[BigM]

I turned 1250 miles today so on the way home you just know I had to see what my Red/Red S would do. I had to wait until I was on a stretch of road with little traffic then I wound the S up to 6k in 4th, hitting over 90mph, then 5th, 110mph, then 6th, 122mph and never approached the 6750 red line. The pull from this engine was great and up till now I had only experienced it to about 4200 rpm. It sure felt like more that 163 hp to me. Now this is not something I do often, haven't had a speeding ticket in 21 years, but I just had to find out. I believe this little car would truly be dangerous to an inexperienced driver now and if and when the upgrades happen, (cold air intake, exhaust and chip) this car will be a screaming little machine.

[CUTiger3]

Quote:

Originally posted by BigM
The pull from this engine was great and up till now I had only experienced it to about 4200 rpm. It sure felt like more that 163 hp to me. I believe this little car would truly be dangerous to an inexperienced driver now and if and when the upgrades happen, (cold air intake, exhaust and chip) this car will be a screaming little machine.

My sentiments exactly

[BrantV]

I can certainly understand the temptations. Yet it would seem that most people are either forgetting, or temptations are forcing them to ignore part of the break in procedure. Specifically what 1200 miles means, and what to do afterwards.

I get the impression that a lot of owners have decided that the 1200 mile goal was the end of the break in procedure. Not according the the manual, where MINI recommends gradually increasing the RPM over time.

While MINI doesn't recommend any set rate of increase, someone had earlier suggested that they were going to increase 500 RPMs every 200 miles. I suppose the rate is ultimately up to you.

I've actually been thinking of getting a transparent piece of red static film, that I could cut out a half circle and apply to the front of the tachometer. Then after 1200 miles, I could gradually cut it down into a pie slice.

Any chance you have the computer, and glanced at the consumption at 122 mph?

Cheers,
Brant

[EBMCS03]

Quote:

Originally posted by BrantV
someone had earlier suggested that they were going to increase 500 RPMs every 200 miles. I suppose the rate is ultimately up to you.

WOW thats going to take forever to get to redline... I think I'll set mine to be 1000RPM every 200 miles.

[BrantV]

Quote:

Originally posted by UCSDxB0i


WOW thats going to take forever to get to redline... I think I'll set mine to be 1000RPM every 200 miles.

Forever?

I suppose I'll agree with you when I get my MINI too, as the temptation will probably prove to be too great, but 1,900 miles is hardly forever.

1,900 miles if you follow 500 every 200, and 2,000 if you follow 250 every 100.

As the miles accumulate the adherence to the procedure should be less critical. So go for 1000 every 200 if you want. Although even at a slower pace, it shouldn't take forever, as you'll be allowed to have more fun and probably end up driving your car even more. I plan on having my brake-in procedure finished with 2 weeks, although I may have to take time off work to do it. I'd rather save the vacation time for when it's completely broken in, then take it on a good road trip.

[K-Dog]

I've had my S up to 135 and gas consumption by the OBC was 19 mpg. I followed the break-in procedures and eased up after 1200 miles, and you'll still hit over 100 in 6th at around 4500 rpm.

[suprchrgdmini]

I believe that you should drive it like you stole it from day 1. A friend of mine has broken his in by the book and i is way slower than mine. The engine can handle the rpms from day one.

[AidenL]

Quote:

Originally posted by suprchrgdmini
I believe that you should drive it like you stole it from day 1. A friend of mine has broken his in by the book and i is way slower than mine. The engine can handle the rpms from day one.

Actually, thats what my dealer keeps saying to do too, every car I buy from him !

[Sausagefingers]

Now thats a brilliant approach Superchgd.

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by suprchrgdmini
I believe that you should drive it like you stole it from day 1. A friend of mine has broken his in by the book and i is way slower than mine. The engine can handle the rpms from day one.

Day one?

I think it is day 1,460 and beyond (when the warranty has expired! ) that those of us who did the break-in 'by the book' are thinking about.

[AidenL]

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceK


Day one?

I think it is day 1,460 and beyond (when the warranty has expired! ) that those of us who did the break-in 'by the book' are thinking about.

Does the car log how it was driven I wonder , during the running in period, I mean, can the dealer actually check by downloading stored information ?

I assume the running in instructions are only "recommendations" as opposed to an instruction ?

[Sausagefingers]

Well said Bruce.

[AidenL]

BTW, I did actually run my car in "By The Book", despite my dealers recommendation to let it rip !

[BrantV]

Quote:

Originally posted by AidenL


Does the car log how it was driven I wonder , during the running in period, I mean, can the dealer actually check by downloading stored information ?

