifically asked our dealer (Main Line Mini, formerly Don Rosens) about any break-in limits and was told "WHAT BREAK-IN?" by the salesperson "THEY SAY THERE IS NO BREAK-IN, DRIVE IT AS HARD/FAST AS YOU WANT"

Now, luckily, I still didn't believe him, but probably should have checked the manual sooner because in the first 500 miles we have occassionally exceeded 4500 rpm for short periods of time. And, we did do the ton once.

So, should we be worried?

I've read studdies before where magazines did tests on new motorcycles. Taking a half-dozen of the same model and babying half through the break-in period while FLOGGING the other half. In the end the flogged bikes performed better on the dyno, but there was no long term data to say if that affected reliability past their couple thousand mile test.

I've always followed the philosophy that certain extra caution should be taken during break-in, but the tooooo much babying won't allow the rings to seat properly and could lead to more troubles. So I always make sure a new engine warms up thoroughly, I always vary speeds and I use short periods of hard acceleration, letting the motor travel through the powerband.

What are your actual experiences and thoughts on break-in?

 

i wasnt strict at all...didnt really think about it to be honest! flogged mine 10 mins after picking it up!! hit 115mph on the way back from the dealer!! :smile:

 

I didn't flogg my MCS for the break-in period. I kept it below 4500 rpm and didn't exceed 90mph. I would vary speed while on the interstate (no cruise control) and just after break-in, at 2000 miles, I changed the oil and filter just to make sure that any minute metalic shavings that could still be in the engine were taken out. Since then, I've regularly rev'ed the hell out of my car. Take it easy for a little while then have all the fun you want.

 

112 ... what type of miles do you have on her now? Has she behaved mechanically?

How about more opinions.... how did YOU break-in your Mini?

 

shes just hit the 1500 mark and i havent had a single problem yet...apart from the burning clutch which was entirely my fault for being a prat! but yeah she is running perfect so far!!

 

I was pretty good about it....although I found myself going a little fast at times. It's not so bad....the first 1200 miles go by ALOT faster than you think.

 

any1 noticed that...like L.mini says..you go faster than you realise?? I find myself hitting 70mph in 30mph and dont even realise it! Obviously know im going too fast but dont realise im pushing 70mph!!!

 

The car is so sturdy at higher speeds that it's easy to lose track. I'm used to my old Honda that would shake at 80...and before that the Tempo that would all but explode at 50.

 

I varied the revs and load, pretty much ignored the 4,500 rpm limit and used relatively short bursts of full throttle in the lower gears (2nd, 3rd and 4th). The one thing I do avoid on a new motor is extended high speed full throttle in the higher gears (5th and 6th).

 

dude, you're fine. taking the car over 4500 a few times isn't gonna kill it during break in.
and for that matter, I've always been told and read about driving your car as hard and fast as you want, as long as the engine is warm. don't sweat it.

people would disagree i'm sure. the whole break in period conspiracy theory

 

you should be fine. i was strict about it though. i went over 4500 rpms once by accident when downshifting. you just want the engine to jell together so to speak. so just stay away from quick bursts. a guy i work with bought a mini before i did and the dealership told him to drive it like he stole it.

 

I generally stuck with the recommended break-in guidlines, however, I did rev the motor up a few times - like when passing other cars, and occasional sprints down deserted roads. In my opinion, breaking their recommened RPM limit isn't a problem, as long as it is brief. You DON'T want to rev up to redline and then set the cruise control!

I've had no problems at all, and after 10K miles, I've only had to add about 3/4 of a quart of oil - not bad, I think.

 

Still a pretty small survey.

Don't be shy people ... speak up (please). We've had more than 80 people read, but only a couple respond...

 

Keep it under 4000 maybe a few times got to it or a little over but not too hard, about 100 to 200 past I got it up to 6000. Now I push the red line alot, only problem is I can hear the gas being sucked out of my tank. :smile: but the thrill is worth in.

 

i was very strict
though i hit 90mph once in a while

it took me 5 months to reach 1200 miles

 

Oh, yes. Very very strict.

Of course that was easy because I was out of the break-in period in the morning of my second day of owning the car. (I purchased my MINI from Westchester MINI in New York and drove it back to Denver)

 

I was so happy upon taking delivery, I think I might have exceeded 4000 in the first 30 seconds. I was just having fun...but then I settled down to the break-in limits. Honestly, I'm not too wild with my car anyway, so I had plenty of thrills even during the break-in period. That was 6 months ago. I think you'll find answers here will be all over the place, as lots of folks just "went for it." It was hotly debated here on MCO at the time I got my car...but I used restraint. I'm not nuts like those other guys! (kidding)

 

At about 900 miles and still taking it pretty easy. I did launch it one time hard enough to burn out a little when a freind asked me if I wanted to race. He saw that and decided his Passat was going bakc to the garage. I am going to change ot oil at about 1000 and then we'll have some more fun.

