1200 Mile Running In Service: Facts
Discussion
Hi all,
I started a thread last month on the Z4 Forum to establish the facts about the S54 M running in service: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&am... Most threads over the years have repeated the opinion that our cars are filled with special running in oils, therefore to change these fluids early could risk insufficient bedding in or worse if done considerably after 1200 miles or not at all then untold damage to components will occur.
Well, I contacted BMW UK, initially by phone, then by email, using my own chassis number as an example (2006 Z4M Roadster) that ended up involving BMW Classic and M GmbH and the factory. Here is the final response which I have been given permission to publish.
Dear Mr Smitheram
Thank you for your patience whilst we have been waiting to hear back from our contacts at the factory. We are pleased to confirm that the oil for rear axle differential, gearbox and engine are all the same as the oils used for replacement servicing.
LD39658 E85 M Roadster
Production date: 24-Aug-2006
Engine - S54
- SAE 10W-60
Gearbox - GS6-37BZ
- MTF-LT-2
Rear axle
BMW MSP/A Synthetic
No running-in lubricants are used in these components between build and 1,200 miles service.
Building upon this information, we are mindful that your initial concern was regarding the long-term impact of cars missing or having late 1,200 mile services. Our ‘best-practice’ recommendation would always be for prospective owners to look for vehicles with a service history that rigorously applies to the recommended schedules.
The 1,200 mile service for M-Product is designed in order to remove any deposits within engine / gearbox / differential that occur naturally with the bedding in of new components. Given M vehicles can and do operate at higher loads, temperatures and speeds compared to ‘normal’ Series BMW’s, effects of missing the 1200 mile service could have a detrimental effect on component longevity. It is perhaps worth highlighting that although BMW recommends service completion at 1,200 miles, a grace period for warranty purposes can be applied mindful of the fact that customers may wish to complete running-in during a vacation or similar. That grace period is +500 miles (1,700 for a maximum permissible). No grace for warranty is provided beyond that mileage.
Kind regards,
(Name Supplied)
BMW
United Kingdom
BMW Genius
My thoughts, for what they are worth:
This establishes the facts regarding my particular car, but I would guess this also applies to all S54 engined cars and other M products?
An early or late running in service could indicate an uncaring first owner, but at least we have reassurance from BMW that their are no specific bedding in oils in my S54. There could be metallic particles in the oils during the first 1200 miles, but I would have thought an oil filter would catch these from the engine oil, leaving just the gearbox and diff with bits potentially floating about. Most cars now are probably not warrantied by BMW anymore, so unless you were thinking of having a BMW warranty or p/x with a main dealer I don't think the grace period will be an issue for many.
Only the first owner will know how they drove the car in that first 1200 miles, they may have been too gentle, too harsh, thrashed from cold, who knows?
An early or late running in service wouldn't put me buying off a car providing other factors such as servicing and wear were as expected, 5+ owners and 10 years later a late first service is probably of minor consequence now.
My own car didn't have it's first service until 3000 miles, which was annoying but it didn't put me off buying the car a couple of years ago as every other requirement on my list was ticked and all servicing has been on time or early.
Cheers, Dave
I started a thread last month on the Z4 Forum to establish the facts about the S54 M running in service: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&am... Most threads over the years have repeated the opinion that our cars are filled with special running in oils, therefore to change these fluids early could risk insufficient bedding in or worse if done considerably after 1200 miles or not at all then untold damage to components will occur.
Well, I contacted BMW UK, initially by phone, then by email, using my own chassis number as an example (2006 Z4M Roadster) that ended up involving BMW Classic and M GmbH and the factory. Here is the final response which I have been given permission to publish.
Dear Mr Smitheram
Thank you for your patience whilst we have been waiting to hear back from our contacts at the factory. We are pleased to confirm that the oil for rear axle differential, gearbox and engine are all the same as the oils used for replacement servicing.
LD39658 E85 M Roadster
Production date: 24-Aug-2006
Engine - S54
- SAE 10W-60
Gearbox - GS6-37BZ
- MTF-LT-2
Rear axle
BMW MSP/A Synthetic
No running-in lubricants are used in these components between build and 1,200 miles service.
Building upon this information, we are mindful that your initial concern was regarding the long-term impact of cars missing or having late 1,200 mile services. Our ‘best-practice’ recommendation would always be for prospective owners to look for vehicles with a service history that rigorously applies to the recommended schedules.
The 1,200 mile service for M-Product is designed in order to remove any deposits within engine / gearbox / differential that occur naturally with the bedding in of new components. Given M vehicles can and do operate at higher loads, temperatures and speeds compared to ‘normal’ Series BMW’s, effects of missing the 1200 mile service could have a detrimental effect on component longevity. It is perhaps worth highlighting that although BMW recommends service completion at 1,200 miles, a grace period for warranty purposes can be applied mindful of the fact that customers may wish to complete running-in during a vacation or similar. That grace period is +500 miles (1,700 for a maximum permissible). No grace for warranty is provided beyond that mileage.
Kind regards,
(Name Supplied)
BMW
United Kingdom
BMW Genius
My thoughts, for what they are worth:
This establishes the facts regarding my particular car, but I would guess this also applies to all S54 engined cars and other M products?
