LEASING: Do You Follow the Vehicle Break-in Procedure?

You're driving a leased vehicle, do you follow the BMW vehicle Break-in guidelines?

All kinds of folks leasing on this site, let's hear from ya!

I follow break in procedures regardless if I am going to buy the car or not after the lease. I will be driving the car for the next 3 years so I'm responsible for it during that time and treat it as though it was a purchase.

Originally Posted by golovko

i follow break in procedures regardless if i am going to buy the car or not after the lease. I will be driving the car for the next 3 years so i'm responsible for it during that time and treat it as though it was a purchase.

+1

I think the most confusing thing about break in and leasing would be the different stories you get from your dealer. Even though I am not a leaser, I followed the directions in the manual for break-in. However my dealer told me there are no restrictions except to keep the car under 100mph for a few hundred miles while the tires break in, and not to brake forcefully for a few hundred miles.

Nothing about engine speed. What is your average buyer to believe?

Originally Posted by golovko

I follow break in procedures regardless if I am going to buy the car or not after the lease. I will be driving the car for the next 3 years so I'm responsible for it during that time and treat it as though it was a purchase.

This will be our Third 3 Series Lease in 6 years. We always follow the break in guidelines We want the Bimmer to run at its best for our three years. It is only common courtesy to the next owner who might be doing a CPO. Its Good Karma. I really don't understand the logic of someone who would just beat up his new Bimmer , and not want to properly follow the guidelines. We drove ours cross country over 3200 miles from the Performance Center Delivery in South Carolina to San Diego, and followed the procedures up to almost 2000 miles to really get it broken in well. Our last BMW had only 28,000 miles when we turned it in, and it was with pride that we took care of it, and some new owner will get the joy again for another three years that we had

Originally Posted by golovko

I follow break in procedures regardless if I am going to buy the car or not after the lease. I will be driving the car for the next 3 years so I'm responsible for it during that time and treat it as though it was a purchase.

This.

Originally Posted by maxdriver

You're driving a leased vehicle, do you follow the BMW vehicle Break-in guidelines?

Why wouldn't I...I may want to buy it at lease end!

Originally Posted by 2easypilot

Why wouldn't I...I may want to buy it at lease end!

I agree! I also buy used vehicles at times and would like to think that the previous owner took care of it as if he/she was going to keep it for a long time. I did hear from one person recently that "it's a lease and I'm not going to worry about it." So that prompted me to post - thanks.

Originally Posted by SD330i

This will be our Third 3 Series Lease in 6 years. We always follow the break in guidelines We want the Bimmer to run at its best for our three years. It is only common courtesy to the next owner who might be doing a CPO. Its Good Karma. I really don't understand the logic of someone who would just beat up his new Bimmer , and not want to properly follow the guidelines. We drove ours cross country over 3200 miles from the Performance Center Delivery in South Carolina to San Diego, and followed the procedures up to almost 2000 miles to really get it broken in well. Our last BMW had only 28,000 miles when we turned it in, and it was with pride that we took care of it, and some new owner will get the joy again for another three years that we had

+1. My sentiments exactly.

BB

The secret to a proper engine break in, drive it hard before it reaches its first 20 miles. Ok first warm the engine up completely.

I followed this controversial method, my car does not require oil top off. A buddy of mine has the same model, is very easy on the engine, never likes to go above 2,500 rpm, he has to top off engine oil frequently. The dealer told him that was just how the Bimmer engines are.

I am not saying the above is any proof, just stating facts.

Now the link to that method:

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Originally Posted by 2easypilot

Why wouldn't I...I may want to buy it at lease end!

The only time I every leased was an Acura back the 90s. I fully intended to turn it in at lease end, and guess what? I lost my job right before the lease ended and refinanced it at my CU as that was a better alternative at the time.

That car was treated as good or better than any car I've every owned, so needless to say no big deal to keep it a few years longer. Would have been bad Karma and served me right if I thrashed it and then "had" to buy it out due to my economic situation at the time.

bump

A small sample, but most folks seem to be doing the right thing

Originally Posted by dtc100

The secret to a proper engine break in, drive it hard before it reaches its first 20 miles. Ok first warm the engine up completely.

I followed this controversial method, my car does not require oil top off. A buddy of mine has the same model, is very easy on the engine, never likes to go above 2,500 rpm, he has to top off engine oil frequently. The dealer told him that was just how the Bimmer engines are.

I am not saying the above is any proof, just stating facts.

Now the link to that method:

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

+1

That's what I have done for years, and I buy more often than I lease.

Originally Posted by dunderhi

+1

That's what I have done for years, and I buy more often than I lease.

I'm reading more and more about this approach and it's got me thinking...I take delivery on a 135i in a few weeks....!

Hmm...maybe that was the secret to my Evo's unusually long problem free life? lol

Originally Posted by maxdriver

A small sample, but most folks seem to be doing the right thing

Or the wrong thing

Yes there is a break in period, a very short window of the first 20 miles, and the key to that break in is to drive hard, properly of course

Yes, coz it's mine.
I feel kinda bad for those cars used in test drives.

I just took delivery today (335xi MSport) and my CA's advice was I can run it as hard as I want. He then said don't use cruise control for more than 12 minutes and don't stay at the same speed for a prolonged time. I thought it was interesting that his advice wasn't the same as the manual recommends. He's been working at this dealership for a good 10+ years too, so has probably given this advice to many people.

Originally Posted by dtc100

the secret to a proper engine break in, drive it hard before it reaches its first 20 miles. Ok first warm the engine up completely.

I followed this controversial method, my car does not require oil top off. A buddy of mine has the same model, is very easy on the engine, never likes to go above 2,500 rpm, he has to top off engine oil frequently. The dealer told him that was just how the bimmer engines are.

I am not saying the above is any proof, just stating facts.

Now the link to that method:

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

+1

Originally Posted by Hachima

I just took delivery today (335xi MSport) and my CA's advice was I can run it as hard as I want. He then said don't use cruise control for more than 12 minutes and don't stay at the same speed for a prolonged time. I thought it was interesting that his advice wasn't the same as the manual recommends. He's been working at this dealership for a good 10+ years too, so has probably given this advice to many people.

+1 Yep, always worked for me. Besides, mine had 44 miles on it when I got it. Now at 550mi. runs great, no oil top off. That said, I don't beat it up, love it too much. 2012 335i M-Sport.

solid

bump

Leasing, not an F30 - but a BMW

I followed the break-in procedures whenever safe/possible. A few times to avoid morons, I had to floor it to get out of the way quickly, and that was preferential to slamming on my brakes and possibly getting rear ended.

On my SRT8s, I drove them hard from the dealership, and never had an issue *knock on wood*. If anything they've been completely rock solid, nothing but oil changes bring me to the dealer.