breaking in a new C230
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
breaking in a new C230
i'll be getting my new coupe this month and i was just wondering what suggestions everyone has for breaking it in. i've heard and read so many different things. i'd like to hear some advice from people who actually own the car. thanks.
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From: SF
2007 VW GTI
i didn't take my coupe above 3000-3500 rpm for the first 1000 miles, and i still took it easy for the next 1000 miles. i've done this with every car i've owned and i've never had any problems in the long run.
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I seriously have problems not gunning it.
My car had 23 miles and i was flooring it. I used the touch shift since day one, It doesnt seem to be affecting anything. LIke if i need to pass someone, cant keep it low rpm
I was doing donuts and breakstand before i even had 100 miles. now I have 700 miles and it seems to really be improving performance. Was really sluggish when it was brandy new.
Probably because it was sitting in the lot since march.
My car had 23 miles and i was flooring it. I used the touch shift since day one, It doesnt seem to be affecting anything. LIke if i need to pass someone, cant keep it low rpm
I was doing donuts and breakstand before i even had 100 miles. now I have 700 miles and it seems to really be improving performance. Was really sluggish when it was brandy new.
Probably because it was sitting in the lot since march.
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
Don't go long distances on the highway for the first 1000 miles and if you do, don't use cruise control and don't keep the engine at the same speed for a long period of time. Use different gears to adjust engine speeds. Also just don't rev it too high and not too often. You can go higher than 3000, especially if you need to get going. Just don't rev too high too often.
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
just confirming what most said take it easy the first 1000mi (no cruise and recommend keeping under 4k rpm). MB also recommend drive on various roads and at various speeds/conditions to get adjusted (street, city, country, highway, summer mode, winter mode, etc.....speed can be 100mph+ if u need/like). Also, this is something I do with my last few cars is I find out what the normal engine/coolant temp is (on C230k it seems to be about 90F+). I warm up engine in the morning and drive under 40mph until the engine get to optimal temp then start driving normally or even hard if necessary. Also when coming home after driving for a while or driving hard, drive for under 40mph for about 5min before JUST shutting the engine off..........maybe b/c I'm just used to doing this from a turbo car (warm-up/cool-down) but I figure this cant hurt a supercharged car.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Charlotte, NC
C230 Coupe
You guys are such babies....
Just as x15jq, I was gunning almost from the minute I left the dealer. I was doing donuts and 120 MPH within 3 days. (Hey, what can I say, I was in a sand/gravel parking lot in Myrtle Beach, and just could not resist; turned the ESP off, gunned it and turned the wheel. Everyone in the parking lot was clapping....except my wife.) Five thousand miles later, the car runs perfectly, and I have had no problems with it at all.
I am not saying that's the right or wrong way to break in an engine; just telling you what I did.
Don't worry about it so much, truelove79. Just enjoy the car.
Just as x15jq, I was gunning almost from the minute I left the dealer. I was doing donuts and 120 MPH within 3 days. (Hey, what can I say, I was in a sand/gravel parking lot in Myrtle Beach, and just could not resist; turned the ESP off, gunned it and turned the wheel. Everyone in the parking lot was clapping....except my wife.) Five thousand miles later, the car runs perfectly, and I have had no problems with it at all.
I am not saying that's the right or wrong way to break in an engine; just telling you what I did.
Don't worry about it so much, truelove79. Just enjoy the car.
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I have those conti sport contact tires on the c7 wheels. I have 700 miles and its ashame almost 30 percent treadwear.
LOL
The car still is doggy shifter, it doesnt hook up really well and it CLUNKS from 1-2 switch sometimes, feels like the rear diff. I smell warrenty!
Since my car is leased, i really dont care because I will not cosmetically beat it up, I wax it and keep it looking top. I drive it hard, but it has to be made to take it.
Will the Remus muffler cause any problems with warrenty? When i put the stockone back on, will i get a fine since i BREAK the pipe by cutting it?
Hell, im still going to do it, I just was curious. The other mods im doing (pulley, lights, roof lip wing) are removeable, but the muffler is something they can tell was tampered.
LOL
The car still is doggy shifter, it doesnt hook up really well and it CLUNKS from 1-2 switch sometimes, feels like the rear diff. I smell warrenty!
Since my car is leased, i really dont care because I will not cosmetically beat it up, I wax it and keep it looking top. I drive it hard, but it has to be made to take it.
