[kz1000]

I forget from my 228i. Is there a break in period on my 230i?

[SteveInfante]

Yes. It's in the owner's manual. Not trying to be rude, I'm just saying.

[kz1000]

Thanks for the info. Not trying to be rude, I'm just saying.

[MarcoZandrini]

1200 miles/2000 kms is considered to be the break-in period for BMWs.

[Maynard]

And if you work the search function, some amusing and informative threads with much editorializing about best practices during that break in. My $.02 is to vary the speed (avoid cruise control), keep it under about 4500rpm, and avoid full throttle, especially from low rpms (hard to lug these engines w/ the AT, but you can do it in sport-shift mode if you try). Pay for the oil/filter change at the end of this, even though you probably don't really NEED it.

And download an electronic copy of the manual here https://www.bmwusa.com/owners-manuals.html

[MetalMK]

I would drive the car conservatively during the first 1000km

[Deegan Mutts]

Originally Posted by Maynard

My $.02 is to vary the speed (avoid cruise control), keep it under about 4500rpm, and avoid full throttle, especially from low rpms (hard to lug these engines w/ the AT, but you can do it in sport-shift mode if you try). Pay for the oil/filter change at the end of this, even though you probably don't really NEED it.

I'm not OP, but thanks for this. I noticed my car thinks it needs oil change @ 10,000 mi. So ignore that & get one at about 1,500 mi? I remember my e46 needed oil added fairly early on, before first oil change, but I don't remember when I did the oil change.

[MarcoZandrini]

Originally Posted by Deegan Mutts

I'm not OP, but thanks for this. I noticed my car thinks it needs oil change @ 10,000 mi. So ignore that & get one at about 1,500 mi? I remember my e46 needed oil added fairly early on, before first oil change, but I don't remember when I did the oil change.

Most consumer grade synthetic oil is finished by 8000-9000 miles. This is according to Blackstone Labs, a very respected fluids testing lab in Indiana. My 2018 M240i will have it's oil/filter changed (by me) at 1200 miles. The oil sample will go to Blackstone for testing. I plan on changing the oil every 6000 miles after that.

BMW stopped requiring initial break in oil changes when synthetic oil became popular.

[Deegan Mutts]

Cool, please let us know lab's findings. I'm interested to hear.

[Sindarin]

Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini

BMW stopped requiring initial break in oil changes when synthetic oil became popular.

M cars still require a 1200 mile engine oil service.

[Maynard]

Sure the synthetic oil is good for a long time, but post-break-in oil change is more to get rid of the little metal bits that come loose at first. With the M cars, there are also stories of voided warranties b/c people did not do the post-break in change (but I suspect these are unusual picky dealerships, and fully totaled motors). I'm also interested in what you get from the testing lab - I considered trying that, but didn't get my act together to collect the sample.

[USA-RET]

Thankfully I don't put 5K on my car a year, so annual visits w/ a tire rotation are in the offing.

[mike@x-ph.com]

As mentioned 1200 miles

[B58togo]

Originally Posted by kz1000

Thanks for the info. Not trying to be rude, I'm just saying.

Actually, you're asking.

[Maynard]

FWIW, I got my own oil changes at both 1500 and about 6k, and it still alerted for the 12-month anniversary change (that was also close to 10k miles, but I think it was going by the date, not miles). Don't know if that was b/c they did something specific to not reset the sensors, but I was glad that I was not cutting myself out of 'official' oil changes (I'd never wait the full 10k, so worried that it would never 'request' one for the dealership to pay for). It also tailors this to your driving, so it probably does not wait a full 10k unless you are really just doing simple highway.

And I'd also add an alignment check to the 'extra' maintenance - I got out of alignment and was reminded the hard way that once you chop-wear one tire, you are going to replace 4. At least I was going to switch to non RFT's anyway.