Running In Service
- Thread starter Fishy Dave
- Start date
By the seaside...
. . . .think I'll just go back and read john-E89 . . . . 
PerryGunn said:I wouldn't... e's a lyin' barsteward...ya can't believe a word 'e says guv :wink:paulgs1000 said:Another interesting point here . . . . all very worrying. I guess I'll go back and read what Perry said . . . .
Err, whoops
, sorry Perry - think I made a mistake - it was John-E89!! Re submitted my post above 
Not that I don't avidly read what you have to say you understand . . . fountain of info, accuracy (and fun) :lol:
I wouldn't worry about it Paul, you have an ///M and like all of them they are what they are. If it's going to break its going to brake.
I just drive mine now, not very often, but after 5 years and no issues I've saved over £5k in warranty so would just take any repairs on the chin.
My DD, a 118D is going to need a new timing chain soon @ 90k, which is going to be £2k or there about. I've had it from new and driven with respect. Ok sort of know issue, but so are the thing we are talking about on here most of the time.
I just drive mine now, not very often, but after 5 years and no issues I've saved over £5k in warranty so would just take any repairs on the chin.
My DD, a 118D is going to need a new timing chain soon @ 90k, which is going to be £2k or there about. I've had it from new and driven with respect. Ok sort of know issue, but so are the thing we are talking about on here most of the time.
srhutch said:
Yep - good point. In fact, for the performance the costs seem very reasonable, especially when using a specialist independent.
We have a family hack Skoda Diesel - 60mpg on a long run with cruise, very comfortable and reliable but that has cost us 3K over the last 2 years . . . .
ocrx8 said:
When I bought my Z4M, I sold my 335i back to BMW to pay for it.
The gent I dealt with at BMW used to be one of the directors of CRONK BMW, a big dealership back in the day.
When I told him what I was replacing the 335i with he said "if its a red 56 plate, don't buy it. All the demo cars were red 56 plates and didn't get treated that well". Luckily mines an 07 in Grey!
Makes sense.VRSteve said:
Interestingly I was recently chatting about a related topic with a mate who is a BMW tech. We took an i8 for a spin and something came up about buying ex-demo M cars. I asked if it was really wise, since they had likely been really thrashed before the running in service was completed. He replied that you'd be surprised - the vast majority of test drivers are too timid to actually really drive the car hard and never get near the rev limiter. While you still get the odd person who will thrash it properly, it seems that on average it's not a big deal (on brand new cars, anyway - it may be very different for older cars like S54 engines).
markos said:
Just the Coupes,lol....
They sold the Coupes at a lower initial price,and gave bigger discounts on them, apparently,lol
Joking we aside, (we all know coupes are now worth more)......
All this fretting over servicing/run in is a bit ott ,IMHO....Just get out there and enjoy driving them and stop fretting over a 50 or even a couple of hundred miles here or there,as some have said,there are tollerances built in to these things
Btw,mine was done on time
For the last week I have been conversing with BMW UK and more recently with BMW Classic in Germany, who in turn are contacting M GmbH, to establish once and for all which fluids are used at the initial fill in our S54. I have given my own chassis number for reference and will report back.
Be interesting to hear what they say, particularly as within BMW's own operating fluids bulletin they state
"8.0 Break-In Instructions
During the break-in period of a new engine or parts of a reconditioned engine (new bearings, crankshaft, pistons, etc.)
BMW engines do not require special break-in oils."
"8.0 Break-In Instructions
During the break-in period of a new engine or parts of a reconditioned engine (new bearings, crankshaft, pistons, etc.)
BMW engines do not require special break-in oils."
Liverpool
mmm-five said:
No mass produced manufacturer uses break in oils on factory line built engines. Running in oils/SAE 30 etc that clings to the wall to stop glazing aren't required because the tolerances are good in OEM engines. I think most people here are confusing running in of hand built engines with break in/seat when engines are slowly built up into thermal capacity.
I like the thought of BMW letting middle aged women (my mum was about 45 when she bought an M3 as a daily) drive off the forecourt with SAE 30 which most have a maximum life of 1000 miles before it rapidly breaks down + the running in procedure has to be so strict that it would pretty much be suicide.
I've had a definitive answer back from BMW and they have given me permission to quote this publicly. It confirms what Babw said and hopefully clears this up for ever more....
Dear Mr Smitheram
Thank you for your patience whilst we have been waiting to hear back from our contacts at the factory. We are pleased to confirm that the oil for rear axle differential, gearbox and engine are all the same as the oils used for replacement servicing.
