500 miles in my new M3

wellee · 12-20-2010, 01:49 AM

Hi everyone, I've had the car for a week and I'm loving it! Just curious what you guys think is the maximum amount of time I should allow the car to idle for. I've done it a few times, sitting there for 5-10 minutes each time while fiddling with the iDrive. I just read that it's bad to let it idle for an extended period during break-in. Any thoughts?

kaykay · 12-20-2010, 02:03 AM

Whaaaaa????

Enjoy your car, it can idle for hours. Read the manual, it's a great read and will teach you everything you need to know about the greatness you bought.

creepy coupe · 12-20-2010, 02:42 AM

Get in it a drive, don't idle an engine too long.

G-SPQT · 12-20-2010, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

Don't idle the engine when the car is on. Get in, wait till RPM's settle(10-15 seconds tops) and drive off. This is to make sure everything warms up together...and effectively.

+1

Seven7 · 12-20-2010, 05:29 AM

I let the car idle until this really loud noise in the engine quiet down. Usually takes about 30-60seconds. Is the noise normal? I would assume it's a cold start right? And it's better to let the car idle until the cold start noise goes away right??

romanvn106 · 12-20-2010, 09:58 AM

yep drive it like you stole it

donovan · 12-20-2010, 10:02 AM

Start 1 min wait if 50 degrees, 2 if cold. Drive and go, drive it to warm it up personally, just dont get on it until its good and warm. THEN SEAL THAT ENGINE properly!!!

mdosu · 12-20-2010, 12:15 PM

in this case, you might as well not start the car and just run the idrive on battery, easier and cheaper to replace than anything that's going on in your head that might break from excess idling.

The battery is heavy duty, there's features where you can keep your headlights on for like 1.5 mins after you shut off your car, I doubt running the idrive for 5 mins drains more battery than that.

aznclickster · 12-20-2010, 12:23 PM

i think in the manual it says "Set off immediately" under the driving tips section

llis · 12-20-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

Don't idle the engine when the car is on.

Idle only when the car is off.

cloud8r · 12-20-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznclickster

i think in the manual it says "Set off immediately" under the driving tips section

+1 The manual specifically states to begin driving right away in a reasonable manner until the engine reaches normal op temp. Reason for this is the get everything warm and lubed asap (same reason people used to idle the car until the temp increased). But bmw seems to recommend that it's better to get engine to full op temp asap by driving it. With all this said, I think it's ok to let it idle from a cold start every once in a while and from an already warm start all the time.

Gkap · 12-20-2010, 01:04 PM

dont think it really matters.

wellee · 12-20-2010, 01:38 PM

Thanks for all the responses; you guys are a great help. As long as I didn't mess up the break-in, I won't worry about it. The manual says to vary engine speed, and I figured idling for awhile is detrimental. Had I known, I would've turned the car off.

Anyhow, I just want to get the most out the car during my 3-year lease!

emthreeboy · 12-20-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

Don't idle the engine when the car is on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by llis

Idle only when the car is off.

OC3 · 12-20-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gkap

dont think it really matters.

+1

12-20-2010, 01:49 AM	#1
wellee Wellee 14 Rep 64 Posts Drives: Alpine White 535i M Sport Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	500 miles in my new M3 Hi everyone, I've had the car for a week and I'm loving it! Just curious what you guys think is the maximum amount of time I should allow the car to idle for. I've done it a few times, sitting there for 5-10 minutes each time while fiddling with the iDrive. I just read that it's bad to let it idle for an extended period during break-in. Any thoughts?
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12-20-2010, 02:03 AM	#2
kaykay Lieutenant Colonel 90 Rep 1,769 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E93 328i Conve ... [9.50] 2011 E92 M3 ZCP [8.66] 2008 550i Sport [10.00]	Whaaaaa???? Enjoy your car, it can idle for hours. Read the manual, it's a great read and will teach you everything you need to know about the greatness you bought. __________________ '12 CLS550 Palladium Silver - loaded '11 E92 M3 ZCP - SG/B-EXT/CF, M-DCT, loaded '11 E93 328i, BSM over Saddle Brown, sport, loaded '08 550i M-Sport, Carbon Black (Gone but not forgotten), '06 W211 E55 AMG (Gone, miss this animal),'01 E39 540i Sport
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12-20-2010, 02:42 AM	#3
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1868 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	Get in it a drive, don't idle an engine too long.
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12-20-2010, 05:29 AM	#5
Seven7 First Lieutenant 54 Rep 348 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E92 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Vancouver BC iTrader: (1)	I let the car idle until this really loud noise in the engine quiet down. Usually takes about 30-60seconds. Is the noise normal? I would assume it's a cold start right? And it's better to let the car idle until the cold start noise goes away right??
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12-20-2010, 09:58 AM	#6
romanvn106 Private 7 Rep 71 Posts Drives: e93 m3, gs350 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Brooklyn NY iTrader: (0)	yep drive it like you stole it
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12-20-2010, 10:02 AM	#7
donovan Brigadier General 372 Rep 4,167 Posts Drives: R8 - Ford Raptor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: National iTrader: (17)	Start 1 min wait if 50 degrees, 2 if cold. Drive and go, drive it to warm it up personally, just dont get on it until its good and warm. THEN SEAL THAT ENGINE properly!!! __________________ Audi R8 v10 Ford Raptor m3e46freak@yahoo.comfor all euro parts!! ebay/craigslist verified/ m3post/e46fanantics/m3forum/zpost/bimmerforum
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12-20-2010, 12:15 PM	#8
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	in this case, you might as well not start the car and just run the idrive on battery, easier and cheaper to replace than anything that's going on in your head that might break from excess idling. The battery is heavy duty, there's features where you can keep your headlights on for like 1.5 mins after you shut off your car, I doubt running the idrive for 5 mins drains more battery than that.
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12-20-2010, 12:23 PM	#9
aznclickster Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 242 Posts Drives: E92 ///M Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00]	i think in the manual it says "Set off immediately" under the driving tips section
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12-20-2010, 01:04 PM	#12
Gkap BMF Movement 51 Rep 3,024 Posts Drives: Women Crazy Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: GTA iTrader: (1)	dont think it really matters.
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12-20-2010, 01:38 PM	#13
wellee Wellee 14 Rep 64 Posts Drives: Alpine White 535i M Sport Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the responses; you guys are a great help. As long as I didn't mess up the break-in, I won't worry about it. The manual says to vary engine speed, and I figured idling for awhile is detrimental. Had I known, I would've turned the car off. Anyhow, I just want to get the most out the car during my 3-year lease!
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