Breaking in period?

I just picked up my 2006 BMW 330i Sedan (my first Beemer) and am hearing conflicting things about the breaking in period. The dealer said there is not one, as long as I stay under 100 mph for the first 1,000 miles. No problem there! I am planning a road trip to try it out this weekend, but wonder if that is a good idea. Some friends say that is way too soon. What else should I know about the breaking in period? These cars are so different from what I've been driving. Any help will be appreciated. Sonja

I'm assuming your friends don't work at a BMW dealer... therefore why would they know what they're talking about?

I just picked up my 2006 BMW 330i Sedan (my first Beemer) and am hearing conflicting things about the breaking in period. The dealer said there is not one, as long as I stay under 100 mph for the first 1,000 miles. No problem there! I am planning a road trip to try it out this weekend, but wonder if that is a good idea. Some friends say that is way too soon. What else should I know about the breaking in period? These cars are so different from what I've been driving. Any help will be appreciated. Sonja
Hi Sonja ! There is no brake in period on BMW cars, you just take it easy on the first 1000 miles like BMW stealership says, what I mean- "no gas pedal to the floor" for this period ! , but you can absolutely take any road trip, even mountain one . Best regards ! Daniel.

im no expert either, but even taking it easy for the first 1k miles seems like a break in period to me. . . its just smaller than what they used to recommend. . .

Hi Sonja ! There is no brake in period on BMW cars, you just take it easy on the first 1000 miles like BMW stealership says, what I mean- "no gas pedal to the floor" for this period ! , but you can absolutely take any road trip, even mountain one . Best regards ! Daniel.


Daniel61 -

I took my new BMW to the Texas Hill Country last weekend and it was great! That car can fly! When I went 60 mph it felt like I was crawling. Once I got to 90 mph and didn't even realize it. I love the "active steering" on it, too. What an amazing vehicle. Now that I'm used to the brakes, I'm not trying to throw myself through the windshield anymore. I'm not used to the close distance to the road yet, so I feel like I'm sitting right on the road. You are right about the stealership comment. I got the first 2006 330i from the stealer, so they didn't give me much of a deal. But when I saw the new look for that car I didn't care - I just wanted it. Is there anything else you can warn me about that I should know about Beemers? I'm new at this. I had a huge SUV that I truly loved. I hated to part with it. I kissed it goodbye when the salesman wasn't looking! Ha ha ha. Thanks! Sonja

Daniel61 -

I took my new BMW to the Texas Hill Country last weekend and it was great! That car can fly! When I went 60 mph it felt like I was crawling. Once I got to 90 mph and didn't even realize it. I love the "active steering" on it, too. What an amazing vehicle. Now that I'm used to the brakes, I'm not trying to throw myself through the windshield anymore. I'm not used to the close distance to the road yet, so I feel like I'm sitting right on the road. You are right about the stealership comment. I got the first 2006 330i from the stealer, so they didn't give me much of a deal. But when I saw the new look for that car I didn't care - I just wanted it. Is there anything else you can warn me about that I should know about Beemers? I'm new at this. I had a huge SUV that I truly loved. I hated to part with it. I kissed it goodbye when the salesman wasn't looking! Ha ha ha. Thanks! Sonja
Hi Sonja ! if you want to know more about this wonderful cars, join us on this forum:
Bimmerwerkz.com
Take care! Daniel.

Hi Sonja ! if you want to know more about this wonderful cars, join us on this forum:
Bimmerwerkz.com
Take care! Daniel.


Hello Daniel! Well, I learned something today - I've been spelling Bimmer wrong! Ok, I'm a novice guys, so cut me some slack. Bimmerwerkz.com looks great. Thanks for recommending it. Since there is so much stuff on my car that I don't understand, I will maybe learn from that site. Of course, I can always ask Daniel 61! Thanks for all your help. Auf Wiedersehen! Sonja

I'm assuming your friends don't work at a BMW dealer... therefore why would they know what they're talking about?



They don't! But, everyone wants to be an "expert"! Sonja

Regarding the break-in period, and taking it easy... Shouldn't you floor it every once in a while in order to seal the piston rings properly? Or is the engine on this car different from all other modern cars?