Will the Remus muffler cause any problems with warrenty? When i put the stockone back on, will i get a fine since i BREAK the pipe by cutting it?Hell, im still going to do it, I just was curious. The other mods im doing (pulley, lights, roof lip wing) are removeable, but the muffler is something they can tell was tampered.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
I don't think the inspector will look under your car to see if the pipe is cut unless they suspect something. But I really don't think they are specifically looking for mods anyway. If there are obvious ones that might hurt the resale value of the car, then you might have a problems. But just make it look stock and turn it in, you shouldn't have any problems.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 43
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From: Charlotte, NC
C230 Coupe
Once again, I agree with x15jq. The car was made to be driven hard. I lived in Germany for 8 years... have you guys ever seen how hard they drive their cars there? I take care of my Benz: keep it clean, waxed, take it in for mainteance when needed, and so forth. BUT, I DO drive the car hard. I couldn't be happier with my baby Benz.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: NYC
2008 E 350
Originally posted by x15jq
I seriously have problems not gunning it.
My car had 23 miles and i was flooring it. I used the touch shift since day one, It doesnt seem to be affecting anything. LIke if i need to pass someone, cant keep it low rpm
I was doing donuts and breakstand before i even had 100 miles. now I have 700 miles and it seems to really be improving performance. Was really sluggish when it was brandy new.
Probably because it was sitting in the lot since march.
I seriously have problems not gunning it.
My car had 23 miles and i was flooring it. I used the touch shift since day one, It doesnt seem to be affecting anything. LIke if i need to pass someone, cant keep it low rpm
I was doing donuts and breakstand before i even had 100 miles. now I have 700 miles and it seems to really be improving performance. Was really sluggish when it was brandy new.
Probably because it was sitting in the lot since march.
Have fun with the car. A lot of people on this board are car fanatics and treat their car(s) like their wives or babies ...which is ludacris. Enjoy *** with the car because IT'S ONLY A CAR!
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I keep my car maintained perfectly, but what the hell, all I see going wrong is my tires, brake pads, and oil that is wearing.
It was really nice weather here in nj yesterday, with the ESP off, that tail REALLY whips out for me, the conti's are like erasers, and leave huge piles from a 10 second break stand.
It was really nice weather here in nj yesterday, with the ESP off, that tail REALLY whips out for me, the conti's are like erasers, and leave huge piles from a 10 second break stand.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
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From: South Florida
Fast Cars!
i did not do burnout the first day i got the car. but the seconed day i could not resist racing a cupple friends. i remeber the seconed day the car has 12 miles on it and i flored it from a toll plaza with my friend next to me and before i knew it i was going 120mph i would not say it was the smartest thing to do, but from that day on i flored it a cupple times a day. just like i do now.
i would not say it was the smartest thing to do, but from that day on i flored it a cupple times a day. just like i do now.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Los Angeles
2002 c230k
To properly break the engine in you must run it through the entire rev range you are going to use driving the car normally. This mean running the car up to the redline but there is one caveat, dont floor it! Gently run through the revs without putting any strain on the engine or lugging it. Never run at a constant rpm for more than a few seconds, no cruise control. This way you will set up propper wear patterns. If you keep the revs below 3 or 4k the car will set a wear pattern for low rpm running and not have as much power on the high end or be as smooth. I have done this with every car I've owned and all have been faster and smoother than others of the same model and lasted over 100k. Dont floor it but do rev it, you'll be happy you did. After about 500 miles go for it!
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Originally posted by mdp c230k
To properly break the engine in you must run it through the entire rev range you are going to use driving the car normally. This mean running the car up to the redline but there is one caveat, dont floor it! Gently run through the revs without putting any strain on the engine or lugging it. Never run at a constant rpm for more than a few seconds, no cruise control. This way you will set up propper wear patterns. If you keep the revs below 3 or 4k the car will set a wear pattern for low rpm running and not have as much power on the high end or be as smooth. I have done this with every car I've owned and all have been faster and smoother than others of the same model and lasted over 100k. Dont floor it but do rev it, you'll be happy you did. After about 500 miles go for it!
To properly break the engine in you must run it through the entire rev range you are going to use driving the car normally. This mean running the car up to the redline but there is one caveat, dont floor it! Gently run through the revs without putting any strain on the engine or lugging it. Never run at a constant rpm for more than a few seconds, no cruise control. This way you will set up propper wear patterns. If you keep the revs below 3 or 4k the car will set a wear pattern for low rpm running and not have as much power on the high end or be as smooth. I have done this with every car I've owned and all have been faster and smoother than others of the same model and lasted over 100k. Dont floor it but do rev it, you'll be happy you did. After about 500 miles go for it!
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
It should also change the rev limiter based on the temp of the engine and where the lights are, but it probably doesn't do this, right? I guess if you really want to redline your engine when it's cold, that's your choice.