LD39658 E85 M Roadster
Production date: 24-Aug-2006
Engine - S54
- SAE 10W-60
Gearbox - GS6-37BZ
- MTF-LT-2
Rear axle
BMW MSP/A Synthetic
No running-in lubricants are used in these components between build and 1,200 miles service.
Building upon this information, we are mindful that your initial concern was regarding the long-term impact of cars missing or having late 1,200 mile services. Our ‘best-practice’ recommendation would always be for prospective owners to look for vehicles with a service history that rigorously applies to the recommended schedules.
The 1,200 mile service for M-Product is designed in order to remove any deposits within engine / gearbox / differential that occur naturally with the bedding in of new components. Given M vehicles can and do operate at higher loads, temperatures and speeds compared to ‘normal’ Series BMW’s, effects of missing the 1200 mile service could have a detrimental effect on component longevity. It is perhaps worth highlighting that although BMW recommends service completion at 1,200 miles, a grace period for warranty purposes can be applied mindful of the fact that customers may wish to complete running-in during a vacation or similar. That grace period is +500 miles (1,700 for a maximum permissible). No grace for warranty is provided beyond that mileage.
Kind regards,
(Name Supplied)
BMW
United Kingdom
BMW Genius
My thoughts, for what they are worth:
An early or late running in service could indicate an uncaring first owner, but at least we have reassurance from BMW that their are no specific bedding in oils in our/my S54 (as confirmed by Babw and suspected by myself and many others). There could be metallic particles in the oils during the first 1200 miles, but I would have thought an oil filter would catch these from the engine oil, leaving just the gearbox and diff with bits potentially floating about. Most cars now are probably not warrantied by BMW anymore, so unless you were thinking of having a BMW warranty or p/x with a main dealer I don't think the grace period will be an issue for many.
Only the first owner will know how they drove the car in that first 1200 miles, they may have been too gentle, too harsh, thrashed from cold, who knows?
An early or late running in service wouldn't put me buying off a car providing other factors such as servicing and wear were as expected, 5+ owners and 10 years later a late first service is probably of minor consequence now.
Cheers, Dave
Dear Mr Smitheram
Thank you for your patience whilst we have been waiting to hear back from our contacts at the factory. We are pleased to confirm that the oil for rear axle differential, gearbox and engine are all the same as the oils used for replacement servicing.
LD39658 E85 M Roadster
Production date: 24-Aug-2006
Engine - S54
- SAE 10W-60
Gearbox - GS6-37BZ
- MTF-LT-2
Rear axle
BMW MSP/A Synthetic
No running-in lubricants are used in these components between build and 1,200 miles service.
Building upon this information, we are mindful that your initial concern was regarding the long-term impact of cars missing or having late 1,200 mile services. Our ‘best-practice’ recommendation would always be for prospective owners to look for vehicles with a service history that rigorously applies to the recommended schedules.
The 1,200 mile service for M-Product is designed in order to remove any deposits within engine / gearbox / differential that occur naturally with the bedding in of new components. Given M vehicles can and do operate at higher loads, temperatures and speeds compared to ‘normal’ Series BMW’s, effects of missing the 1200 mile service could have a detrimental effect on component longevity. It is perhaps worth highlighting that although BMW recommends service completion at 1,200 miles, a grace period for warranty purposes can be applied mindful of the fact that customers may wish to complete running-in during a vacation or similar. That grace period is +500 miles (1,700 for a maximum permissible). No grace for warranty is provided beyond that mileage.
Kind regards,
(Name Supplied)
BMW
United Kingdom
BMW Genius
My thoughts, for what they are worth:
An early or late running in service could indicate an uncaring first owner, but at least we have reassurance from BMW that their are no specific bedding in oils in our/my S54 (as confirmed by Babw and suspected by myself and many others). There could be metallic particles in the oils during the first 1200 miles, but I would have thought an oil filter would catch these from the engine oil, leaving just the gearbox and diff with bits potentially floating about. Most cars now are probably not warrantied by BMW anymore, so unless you were thinking of having a BMW warranty or p/x with a main dealer I don't think the grace period will be an issue for many.
Only the first owner will know how they drove the car in that first 1200 miles, they may have been too gentle, too harsh, thrashed from cold, who knows?
An early or late running in service wouldn't put me buying off a car providing other factors such as servicing and wear were as expected, 5+ owners and 10 years later a late first service is probably of minor consequence now.
Cheers, Dave