Regarding the break-in period, and taking it easy... Shouldn't you floor it every once in a while in order to seal the piston rings properly? Or is the engine on this car different from all other modern cars?


Yep you proberly would seal the piston rings,permently.

Regarding the break-in period, and taking it easy... Shouldn't you floor it every once in a while in order to seal the piston rings properly? Or is the engine on this car different from all other modern cars?


I don't know anything about piston rings, much less sealing them. That's why I'm asking you guys. All I know is that in Houston traffic I am going to floor the car alot, as well as slam on the brakes. So, I guess I'm sealing my pistons whether I need to or not!! I don't think these cars are different from other "modern" cars. It's just a car that is different from what I was driving before, and I think the breaking in period is less stringent on the BMWs. Is there anything else I should know? Sonja

Well the way I understand things, in the last ten years or so automakers began using new types of metals and a more modern machining process to build engines, so modern engines need to be broken in in a different manner than old engines. They also have a shorter break-in period.

From what I know, the best way to break in a modern car is to drive it very easy for the first 1000 miles, but every once in a while floor it. But don't floor it from a stop. Floor it when you are already moving at 30+ mph, and don't floor it for too long, only for a max of maybe 5 seconds. Do this pretty rarely, maybe once for every ten minutes of driving. Other than that, take it easy on it. Do not accelerate hard from a stop. Try to avoid slamming on the brakes. Try to evade potholes, or if you can't slow down over them. Don't take turns too fast. And most important of all, wait for the car to warm up before driving. What I do is, if the car hasn't been driven for several hours or more, then I wait about 20-30 seconds before driving after turning it on, but I don't drive hard until the temperature needle reaches the normal range.

This is for the first 1000 miles or so, after that the car should be fully broken in and you no longer have to take it easy on it.

Well the way I understand things, in the last ten years or so automakers began using new types of metals and a more modern machining process to build engines, so modern engines need to be broken in in a different manner than old engines. They also have a shorter break-in period.

From what I know, the best way to break in a modern car is to drive it very easy for the first 1000 miles, but every once in a while floor it. But don't floor it from a stop. Floor it when you are already moving at 30+ mph, and don't floor it for too long, only for a max of maybe 5 seconds. Do this pretty rarely, maybe once for every ten minutes of driving. Other than that, take it easy on it. Do not accelerate hard from a stop. Try to avoid slamming on the brakes. Try to evade potholes, or if you can't slow down over them. Don't take turns too fast. And most important of all, wait for the car to warm up before driving. What I do is, if the car hasn't been driven for several hours or more, then I wait about 20-30 seconds before driving after turning it on, but I don't drive hard until the temperature needle reaches the normal range.

This is for the first 1000 miles or so, after that the car should be fully broken in and you no longer have to take it easy on it.



Now that is really helpful information! Thanks, Dr. Love! Here's one for you - why do the windows fog up when I drive with the sun roof open at night? I keep the AC on the whole time. Sonja

Now that is really helpful information! Thanks, Dr. Love! Here's one for you - why do the windows fog up when I drive with the sun roof open at night? I keep the AC on the whole time. Sonja
I have no idea, it never happens to me. :confused:

Now that is really helpful information! Thanks, Dr. Love! Here's one for you - why do the windows fog up when I drive with the sun roof open at night? I keep the AC on the whole time. Sonja

First off this isn't the first time I posted in this Forum. I lost my original account that's why you're seeing a noob member.

What happens when a cold front meets a warm front? that's why you fog up. The AC is blowing cold dry air into the cabin and the open sun-roof is letting in fresh moist relatively warm air in.

To your original question, there is no break-in period. These cars are stress-tested even before they leave the factory. That means the engine has been redlined already to make sure that nothing breaks. If you haven't changed the oil and oil filter, I suggest you do it before you reach the 1000mile marker.

The important thing is the warmup! Don't ever start the car when it's cold and let it idle. As soon as you started it get the car going. One thing to watch out for is the temp gauge. If it hasn't reached 12 o'clock then don't rev it over 3 grand. On the new M3 it actually has a scale that lights up that tells you how high you can rev it when you first started it. Same principle. The engine warms up faster under a load. Same applies in cold weather conditions. Your warm up time will lengthen because outside temperature is cooler. Notice nowadays that the engine fan is not connected directly to the engine via pulley. It's temperature actuated through a sensor. My car is still the old pulley type that's why my engine warmup is longer. Especially in winter.