 

I pretty much followed recommended break-in. Took it above 4500 for a few moments here and there, but generally did what I was told. Only used the cruise control enough to make sure it was working. When I changed the oil at 5000 miles it was black but appeared to have no metal in it.

 

I was strict for 1200 miles but by 1500 miles I was on the track.
In the break in the first 300 or so miles are to break in the tires, the clutch and the brakes a little.
You don't really notice much change. I did go over 4500 just a bit maybe two times- up to 4800 or 5000 by accident-wrong gear.
You won't see much wrong with the car if you don't follow the break in rules but the life of the car's engine might be affected at some point. If you are not going to the owner of the car 4 years from now then it doesn't really matter. I plan to keep mine 10+ years at least so for me I wanted to follow the rules
and be safe.
The Dealer was not so good about saying what the break in was- You have to read your manual for all the details. Normal driving is fine for the first 1200 so most people that are not flooring it are doing OK naturally. Drive like a granny for a few months-pretty hard to restrain yourself.

 

FLOG IT!!!

But flog it with care - limited bursts over 4500 and DO NOT stay at a constant speed of any kind (fast or slow) But don't baby it. But do not beat it to death.

Change the oil after 1000 to 1500 miles and after that, every 3000. :smile:

Now at 11K and she runs like a watch----a very fast watch
Woody

 

I was fairly easy on mine for the first 1200. I did go over 4500RMP/90 MPH on a few occasions tho. One thing I noticed was at almost the exact instant mine hit 1200 miles, she started running better. Almost like something finally let loose/opened up and it happened right at the 1200 mile mark (I was driving into Solvang when it happened).

That was over 16K miles ago and she is still running great!

 

I followed the guidelines during breakin. Finished the breakin period driving to my first Autocross.

Still drive pretty conservative. Save all aggression for autocross and track days.

Alan

 

With COOP 1 (MC), I didn't really pay too much attention to the break-in. I was just too excited, but I did notice that the transmission and the clutch really started to open up after about 1K.

With COOP 2 (MCS), I have really babied him, but I've also gotten through 1200 miles in under a month. I strongly recommend some road-trip action for those of you that are taking months to get through the break-in period.

Question, though, what's all this about not keeping it at a constant speed. This is the first I've heard of that. I've just heard to keep it under 4500 RPM and 90 mph. So I do exactly that, and little else for break-in. But I must have really screwed with it then driving a couple hundred break-in miles at 89 mph!

Whoops.

 

Varying the speed and load during break-in is an internal combustion engine rule of thumb. It helps prevent the rings from taking a particular set and glazing the cylinder walls (removing the cross-hatching) during initial operation.

In automobiles and motorcycles it is pretty easy to do as the engine rpm goes down and then climbs up again (at least slightly, even when babied) with each gear into which the transmission is shifted. I think a lot of manufacturers expect their customers will be exposed to enough stop-and-go driving to allow sufficient variances in rpm, therefore some do not mention it in their owners manuals.

In the marine industry it is somewhat more critical (and the manufacturers make a bigger deal of it) because boat motors are often run at 3/4 or wide open throttle for extended periods which, if done during break-in, will often result in blowby and poor compression relative to an engine that has been broken in properly.

The one thing the dealer actually DID warn me about was not to use the cruise control (i.e. hold a constant speed) for any length of time during break-in (and this fits perfectly with the above theories).

I think the biggest risk during break-in is constant heavy use of the throttle (above 4500 rpm) and hard launches, which put extra stress on the wear parts of the motor which are still seating. The second biggest risk is to baby the motor too much or take a road trip and hold one speed for hours and hours during break-in which could prevent the rings from properly seating.

I guess a couple more weeks of attention and restraint will be needed for us, no biggie.

One more thought, a couple people have mentioned a perceived change at 1000-1200 miles. Does anyone know if that is just psychological (as they felt more free to rev the motor to the point where the powerband really takes off) or if there might be something programmed into the ECU to help us with our restraint until the break-in period is past? hmmmmmmmmm

_________________
She let's me drive her MCS (which is good, cause I gave it to her as a wedding present)!!!

Our Baby? - she's an 03 Elect Blue (white roof/wheels) MCS, w/ all the toys (premium, cold, h/k, Nav, xenon, fogs etc) !