[Geighty7]

How long does everyone let their car warm up usually? I’m in SoCal so I usually let her warm up parked for 5ish minutes outside and then drive below 3k RPM until the first engine temp bar is complete.

After that, until I get to the 210 area I’m below 5k.

I’m easy on the clutch the whole time typically until I’m ready to let her rip. Not a ton of engine breaking until then also.

Just curious about everyone’s protocol!

I did notice I heat up a bit faster in efficient mode vs sport+. Maybe a closed up engine generating more heat?

[c1pher]

I usually wait for idle kickdown which is about the time I get settled into the car.

[M2 CCO]

Few minutes here as well.

[MrTiger]

I'm in Chicago with cold winters. No warm up. Get in, start the car and start driving. I do not push the car hard for the first 15-20min of driving

[Geighty7]

Originally Posted by MrTiger

I'm in Chicago with cold winters. No warm up. Get in, start the car and start driving. I do not push the car hard for the first 15-20min of driving

I can imagine it feels pretty stiff for those first 15 mins? Here in SoCal it usually gets cold at night but not terrible.

[stashstein]

Wait for idle down then drive off. Usually keep it under 5k until the oil gauge isn't blue but I'm not too crazy about it.

[Ravenseal]

Until the RPMs drop…the drive around calmly until it reaches operating temp.

[KevinC]

5-minute warm-up at idle is NOT a recommended procedure - by anyone including BMW. Start up, drive off, take it easy till oil is up to temp. That's it.

[stashstein]

Originally Posted by M2siast

For me it's: turn car on, set the location in navigation, buckle up, set preset M1, select Sport display with M Mode button... 1 minute or less temperature dependent.

You can select your M button before you start. I usually clutch in/press M1 then start car

iirc this still works if you have MDM or other TC setting, you just have to hit the button twice as usual.

[Searay55555]

Originally Posted by KevinC

5-minute warm-up at idle is NOT a recommended procedure - by anyone including BMW. Start up, drive off, take it easy till oil is up to temp. That's it.

I’ve heard the same thing. Idling isn’t good because it’s running too rich (if I remember right). Causes premature bearing wear I think. Pretty sure I read a thread about this in a n54 forum. I’d my memory right on this?

[aerobod]

No warmup for me, -30C turn on heated seats and steering wheel, then drive off immediately if windows have not misted up. +30C switch air conditioning on high and drive off immediately. Gentle throttle and revs use until engine has warmed up in any ambient temp.

[Tag]

Page 257 of the Owner's Manual.

[Geighty7]

Originally Posted by Tag

Page 257 of the Owner's Manual.

But does it give a reason why? I can’t imagine it doing any significant damage in 5 minutes. I’m 3-5 mins (usually 3 mins).

I have had my engine blow more “smoke” out the back when sitting at a red light too long when still cold. Unsure what that is but oh well.

[MPowerLUFC]

By the time I’ve got my phone in the charger, switched off stop/start, speed warning & lane assist the cold start has normally dropped and I’m away.

More take off procedures than a 747.

[Shadak]

it does feel like setting up a plane but i dont let it idle unnecessarily after start, dont think it helps in any way.

[WhiteRqbbit]

I just get in and go; I mean, it's a "performance engine," but it's not really a performance engine needing start-up procedures.

[MineralGreyMetallic]

This is an age old debate.

If there was any risk of damaging the car then you can be sure there would be notifications all over the place warning you to wait just so manufacturers can reduce their own liability.

Also the manual tells you to just drive. Makes sense to me.

[ttaidapos]

Chicago here. Wait for idle to kick down, don't drive hard until engine is is fully warmed up.

[MrTiger]

Originally Posted by Geighty7

I can imagine it feels pretty stiff for those first 15 mins? Here in SoCal it usually gets cold at night but not terrible.

It is extremely stiff and jerky, but you want to move the fluids as soon as possible and get them warmed up. Dont rev or do anything crazy until temps are up to spec but start and drive is a recommended approach by manufacturers. Any type of idling is never good since oil does not go where you want in your engine.

[MrTiger]

Originally Posted by Geighty7

But does it give a reason why? I can’t imagine it doing any significant damage in 5 minutes. I’m 3-5 mins (usually 3 mins).

I have had my engine blow more “smoke” out the back when sitting at a red light too long when still cold. Unsure what that is but oh well.

Reason is simple, oil thickens with low temps and viscosity is impacted. It will not get to all the critical parts if its idling and not warming up quickly.

[RockCrusher]

That long of a warm up idle time is a bit excessive. Especially in southern CA. (I lived in northern CA and never had to let the engine of any of my cars I owned there idle that long.)

With the exception of one car -- which I won't detail here -- my SOP is to after cold engine start as I am buckling up, scanning the dash for signs of trouble, taking note that I have everything, I let the engine idle. By the time I'm done with my pre drive check the elevated cold engine idle speed has dropped. I know this is when the engine controller has switched from open loop fuel control to closed loop fuel control. The O2 sensors/converters are up to operating temperature. Then I drive off.

I still avoid high RPMs heavy loads on the engine until the oil temperature has reached in the case of the M2 "210" on the oil temperature graph. With my M2 if I ask the car what the oil temperature is it replies that it is 210. It may be 210 or something else +/- some handful of degrees different than 210, but it is where it gets/stays no matter how much longer I drive or even if I push the engine harder. One of these days I'll see if I can use an OBD2 scan tool to obtain oil temperature.

Once the oil is up to its operating temperature then if I desire I will push the engine.

Never really paid that close of attention to any difference in warm up times in efficient mode vs. sport mode.

[Geighty7]

Been idling for like 2-5 mins since I got the far (probably negligent on my part) but should I be worried about any effects? I usually pull it out of my parking structure after rpm lockdown and onto the street for a few mins while I get settled.

Anyone here think I should be concerned about the random intensity of condensation(smoke kinda but not really) I’ll get at a red light while car isn’t heated? Seems like the engine will go into a deeper lull during that brief period.

After warm up it doesn’t really happen.