Break-In Period for X5

[Aviator_JPN]

Hi,

Could somebody tell me about the break-in period of X5? PDC will be an option for me to pick up the car but have to drive back for 1,000miles and I wonder if I have to keep RPM below certain number. Or no more break-in period for recent cars? I heard from some sales agents at other OEMs that the break-in period no longer exists with recent cars as all the parts are machined precisely than before. True?

Thanks!

[ramsal]

Break in period still exists, it's the first 2000km. I believe you're supposed to drive at moderate speeds, with a good mix of highway and city driving. Keep RPMs under 5000. I may be slightly off on some of these figures but a break-in period still applies to the 2014 X5s.

[Socal2025]

Page 190 of the owner's manual:

Breaking-in period
General information
Moving parts need to be broken in to adjust to
each other. The following instructions will help achieve a
long vehicle life and good economy.

Engine and differential
Always obey the official speed limit.

Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Do not exceed the maximum engine and road
speed:
▷ For gasoline engine 4,500 rpm and
100 mph/160 km/h.
▷ For diesel engine 3,500 rpm and
93 mph/150 km/h.
Avoid full load or kickdown under all circumstances.

From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.

[Aviator_JPN]

Thanks! I was gonna ask what "kickdown" means, but found out, i.e. downshifting. I should be ok driving 1,000 miles from factory. I won't go over 93mph for sure.

[42pilot]

I used to build hot rod and track Porsche motors. During the dyno tuning, the motor was basically broken in which was about an hour. In fact, I couldn't tell the difference between a motor that spent the weekend on the track (Road Atlanta) after a rebuild versus one that had +50,000 road miles. The clue here is variability in rpm. The worst thing you can do for a new motor is to jump in the car and drive it for a 1000 miles on the freeway in a narrow rpm range. The rings don't seat well, the valves don't seat well, and so on.

Anyway, I would follow the manual's recommendation. I broke mine in by driving it normally.

[Aviator_JPN]

Originally Posted by 42pilot

I used to build hot rod and track Porsche motors. During the dyno tuning, the motor was basically broken in which was about an hour. In fact, I couldn't tell the difference between a motor that spent the weekend on the track (Road Atlanta) after a rebuild versus one that had +50,000 road miles. The clue here is variability in rpm. The worst thing you can do for a new motor is to jump in the car and drive it for a 1000 miles on the freeway in a narrow rpm range. The rings don't seat well, the valves don't seat well, and so on.

Anyway, I would follow the manual's recommendation. I broke mine in by driving it normally.

Thanks. I guess I would try not to use cruise control and so that RPM does not set to one RPM for long period of time. But if I buy locally then I can break in normally, city+highway.

[Mathme]

You can also just take some back roads and enjoy some of the scenery on the way home.

[stewy604]

That, or flip it into manual and vary the RPM that way. I tried as much as possible to adhere to a proper break-in period, but sometimes you've got no choice. I kept the revs below 4,000 and didn't go WOT until I hit 2,000 kms. The mpg still continues to improve on this vehicle (currently sitting at a lifetime average 26.2 mpg). The odo has 6,4xx kms on it.

[mgaciah]

With actual high precision manufacturing tools I think breakin is becoming unnecesary, I think this is just to be followed to be safe in case something goes wrong despite all parts are new, in other hand if breakin were so critical, manufacturer would change warranty conditions if breakin was not followed as established. but I think the diference between a "good" breakin and a bad "breakin" is nothing compare to delay oil/filter changes and some other routine maintanance during the life cycle of the car.

[Neuera09]

Originally Posted by mgaciah

With actual high precision manufacturing tools I think breakin is becoming unnecesary, I think this is just to be followed to be safe in case something goes wrong despite all parts are new, in other hand if breakin were so critical, manufacturer would change warranty conditions if breakin was not followed as established. but I think the diference between a "good" breakin and a bad "breakin" is nothing compare to delay oil/filter changes and some other routine maintanance during the life cycle of the car.

I hope you realize you are responding to a 2 year old post. No offense.

[mynameisplayer]

Yes, but the funny bit is the Canadian responding to the 'Merican in Kilometers!

[mgaciah]

Originally Posted by Neuera09

I hope you realize you are responding to a 2 year old post. No offense.

No worries, yes, I knew it, but breakin discussions never ends, every time anyone buy a new car the same questions arise.

[Neuera09]

Originally Posted by mgaciah

No worries, yes, I knew it, but breakin discussions never ends, every time anyone buy a new car the same questions arise.

[wenlipai]

Originally Posted by Socal2025

Page 190 of the owner's manual:

Breaking-in period
General information
Moving parts need to be broken in to adjust to
each other. The following instructions will help achieve a
long vehicle life and good economy.

Engine and differential
Always obey the official speed limit.

Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Do not exceed the maximum engine and road
speed:
▷ For gasoline engine 4,500 rpm and
100 mph/160 km/h.
▷ For diesel engine 3,500 rpm and
93 mph/150 km/h.
Avoid full load or kickdown under all circumstances.

From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.

Thanks for sharing

[BartG]

Originally Posted by Aviator_JPN

Hi,

Could somebody tell me about the break-in period of X5? PDC will be an option for me to pick up the car but have to drive back for 1,000miles and I wonder if I have to keep RPM below certain number. Or no more break-in period for recent cars? I heard from some sales agents at other OEMs that the break-in period no longer exists with recent cars as all the parts are machined precisely than before. True?

Thanks!

So I got the opportunity to go to the BMW plant in South Carolina and spend the day at the Performance Center. They take band new cars and let people drive them like race cars for about 3,000 miles and then CPO them with the same 6 year 100,000 mile warranty.

On the auto cross track you red line the engine about 6 times per lap. Even with all that abuse they still stand by them. To me that kinda throws the break in period out the window.

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by BartG

So I got the opportunity to go to the BMW plant in South Carolina and spend the day at the Performance Center. They take band new cars and let people drive them like race cars for about 3,000 miles and then CPO them with the same 6 year 100,000 mile warranty.

On the auto cross track you red line the engine about 6 times per lap. Even with all that abuse they still stand by them. To me that kinda throws the break in period out the window.

Well almost everything in the engine is roller design. And manufacting is a lot better today. The only thing that kinda breaks in are the piston rings. And racers usually say to ride an engine hard to break those in. Babying a new engine is worse in my opinion. Rings could perhaps never fully break in.... And then you may get oil burning.