[YWGT3]

According to the service manager, the breaking-in period requires the gas engine to be driven for at least 1,200 miles. Miles driven in electric mode does not count. During the breaking-in of the vehicle, acceleration should be gradual and under 4500 rpm. Following this procedure will enable for a proper breaking-in of the engine's moving parts as well as ensure its parts that are met with friction will be properly honed.

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by yw

According to the service manager, the breaking-in period requires the gas engine to be driven for at least 1,200 miles. Miles driven in electric mode does not count. During the breaking-in of the vehicle, acceleration should be gradual and under 4500 rpm. Following this procedure will enable for a proper breaking-in of the engine's moving parts as well as ensure its parts that are met with friction will be properly honed.

Manual says 1200 miles total, nothing about the gasoline engine.

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by Epirali

Manual says 1200 miles total, nothing about the gasoline engine.

When it comes to the User's Manual, looks like they cut and paste standard boilerplate language pertaining to the break-in procedure for a gas engine vehicle while ignoring the glaring fact that it was meant for a hybrid. Whoever put the i8 User's Manual together needs to go back to the drawing board.

[MalibuBimmer]

The 3 cylinder engine in the i8 is pretty bulletproof so I wouldn't worry about the break in too much.

[JasH]

But it will still last longer, and run better if properly run in. Most likely resulting in slightly more power an efficiency. At the end of the day it is a combustion engine with metal parts rubbing together.

[kip1]

Originally Posted by Epirali

Manual says 1200 miles total, nothing about the gasoline engine.

Not true, it clearly says gasoline engine!

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by kip1

Not true, it clearly says gasoline engine!

Well I have to say that would be pretty darn impossible, unless you were willing to ONLY drive in sport or always turn on "hold charge."

[kip1]

Originally Posted by Epirali

Well I have to say that would be pretty darn impossible, unless you were willing to ONLY drive in sport or always turn on "hold charge."

I know Going to take it easy 2000km. The worst thing for me is having deristricted Autobahns when I pick itup and I can only go 160 KM/h

[mu2002cs]

I treated my i8 gently for the first 1200 miles. Not sure how many actual miles on the engine, but would say at least 800. I then had the oil and filter changed. Will change the oil every 5000, regardless what BMW says. Do this for all my cars.

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by mu2002cs

I treated my i8 gently for the first 1200 miles. Not sure how many actual miles on the engine, but would say at least 800. I then had the oil and filter changed. Will change the oil every 5000, regardless what BMW says. Do this for all my cars.

I've been told that today's engines are built to withstand higher tolerances. However, I'd be inclined to agree with you as it pertains to the initial 5,000 mile oil and filter change -especially if there exists the potential for suspended metal filaments or particles in the oil resulting from friction during the breaking-in period. As an example, although there can be a myriad of reasons for an engine to lose compression, scoring of the cylinder walls by particle laden oil could be a candidate for the loss of pressure and therefore power. An early oil and filter change (before the 10K miles) following the breaking-in period would alleviate this concern, whether warranted or not.

Along the lines of treating your vehicles right, I recall the time when my Porsche mechanic advised me to allow for the new vehicle to warm up sufficiently before gently throttling it up to the higher end of the break-in rpm range. Furthermore, I was advised to vary engine speeds within the rpm break-in bandwith. He went on to say "By following the advice, the turbo engine will reward you, not only from a performance perspective but from the maintenance cost aspect as well. I followed his advice and the car was practically trouble free -except for its faulty headlights and its unforgivingly stiff suspension (far better suited for the track).

[MalibuBimmer]

Breaking-in period
General information
Moving parts need time to adjust to one another
(break-in time).
The following instructions will help accomplish
a long vehicle life and good efficiency.
During break-in, do not use the Launch Control,
refer to page 73.
Engine, transmission, and axle drive
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.
Avoid full load or kickdown under all circumstances.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.

Driving Tips section of Owner's Manual (U.S.) at p. 138.

