Just taken delivery of a 2011 JCW Convertible and it really is magnificent - I had wondered, perhaps a bit sceptically, what all the fuss was about given my Cooper S was great but the difference is so apparent. Everything feels so much more immediate.
Anyway my query is the running in period - it will only get used occasionaly and a bit concerned it's going to be a long time before I get to use the full engine capacity. I realise there's no solution other than using it more but has anyone just blasted away from day one?
PS Any other JCW convertibles out there?
Alll the best, Chris
Last edited by doctorchris; Apr 8th, 2011 at 07:30 AM.
Reason: ?
to run it in properly you need to put some miles on it.
the engine, brakes, tyres, etc all need to bed themselves in gradually over about 1000mls or so.
but if you did blast it, as you put it straight away, you probably would not do any immediate damage but may reduce the longegivity of some parts, and the overall smoothness of the car.
but hey, if your only going to keep the car a couple of years at the most, knock yourself out !!
Thanks all, certainly will be taking care of it - hopefully the photo will load OK. Out of interest do the factory JCWs not have a plaque/sticker on the air filter like the dealer fit JCW kit?
The first 250 miles take it easy take it to 5k rpm max , then blast it when you have the chance to get it 3rd full or more until 1000miles, traffic and grandma ride will create carbon deposits fast. I suggest invest in new oil at 1000miles, liquimoly racetech 10w60 with m0s2 treatment is my recomedation(lowers the rattle diesel noise). Fuel and itg recomendations in other post, its a must. Lets not forget that JCW cars have race engines, BMW M put their hands on the engine with JCW. Its true longevity can be altered but these engines are for challenge racing, so blast it and be happy.
PD:If you are taking the car to the beach or very dirty places, put the oem paper filter.
In my view the above advice is BAD so do not follow it. The engine is not a race engine and even if it was you would not be doing tghe maintenance on it gthat a race engine would require.
In your manual there is a section on how to run in your car - follow it and it will be fine.
I would also recomend changing engine oil and filter at 1000 miles, use the BMW / MINI recommend oil.
Any advice is GOOD, you just have a different point of view and YES its a race engine, go google what jcw and ///M did to that engine .Mine is 252bhp with 1298miles. Just ubeateable at the time attack.
Follow the car manual if you feel like it, its a refference, GOOD ADVICE is to google what you have purchased and have your own opinion on it.
My opinion is based on experience , i became a master mechanic at 18 years old and was driving a corrado vr6 that time before my golfs. That corrado gave me a lot of headaches and my father too jajajaj he had to pay for repairs and here in Peru that 15 degree V6 was a space engine so i had to study. Back then, there was no google so European car magazine an bentley manual was my info .
Now you can find on google hundreds of articles, of people WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT and also forums. That how i find out this nice forum. That how i find these engine rattle like diesel, ( even i had a 207 rc and didnt rattle, i traded for mi first mcs red chilli s) i find how to fix the door rattles and more.
I am no bragging about my jcws bhp, just telling the fellow friend that i already reflashed and no problems. The engine has potential for 300bhp so if he wants to blast it , thats the QUESTION HERE, so be happy and do it. The manual is a refference guide and MINI would not mind, i seen my log to siemens last week and my reflash didnt appear. On my last 135i it did. My tuner conceal the extra ponnies at the sport mode overboost program(it uses de 1.3 bar but mods not to turn down at 211 just to finish up at 1.3 and there its is) . My runs smooth but when i press it , i turns to drag racing jajajaj .
So whats my conclusion, modern engines aand we are far now from the 90s , dont need any runing in ,( my 1998 mk4 gti did flashed a smile face at etka cause i put the car over the red line and almost lost the warranty) . Traffic jams and low revs will create carbon deposits and you may losse a fe ponnies , so my recomendation is to drive spirited , change the oil at 1000 like we AGREED and then do what ever you want , enter time attack, autoX, or just have fun and blast it for fun. Fun is one and the most important reason why we love cars.
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Ricers edge 