Yes. At a minimum information like highest RPM and max speed reached are recorded. Truth is most, if not all, modern cars have computer controlled diagnostic systems. Similar to the black boxes on airplanes, they track a lot more information about your driving than you'd probably ever want known.

Things, like speed of vehicle at time of accident, air bag deployment, seatbelts, reading of all sensors. They do this to protect their asses, in case an airbag doesn't deploy, they have the data to show if it was necessary.

They also probably track things like percent of time at various RPM ranges. So they'll know if your time spent north of the 4500 mark was a temporary blip, or sustained, and repetitive.

Ironically these things started in the mid eighties. 1984? Probably not, but close.

[benggolf]

are properly and gently broken-in? Bet my last dollar that most are driven like a bat out of hell from day one!

Result? They are faster/quicker than ever!

I still believe in observing break-in and more frequent oil/oil filter changes, but just wanted to point the fact.

[BrantV]

Quote:

Originally posted by benggolf
Have you ever wondered if rentals are properly and gently broken-in? Bet my last dollar that most are driven like a bat out of hell from day one!

I can almost guarantee you that they aren't. It's the absolute last thing on your mind. In a foreign city with an unfamiliar vehicle, it's too easy to end up late, and hurrying to get somewhere, like back to the airport in time to catch a flight home.

As a non-smoker, who demands smoke free cars, 4/5 times I get a free upgrade.
And given a Mustang or Cougar for the day, you can be sure I'm not the only one going to test it's acceleration. It's not about racing of testing the top speed. It's finding yourself in the right lane at a traffic light, and discovering you need to turn left at the next intersection. If it was a stick, you'd rev and drop the clutch. As it's an automatic, left foot on the brake, and give it some gas loading up the suspension until the light turns green. Drop your left foot off the brake and floor it.

Quote:

Result? They are faster/quicker than ever!

How do you figure that? I've never had to rent in Canada because I live too close. However, every major rental fleet in the US is entirely automatics, and mostly comprised of vehicles I'd never buy. US automakers seem to create models configured just for rental fleets, with cheap components. How can you compare the performance of an automatic chevy cavalier to a non rental? Do you own any of the vehicles you'd rent? Same model and year?

There's definitely nothing in there you could compare to a MCS.

[benggolf]

Quote:

Originally posted by BrantV
How do you figure that? I've never had to rent in Canada because I live too close. However, every major rental fleet in the US is entirely automatics, and mostly comprised of vehicles I'd never buy. US automakers seem to create models configured just for rental fleets, with cheap components. How can you compare the performance of an automatic chevy cavalier to a non rental? Do you own any of the vehicles you'd rent? Same model and year?

There's definitely nothing in there you could compare to a MCS.

BrantV, I was not comparing it against a Mini at all. I was making reference to driving an equivalent model that might have been broken in according to the books versus one from the rental fleet. Understand? Please be more courteous when you answer.

The point I am making is that "let her rip from the first day" usually yield a faster/quicker car. That's all.

[BrantV]

Quote:

Originally posted by benggolf

BrantV, I was not comparing it against a Mini at all. I was making reference to driving an equivalent model that might have been broken in according to the books versus one from the rental fleet. Understand?

Yes, but you stated no such comparison. I was genuinely curious if you had actually performed the stated comparison.

Quote:

Please be more courteous when you answer.

Just how would you have me word it? If you feel my reply wasn't courteous or polite, why don't you reread it without assuming I'm upset at you. Tone is very hard to convey in text. Please be assured, I had no intent on being aggressive or abusive. Really how would you have worded it? Am I restricted to simple yes and no answers, or am I allowed to add character and comment as well?

I agree with you premise that rental cars are abused from day one, but disagree that it somehow supports a theory that abused cars are quicker. Where's the evidence. I think we can agree that if someone wanted to perform side by side comparisons, and needed to find an abused vehicle, their local rental agency would be a good place to look.

If you believe so strongly that your theory is indeed the fact, as you say, then why the contradiction in also believing in observing the break-in procedure?

Quote:

The point I am making is that "let her rip from the first day" usually yield a faster/quicker car. That's all.

It's a debatable theory.

[benggolf]

Not interested in carrying out this conversation at all. Forget it.

[Sausagefingers]

Sorry Ben, I don't think anyone is trying to beat up on you here, however your statement sounds rather rediculous and completly without any evidence to back it up. This forum is rather important to a lot of people looking for the best advice for these new cars in order to maintain maximum longevity and performance. To do something completly contrary to the manufactures reccomendation because you think it feels faster is not the most reasonable approach. We are all just looking out for each others mini's on this site and what to make sure everyone gets the most possible enjoyment and the least amount of headaches possible with thier cars!! Maybe if you had something to back your statement up it would offer yourself a little more credibility.