[DanG]

Just made in break-in service appointment today. BMWUSA pays for a break-in service at 1,200 miles on M235is. My advisor told me to make sure it had at least 1,200 miles on it because if it was under by as little as a mile BMW would not pay for it.

[darkerosxx]

Please post your dealer. My dealer and BMWNA say no.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by darkerosxx

Please post your dealer. My dealer and BMWNA say no.

BMW Seattle.

[ska///235i]

What exactly are they performing?

Its prbly just an oil change...if any

[DanG]

I am pretty sure that it is an oil and filter change.

[Delnari]

If this true I would love to get mine done as well. I have a whole 475 miles so far!

[jharradinen]

Its prbly just an oil change.

[pruettfan]

I don't really understand the desire to service the car so early, I suppose if BMW is paying for it why not but 1,200 miles is too low to break down a modern synthetic oil so you are basically replacing new oil with new oil. It is far more important to break the car in properly than get an oil change so early. Like I said it can't hurt but I doubt it will help.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

I don't really understand the desire to service the car so early, I suppose if BMW is paying for it why not but 1,200 miles is too low to break down a modern synthetic oil so you are basically replacing new oil with new oil. It is far more important to break the car in properly than get an oil change so early. Like I said it can't hurt but I doubt it will help.

I think it is more to get rid of any contaminates in the oil or filter from the break in. Some people think that their could be small metal shavings.

[zkeeper]

It's not break down of new oil that is the concern on really any decent motor, not withstanding any new car. It's to remove any swarf, any thing that could interfere with rings and bearings. It's not the oil issue, it's the motor cleansing. I will get tons of disagreements...but

Personally, I would change any new motor's oil--if you wish longevity. To run a new motor of any make for upwards of 10K is IMHO, just not wise.

But, to each his own. I just would not wish to buy the car later & thankfully would not have to--but that's me.

[pikcachu]

BMW of Bellevue just confirmed this to me too

"Yes there is, it's part of the program."

I guess it's the maintenance program?

[bitcore]

Originally Posted by zkeeper

It's not break down of new oil that is the concern on really any decent motor, not withstanding any new car. It's to remove any swarf, any thing that could interfere with rings and bearings. It's not the oil issue, it's the motor cleansing. I will get tons of disagreements...but

Personally, I would change any new motor's oil--if you wish longevity. To run a new motor of any make for upwards of 10K is IMHO, just not wise.

Nail on the head.

Modern motors are machined to very exacting tolerances, but the effects of temperature expanding the shapes of every metallic piece will invariably be every so slightly out of alignment out of the projected engineered ideal. -Anyone remember the E36 M50 motor cylinders that would have a tendency to become oval shaped? That metal didn't just disappear, it mostly went into the oil system (some out of exhaust, but a small percentage, ~3%). It was because we as a species didn't know 100% about the nikasil composition, thermal expansion properties, variances in machining and casting, etc. Let alone every engine block's crystalline structure is different. BMW took a bit of a risk on a new alloy, and they wound up having oval shaped bores after a long period of time. They simply wore unevenly. Thankfully it took a long time before compression was affected, and the rest of the car was thoroughly worn out - but the mass loss of metal was measurable. Let us not forget that these are still machines that have a large percentage of metal sliding against other pieces of metal.

After the manufacture of a new engine, it's engineering is never perfect - there is a break in period where all of the major parts are designed to wear just enough to create a perfect fit. Why else would you hone a bore? If they wanted the bores to be perfect, they would have lapped their surfaces instead of intentionally roughed them up. So, I'm talking below micrometers of material being shaved off here - but that amount of grit in a bearing is like chewing on a burger with sand in it. You are going to notice. You don't want those break-in byproducts circulating through your engine and scraping away your bearing surfaces for very long. ESPECIALLY if you plan on increasing the power output of the motor in any fashion. As a point of example, formula 1 cars are warmed up intravenously to bring all of their mechanical pieces into the exact thermally expanded size that they were designed to operate at - else they will either fail or wear down so quickly during warm-up that they will not perform correctly. Our cars don't have that luxury, so they have to have relaxed tolerances to operate in a wider temperature range, and for more than a few races.

Change your oil & filter after 1,000 miles or so after you get your car. Don't even think about it, just do it. It's less than a hundred dollars to do so on a multi-thousand dollar car and it will be very beneficial to it's longevity.

Edit: I was actually surprised when I bought my 135 that this wasn't a standard procedure. I'm pleasantly surprised and delighted that this is something BMW actually recommends on their new generation. Regardless, I still changed both oil and filter on my own after I hit 1K miles.

[jadnashuanh]

AN early oil change is (I think) part of the M car service routine...maybe it's the tighter tolerances of their engines, or whatever. In most cases, it doesn't really matter, but it won't hurt anything except your pocketbook, if you have to pay for it.

My thought, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

[Delnari]

Tried to get this authorized for early oil change by contacting BMWNA. They said, NO. This vehicle does not require it and will not be eligible for a "no charge" service. Looks like my first oil change will be in my driveway

[darcivic00si]

Originally Posted by Delnari

Looks like my first oil change will be in my driveway

That's what I was thinking. It is super easy to do. I just did the first oil change in our 2013 335i. BMW changed the service interval from 2 years to 1 year on 2014+ cars so I figured it would be a good idea to change it now instead of waiting for 2 years!!

[Delnari]

Agree, I only drive about 6K miles a year and really don't want old oil keep in the car for any real length of time. Will do this first break-in oil change after 1200 miles and wait one year for BMW to start picking up the tab once a year.

[Yeoman]

Yeah what does the manufacturer know.. they only designed and built the motor and need to back it with warranty. The dealer recommends you spend money needlessly? But of course! hahaha

Time to up my stake in the oil companies after reading this idiocy. Some people like it hard from the rear.

[Delnari]

Opinions and A-holes, too many to go around

[lichenlt]

Got this in my M235i ED package, was it a mistake? There have been conflicting reports about this from BMWNA reps and dealers.

[lichenlt]

Got this in my m235i ED package.

[DanG]

Mine goes in tomorrow for 1200 mile service. I'll let you guys know what happens.

[lichenlt]

Originally Posted by lichenlt

Got this in my m235i ED package.

The picture was not uploaded successfully, here we go.