My car has over 150000km on the digital readout. It doesn't burn oil. It doesn't smoke under acceleration and the engine is bone-dry like the
Gobi desert. Don't believe me, come to Germany and look closely at any parking lot. You won't see oil build-up anywhere. I have a 1995 318i 4-door sedan that my wife drives daily to work. I keep the maintenance on it and it hasn't let me down yet. These cars are expensive to maintain but you have picked one of the best cars ever made! If you follow this so-called "break-in" period I mentioned then you shouldn't have any problems except for normal wear and tear parts on the car. Another thing, I know it's more expensive but when you're replacing parts on the car go with original BMW. You won't regret it.

As far as fuel goes, run the recommended octane or higher. In Germany we have 100 octane and I get better gas mileage than when I'm running 97 octane. Don't worry you won't wreck the engine if you mix them. The engine's DME is always checking the system constantly and automatically adjusts the settings for optimal fuel efficiency and driving performance.

When I first drove a BMW I fell in love with it. I don't know if I can go back to another car maker. I'm really sold on their motto; FREUDE AM FAHREN! That it is ! ! !

Bayerische Motoren Werke

I have no idea, it never happens to me. :confused:


Maybe there is just much more humidity here in Houston than in Antarctica....Sonja

First off this isn't the first time I posted in this Forum. I lost my original account that's why you're seeing a noob member.

What happens when a cold front meets a warm front? that's why you fog up. The AC is blowing cold dry air into the cabin and the open sun-roof is letting in fresh moist relatively warm air in.

To your original question, there is no break-in period. These cars are stress-tested even before they leave the factory. That means the engine has been redlined already to make sure that nothing breaks. If you haven't changed the oil and oil filter, I suggest you do it before you reach the 1000mile marker.

The important thing is the warmup! Don't ever start the car when it's cold and let it idle. As soon as you started it get the car going. One thing to watch out for is the temp gauge. If it hasn't reached 12 o'clock then don't rev it over 3 grand. On the new M3 it actually has a scale that lights up that tells you how high you can rev it when you first started it. Same principle. The engine warms up faster under a load. Same applies in cold weather conditions. Your warm up time will lengthen because outside temperature is cooler. Notice nowadays that the engine fan is not connected directly to the engine via pulley. It's temperature actuated through a sensor. My car is still the old pulley type that's why my engine warmup is longer. Especially in winter.

My car has over 150000km on the digital readout. It doesn't burn oil. It doesn't smoke under acceleration and the engine is bone-dry like the
Gobi desert. Don't believe me, come to Germany and look closely at any parking lot. You won't see oil build-up anywhere. I have a 1995 318i 4-door sedan that my wife drives daily to work. I keep the maintenance on it and it hasn't let me down yet. These cars are expensive to maintain but you have picked one of the best cars ever made! If you follow this so-called "break-in" period I mentioned then you shouldn't have any problems except for normal wear and tear parts on the car. Another thing, I know it's more expensive but when you're replacing parts on the car go with original BMW. You won't regret it.

As far as fuel goes, run the recommended octane or higher. In Germany we have 100 octane and I get better gas mileage than when I'm running 97 octane. Don't worry you won't wreck the engine if you mix them. The engine's DME is always checking the system constantly and automatically adjusts the settings for optimal fuel efficiency and driving performance.

When I first drove a BMW I fell in love with it. I don't know if I can go back to another car maker. I'm really sold on their motto; FREUDE AM FAHREN! That it is ! ! !

Bayerische Motoren Werke



Wunderbar! I guess you make a good point about the cold and warm air, especially in a tropical climate. The salesman during the test drive suggested keeping the AC on to keep the car cool. It gets too hot here to drive without AC, day or night. But now I see what is happening. Thanks for the other info. I will keep it in mind. Yes, I do love my new BMW. I can't imagine going back to anything else. Hope mine lasts as long as yours. I'm sure going to try to keep up with it. Sonja