break in on 600 mi trip home

kernel843 · 09-20-2023, 06:58 PM

Hi all. Just reserved a G80 M3 from a dealer near my family about 600 miles away. The break in guidance requires alternating engine/transmission speeds. If I fluctuate from 60-100 on the ride back will that be enough or do I need to get it towed back home then break it in when I'm home?

TopJimmy · 09-20-2023, 08:05 PM

No need to tow or fluctuate driving speed too much. Break in is all about engine RPM. Before you leave for the ride home have the the M1 button programmed in Efficient engine mode and D2 trans. Set the M2 button for same settings but D3 trans. When you drive on the highway (in D1) you can now increase your RPM about 1K with M1, and another 1K with M2. This way while driving 80MPH you can easily alternate engine speeds with your M buttons.

The tachometer also has a setting where the thousands (the big 1234567) numbers will light up as your RPM nears that point. I would watch that I never let the 5 light up, so I knew I stayed under 5000 RPM.

Enjoy your first drive home!

christianb5s4 · 09-21-2023, 01:10 PM

Or you can flip to manual mode occasionally and switch between gears periodically yourself, which is what I plan to do. I also have a 450ish mile drive home from the dealer I ordered through.

chris3g · 09-21-2023, 01:21 PM

you dont need to overthink this and you definitely don't need to have your car towed, that's craziness. just drive it and try your best to vary the RPM, take some back roads and detours if you can, enjoy the drive. the car will be fine.

Needsdecaf · 09-23-2023, 08:09 AM

The other thing you want to avoid in steady state cruising is too few accel / decel events. Having the engine run on coastdown helps the piston rings seat. So every now and then pull a few gears downshift, accelerate moderately and then let it Coast back to where you were.

HughesM3 · 09-23-2023, 08:26 AM

I drove mine about 450 miles home from the dealership, no issues.

nosbocaj · 09-25-2023, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianb5s4

Or you can flip to manual mode occasionally and switch between gears periodically yourself, which is what I plan to do. I also have a 450ish mile drive home from the dealer I ordered through.

Yep, this is what I did. Ran through the gears every 5-10 minutes in between cruising.

09-20-2023, 06:58 PM	#1
kernel843 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: '24 G80 on order Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	break in on 600 mi trip home Hi all. Just reserved a G80 M3 from a dealer near my family about 600 miles away. The break in guidance requires alternating engine/transmission speeds. If I fluctuate from 60-100 on the ride back will that be enough or do I need to get it towed back home then break it in when I'm home?
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09-20-2023, 08:05 PM	#2
TopJimmy Major General 5460 Rep 5,153 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 Comp xDrive Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Chester County, PA iTrader: (5)	No need to tow or fluctuate driving speed too much. Break in is all about engine RPM. Before you leave for the ride home have the the M1 button programmed in Efficient engine mode and D2 trans. Set the M2 button for same settings but D3 trans. When you drive on the highway (in D1) you can now increase your RPM about 1K with M1, and another 1K with M2. This way while driving 80MPH you can easily alternate engine speeds with your M buttons. The tachometer also has a setting where the thousands (the big 1234567) numbers will light up as your RPM nears that point. I would watch that I never let the 5 light up, so I knew I stayed under 5000 RPM. Enjoy your first drive home! __________________ '18 F80 Base 6MT \| '19 F82 Exec DCT \| '18 F82 Comp Exec DCT \| '23 G80cx
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09-21-2023, 01:10 PM	#3
christianb5s4 Lieutenant 824 Rep 589 Posts Drives: Built 2001 Audi S4 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Newport Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	Or you can flip to manual mode occasionally and switch between gears periodically yourself, which is what I plan to do. I also have a 450ish mile drive home from the dealer I ordered through. __________________ 2024 M3 CompX Dravit Grey - MP HAS - Millway - MHC+ carbon - CS software - MAD single-mid - PPF 2019 G05 X5 x40i, built 2001 600whp B5 S4.
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09-21-2023, 01:21 PM	#4
chris3g Major 1569 Rep 1,256 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 xdrive Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (4)	you dont need to overthink this and you definitely don't need to have your car towed, that's craziness. just drive it and try your best to vary the RPM, take some back roads and detours if you can, enjoy the drive. the car will be fine.
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09-23-2023, 08:09 AM	#5
Needsdecaf Major General 6599 Rep 6,696 Posts Drives: 2024 G80 Comp xDrive Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Woodlands, TX iTrader: (0)	The other thing you want to avoid in steady state cruising is too few accel / decel events. Having the engine run on coastdown helps the piston rings seat. So every now and then pull a few gears downshift, accelerate moderately and then let it Coast back to where you were.
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09-23-2023, 08:26 AM	#6
HughesM3 New Member 36 Rep 29 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW M3 [0.00]	I drove mine about 450 miles home from the dealership, no issues.
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