An early or late running in service could indicate an uncaring first owner, but at least we have reassurance from BMW that their are no specific bedding in oils in my S54. There could be metallic particles in the oils during the first 1200 miles, but I would have thought an oil filter would catch these from the engine oil, leaving just the gearbox and diff with bits potentially floating about. Most cars now are probably not warrantied by BMW anymore, so unless you were thinking of having a BMW warranty or p/x with a main dealer I don't think the grace period will be an issue for many.
Only the first owner will know how they drove the car in that first 1200 miles, they may have been too gentle, too harsh, thrashed from cold, who knows?
An early or late running in service wouldn't put me buying off a car providing other factors such as servicing and wear were as expected, 5+ owners and 10 years later a late first service is probably of minor consequence now.
My own car didn't have it's first service until 3000 miles, which was annoying but it didn't put me off buying the car a couple of years ago as every other requirement on my list was ticked and all servicing has been on time or early.
Cheers, Dave
Edited by Fishy Dave on Thursday 9th March 13:06
I thought this was all common knowledge to be fair. When I bought my first M3 back in 2010 I made a few calls and it was quickly confirmed that there was a 500 miles grace period, and beyond that it would have warranty implications. I didn't ask exactly what those implications were, I was in the market for a car with a decent amount of warranty remaining and those words were enough to put me off.
Bayerische said:
Are there any problems associated with a very early running in service e.g 500 miles?
As above, the running in service changes fluids of exactly the same type the car came with from the factory, so I doubt there would be any mechanical problems other than warranty issues when the car was newer. Shaoxter said:
My brother just bought a Z4M that spun its bearings, covered by the dealer/warranty thankfully. Running in service was done at 2400 miles. I'm not going to draw any conclusions on this small sample size but those are the facts!
Pleased it was covered by the warranty. 
I'm not sure that a first service at 2400 miles would contribute to spun bearings, although clearly something has caused it? The fully synthetic fluids would not have broken down in 2400 miles, yes, there could be particles of metal from the bedding in process but these should be caught by the oil filter in any case. Spun bearings are more likely a result of being driven hard from cold, old oil/long service intervals (I don't mean 2400 miles) or other causes; the tolerances on the bearing shells are very close on these engines and some consider them a maintenance item.
Some years ago I purchase an E46 M3 from a BMW main dealer.... few years later went to trade it in at a different BMW dealership against a Z4MC. Everything was fine, had a price agreed, until they checked the service book to discover no 1200 first service. Therefore BMW couldn't sell the car as a AUC and they would have to sell it to a dealer, therefore resulting in a far lower trade in. Salesman advised me to go back to the original dealer to discuss as it was a check that they should have made before selling it to me.
Initial discussions didn't go well, until I got BMW UK involved and then I had a pissed off sales manager from the original garage offering to buy the car back at what I had paid, but he needed to collect it almost immediately !! Still got my money back !!!
Initial discussions didn't go well, until I got BMW UK involved and then I had a pissed off sales manager from the original garage offering to buy the car back at what I had paid, but he needed to collect it almost immediately !! Still got my money back !!!
My M3 CS was bought as an AUC and had no evidence of the running in service having been completed. All warranty work was honoured and I extended the warranty with Mondial after that. I sold the car with the warranty and in my ownership it had almost £3k of warranty work done.
I'd suggest that in my case, the lack of RIS didn't stop the ongoing BMW cover on the car.
I'd suggest that in my case, the lack of RIS didn't stop the ongoing BMW cover on the car.
Edited by MattOz on Friday 10th March 16:46
I was on the verge of buying an F10 M5 that a dealer had called me about and said they could bring the car in if I was interested.
Got a call back a couple days later and was told that the car in question had a late running in service (was done at over 2100 miles) and for that reason they cannot sell it as an AUC car so that was that.
However, I called BMW's official warranty sales department who advised that they would be happy to cover the car under warranty as long as the car had any subsequent services on tuime and which didn't highlight any problems then there would be no adverse warranty implications.
I then called 2 other dealers who confirmed what the first dealer told me in that they wouldn't sell this car as an AUC.
Got a call back a couple days later and was told that the car in question had a late running in service (was done at over 2100 miles) and for that reason they cannot sell it as an AUC car so that was that.
However, I called BMW's official warranty sales department who advised that they would be happy to cover the car under warranty as long as the car had any subsequent services on tuime and which didn't highlight any problems then there would be no adverse warranty implications.
I then called 2 other dealers who confirmed what the first dealer told me in that they wouldn't sell this car as an AUC.
If you have a late running in service it will always play on your mind.
It does seem like a glorified oil service and doesn't seem to have any long lasting effects to the engine.
The bottom line is that if anyone had their time back again they would wait for a car with the running in service done on time as that's what every buyer seems to ask about when interested in these cars.
Loads to choose from..just be patient.
It does seem like a glorified oil service and doesn't seem to have any long lasting effects to the engine.
The bottom line is that if anyone had their time back again they would wait for a car with the running in service done on time as that's what every buyer seems to ask about when interested in these cars.
Loads to choose from..just be patient.
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