[LowOnCash]

My recommendation is that you warn the engine up when backing out of your garage - just a quick push of the throttle in reverse or neutral will engage; "warm up mode" which will last a few minutes. The worst thing you can do is drive it in electric mode then stomp the throttle and the engine goes wide-open with no oil circulated and dead cold (wrong expansion) not the best thing for any engine especially one that is not broke in yet!

Enjoy!

[JasH]

Originally Posted by Idleup

"warm up mode"

Warm up mode? Never heard of this. What are the details please?

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by JasH

Warm up mode? Never heard of this. What are the details please?

Spoke to MB service advisor (by default since I was having my MB serviced) and seems this warm up mode Jash is referring to works well with earlier generation motor vehicles. However for today's engine dependent cars, a low revving start off (stationary idle may be unnecessary) will be a sufficient process to draw oil through parts and areas requiring lubrication through the engine and other moving parts throughout the chassis. Fast or deliberate kicking down on the acceleration of the gas pedal when engine temperature has not fully warmed up places undue stress on most moving parts of the vehicle. Seem this scenario could occur when driving in e-mode and with the engine kicks in without being properly warmed up.

With this advisor's comments in mind, I can see when the abrupt engine mode kicking in from time to time for the i8, while driving in electric mode and with without properly warming up the engine, may not be ideal for the operation for the engine, let alone during its break-in procedure. Suggestion, warming up the initial start of the i8 by starting off in sports mode may be worthy of consideration.

Based on the aforementioned, I've already sent feedback to BMW engineering (from a recent BMW North American service survey) that the i8 User Manual needs to further define the i8 break-in and warm up procedure due to its hybrid nature.

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by yw

Spoke to MB service advisor (by default since I was having my MB serviced) and seems this warm up mode Jash is referring to works well with earlier generation motor vehicles. However for today's engine dependent cars, a low revving start off (stationary idle may be unnecessary) will be a sufficient process to draw oil through parts and areas requiring lubrication through the engine and other moving parts throughout the chassis. Fast or deliberate kicking down on the acceleration of the gas pedal when engine temperature has not fully warmed up places undue stress on most moving parts of the vehicle. Seem this scenario could occur when driving in e-mode and with the engine kicks in without being properly warmed up.

With this advisor's comments in mind, I can see when the abrupt engine mode kicking in from time to time for the i8, while driving in electric mode and with without properly warming up the engine, may not be ideal for the operation for the engine, let alone during its break-in procedure. Suggestion, warming up the initial start of the i8 by starting off in sports mode may be worthy of consideration.

Based on the aforementioned, I've already sent feedback to BMW engineering (from a recent BMW North American service survey) that the i8 User Manual needs to further define the i8 break-in and warm up procedure due to its hybrid nature.

Well they do have some instructions for launch control that suggests running engine for 6 minutes before using launch control. So I pretty much use that as a guide for warming up the engine. Put into Sports mode, drive moderately while staring at the time, then go!

[jcpca356]

I drove it like I stole it from day 1!

[JasH]

I wish they would add an oil temperature indicator - at least in Sport mode

[Baron UK]

Originally Posted by jcpca356

I drove it like I stole it from day 1!

Quality

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by JasH

I wish they would add an oil temperature indicator - at least in Sport mode

Actually an oil indicator would be an excellent reminder for one to warm up the engine. Come to think of it, I monitor the oil temp in my other vehicles before putting them through their paces (sadly for me that activity is relegated to freeway on-ramps and stretches of highway during non-commute hours).

[Powerbeast]

For the most part just like any M engine break in.

[YWGT3]

If any i8 owner has their car in for service, chances are you will receive a survey which will include customer feedback/suggestions for the vehicle. This feedback may be helpful to encourage BMW to modify and update the software for the graphic readouts and informational display for the i8. I would appreciate it if you could include the following:
Instrument Cluster
1) Oil temp gauge
2) Narrower and sharper power band indicators for engine and traveling speed.
3) Larger and clearer readouts
Heads up display
1) Gear selection ( per JasH's suggestions in one of the i8 threads)
2) RPM indicator

Any other suggestions to this idea would be most welcomed.

[MalibuBimmer]

Excellent ideas.