New owner of a 335i Sedan

[ruthlessbmw]

Thanks for all your advice I am now a proud owner of a 2008 335I Sedan
Metallic Black/ Black leatherette/ Aluminum trim
Automatic
Paddle shifters
Sport pkg
Ipod/USB adaptor.

What is the engine break-in period?
How many mile does it take to break-in?
How should I drive it till the break-in period?

[Beer Goggles]

Drive normal, just don't redline every stoplight. There are some myths to break in. Porsche was quoted to say their engines require no "break-in" but they scare owners to go slow to learn how to drive the car. There was some statistic of crashing during the first few thousand miles so they warn drivers with that.

If your car was test driven it was probably flogged. I know the sedan I drove the sales guy did repeated 0-100 runs.

[deepgreen]

Metallic black? Forget about driving it, you will not have time to drive it in between washing the dust off!

Enjoy your new car!

[Beer Goggles]

Black stays cleaner in places with humidity. I know I hate having it out in dusty Socal. Makes all the time I've spent waxing and buffing seem like a waste. But they are pretty when clean.

[ruthlessbmw]

Drive normal, just don't redline every stoplight. There are some myths to break in. Porsche was quoted to say their engines require no "break-in" but they scare owners to go slow to learn how to drive the car. There was some statistic of crashing during the first few thousand miles so they warn drivers with that.

If your car was test driven it was probably flogged. I know the sedan I drove the sales guy did repeated 0-100 runs.


My car only had 10 miles on it when I test drove it. 14 miles when I bought it. So you mean just stay below 60 - 70 and accelerate slowly for the first 1000 miles.

[Rooks]

My car only had 10 miles on it when I test drove it. 14 miles when I bought it. So you mean just stay below 60 - 70 and accelerate slowly for the first 1000 miles.

I think the manual says something like 1200 miles and keep it under 4500rpms. It's what I followed, anyways... I read it somewhere on the forum... And honestly, wether its a scare tactic or legit, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[mryakan]

Metallic black? Forget about driving it, you will not have time to drive it in between washing the dust off!

Enjoy your new car!

Neah, my car hasn't been washed in 2+ weeks and it still looks nice, not clean, but not overly dirty esp. from afar even with all the rain day in day out. The wheels are what takes more effort to keep clean. Don't spoil the guy's experience and let him enjoy his new car :stickoutt.

Also can someone please post the BMW recommended breakin procedure in our FAQ. I can do it, but I am giving the chance for other members to contribute to the FAQ. No RTFM or personal opinion in the FAQ though, just what BMW recommends.

[Beer Goggles]

My car only had 10 miles on it when I test drove it. 14 miles when I bought it. So you mean just stay below 60 - 70 and accelerate slowly for the first 1000 miles.

10 miles of full throttle. It explains everything in the drivers manual. Just don't drive it like you stole it and you'll be fine.

[Neutrino45]

The manual that came with my 328i said the break in period is 1200 miles and to keep it under 4500 RMP and under 100 MPH.

When I took delivery of my car the sales person told me it was 600 miles and just keep it under 5000 RPM.

When I talked to the service guy at BMW he told me not to pay attention to the manual that came with my car because there is no such thing as a break in period for regular BMWs. The break in period that I read was for the M cars... :nuts:dunno

[MDBimmer]

First congrats and second like someone else said just don't redline everytime and you will be fine. Enjoy.

[gfhoward]

Break in on modern cars is not nearly as necessary as it used to be, and is largely a myth these days, because people still think new engines are like old ones. In fact, since many cars' computers map your driving style, you may want to drive normally right from the bat, or wait months for the slowness to get out of the computer (or have dealer re-map it). Not sure if bimmers use that kind of memory.

[elliottp]

I tend to think that it's unwise to "power break-in" your new nearly fifty-thousand dollar car like you would a Yamaha crotch-rocket, or a lawnmower for that matter (google that for more info). I just followed the instructions in the big ass book that it came with, albeit loosely at times. ;)

[ruthlessbmw]

Another thing I wanted to ask was if the mats came along standard with the 335i?

[elliottp]

Another thing I wanted to ask was if the mats came along standard with the 335i?

In my case they were a dealer option.

[kindtree]

I tend to think that it's unwise to "power break-in" your new nearly fifty-thousand dollar car like you would a Yamaha crotch-rocket, or a lawnmower for that matter (google that for more info). I just followed the instructions in the big ass book that it came with, albeit loosely at times. ;)

I think the first time I changed the oil in a car for its first time and saw what came out (i.e. metal shavings and such), I started to believe there may be good reason to be somewhat nice to the car until that first change...

[MDBimmer]

Another thing I wanted to ask was if the mats came along standard with the 335i? Dealer installed at no cost. Didn't even have to ask. Breath of fresh air. Hate bickering over stuff like this. You would have to fight our old dealer tooth and nail just to get the mats thrown in.Then they would try to throw cheap mats in. The same dealer also had the Mini dealership. They wanted us to pay for mats then gave us them I then caught salesman adjusting price. Last straw was them trying to double the window tint price to cover the mats and "some" salesman/dealers wonder why they lose customers for shady moves like this.

Oh yea nice Goat kindtree.

[mryakan]

Another thing I wanted to ask was if the mats came along standard with the 335i?
Never standard on any BMW AFAIK.

And regarding breakin period, it seems everyone thinks the break in period is just there for the sake of the engine. Well, not true. It is for all the car components to gel together nicely without being subjected to maximum load from the get go. It is not a must and skipping it doesn't guarantee that something will fail, and vice versa. But think about this, why would BMW bother recommending it if it were not in the "better safe than sorry" category. The debate goes on.