Yet another breakin question - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

TheXman · 23rd November 2001, 03:52

My car is finally on the ship and schedule to arrive in the States around Dec. 5th. I want to make sure I break-in the car as best I can. Therefore, I'm trying to get a little break-in advice before it arrives.

Assuming that the break-in period is 1250 miles. Which is better and what's the difference, in regards to breaking in the car:

1. One 1250 mile trip?
2. Two 625 mile trips?
3. Fifty 25 mile trips?

I've read previous posts on break-in and there seems to be a lot of good information. Someone even said they did the break-in in 72 hours. That's hardcore! I assume that person would say that option 1 or 2 is probably the best. Just because the break-in mileage is behind him.

I know that the car should be driven at different speeds and engine load levels, but nothing says if longer trips or shorter trips are best during the break-in. With shorter trips, one would assume that they would be more varied in speed and load. Longer trips would imply longer times at static speeds and loads. Which is best?

Lupo///M5 · 23rd November 2001, 05:58

#3. Fifty 25 mile trips...

Take your time, vary your speed, easy on the clutch, stay under 4000 RPMs and get to know her.

It'll be no time before she opens up and gives you everything you want.

TheXman · 23rd November 2001, 06:20

Thanks for the advice. To be honest, I was leaning towards number 3 myself. But when I saw that it could be done in as little as 72 hours, I thought why not do it as quick as possible. I'm sure I couldn't get it done quite that quickly, but it lead me to believe that longer trips would be better for the break-in period. 1250 miles seems like a lot of miles. I don't think any of my previous cars were more that 500. What makes the break-in period for the M5 so long?

Steve Beswick · 23rd November 2001, 06:44

TheXman,

I follow the old maxim, "Break 'em in like you intend to drive 'em". Not to say I didn't follow the maximum revs limit during the first 1250 miles (actually, I didn't exceed 400 Revs until after 1500 miles, but I did vary the speeds constantly and accelerated hard to the 4000 Rev limit after 500 miles.

Aslo, brakes are an important part of break-in. I braked frequently relatively hard for the first 500 miles, harder for the second 500, until braking to ABS limits in the 3rd 500 miles. Be careful to allow cool-doen periods between hard stops and never keep the pedal depressed when stopped so as not to create uneven cooling on the discs. M5 brakes have a tendency to warp.

TheXman · 23rd November 2001, 06:59

SteveB,

That's great advice also. Did you burn more oil than usual during your break-in period? I've heard that M5's burn more oil than usual and even more during the break-in period. How long would you say is to long to keep any particular speed? Are we talking hours or minutes. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is whether taking the car on a several hundred mile trip during the break-in period would be ill advised. Since the trip would be mostly highway driving, the speeds would probably more constant than not. What's your take?

The XMan

Steve Beswick · 23rd November 2001, 07:55

Hey TheXman,

I burned 1 quart during 1250 miles, (not bad in my mind), and I've just put another quart in at 4100 miles. . . so it seems it's getting better.

I'm gonna do an oil/filter change within the next few days, (should have doen it 1000 miles ago !)

I did a 1700 mile highway trip when I had 1300 miles on the odometer, I just made sure I varied the speed on the highway, (dropped down to 55 in fourth, shifted up to fifth at 70, then 6th at 80 until I got over 1500 miles. Then . . . FINALLY, I was free ! Took it up to an indicated 160 on the speedo, (probably wasn't really going that fast, so no braggin' rights with the guys on this board, who all seem to average arounf 194.7, (see mfive supercharger thread)), and usually set the cruise at around 105 in 6th (where mine wants to sit). Glad I had my Passport 8500, though, as it saved my butt at least 3 times.

Good Luck, and enjoy your car.