SLK/R171: Break In
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2005
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Break In
What have you guys been told about breaking in the car and taking care of it?
I was told not to use cruise control for first 600 miles and not to go over 100mph for first 1000 miles (which i wouldnt do anyways)
Also, they say you need oil changes once every 13k miles! What have you guys heard about this?
I was told not to use cruise control for first 600 miles and not to go over 100mph for first 1000 miles (which i wouldnt do anyways)
Also, they say you need oil changes once every 13k miles! What have you guys heard about this?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 337
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From: Hong Kong
2013 G63, 2015 S500, 2016 C63 coupe
for my previous cars.
not rev above 3500rpm
not go over 100km/h
this was for the first 1500km.
but usually i break all the rules within 200km. can't help it if i've got lead foot.
not rev above 3500rpm
not go over 100km/h
this was for the first 1500km.
but usually i break all the rules within 200km. can't help it if i've got lead foot.
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 173
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From: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005 SLK350
I didn't push mine over 4000 RPM the first 500 miles or 5000 RPM the first 1000. Then I kinda just let loose. The manual gives all kinds of restrictions for the AMG, but doesn't say much about the 350.
And yeah, 13000 miles, give or take. It will tell you when it's time to change, and it will auto-adjust to your driving style. You can cycle under the mileage menu in the instrument cluster for your distance to service.
And yeah, 13000 miles, give or take. It will tell you when it's time to change, and it will auto-adjust to your driving style. You can cycle under the mileage menu in the instrument cluster for your distance to service.
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 173
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From: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005 SLK350
I mean it doesn't specifically say "DO NOT EXCEED 4000 RPM!!!!" or anything like that. Most of what it does say pertains to the automatic transmission. It's much more general than it is for the AMG, which spells out top speeds and tachs.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
big debate over this on the w203 side :p
don't baby the engine...that's NOT good for it. By babying, I mean, keeping it under 3k all the time, not opening it up once in a while, etc. If you do baby it, the piston rings will NOT seal properly, which results in increased oil consumption and poor fuel economy down the road. As you baby the engine, the rings do not know the higher engine speeds, so it's acustomed to the lower engine speeds...therefore when you cross the 1000 "break-in" period and open it up, the rings are not use to that.
Best thing to do is vary your speeds, don't keep it at one set speed, e.g. 55mph on the highway. But don't go redlining it every redlight either. Vary the RPM band, open it up once in a while. Drive it as you normally would with other cars except lay back on the WOT (wide open throttle) if you do so. That's the best way to break in your engine. This way, the rings will seal and seat correctly and lead to many happy motoring miles
Have fun
don't baby the engine...that's NOT good for it. By babying, I mean, keeping it under 3k all the time, not opening it up once in a while, etc. If you do baby it, the piston rings will NOT seal properly, which results in increased oil consumption and poor fuel economy down the road. As you baby the engine, the rings do not know the higher engine speeds, so it's acustomed to the lower engine speeds...therefore when you cross the 1000 "break-in" period and open it up, the rings are not use to that.
Best thing to do is vary your speeds, don't keep it at one set speed, e.g. 55mph on the highway. But don't go redlining it every redlight either. Vary the RPM band, open it up once in a while. Drive it as you normally would with other cars except lay back on the WOT (wide open throttle) if you do so. That's the best way to break in your engine. This way, the rings will seal and seat correctly and lead to many happy motoring miles
Have fun
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
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From: Texas
2005 SLK55 AMG
Originally Posted by wil_sutton
I mean it doesn't specifically say "DO NOT EXCEED 4000 RPM!!!!" or anything like that. Most of what it does say pertains to the automatic transmission. It's much more general than it is for the AMG, which spells out top speeds and tachs.
Operation
The first 1000 miles
The more cautiously you treat your vehicle during the break-in period, the more satisfied you will be with its performance later on.
- Drive your vehicle during the first 1000 miles at varying but moderate vehicle and engine speeds.
- During this period, avoid heavy loads (full throttle driving) and excessive engine speeds (no more than 2/3 of maximum rpm in each gear).
- Do not attempt to slow the vehicle down by shifting to a lower gear using the gear selector lever.
- Shift gears in a timely manner.
- Avoid accelerating by kickdown.
- Select positions 3, 2, or 1 only driving at moderate speeds (for hill driving).
- Select C as the preferred shift program for the first 1000 miles.
After 1000 miles, you may gradually increase vehicle and engine speeds to the permissible maximum.- During this period, avoid heavy loads (full throttle driving) and excessive engine speeds (no more than 2/3 of maximum rpm in each gear).
- Do not attempt to slow the vehicle down by shifting to a lower gear using the gear selector lever.
- Shift gears in a timely manner.
- Avoid accelerating by kickdown.
- Select positions 3, 2, or 1 only driving at moderate speeds (for hill driving).
- Select C as the preferred shift program for the first 1000 miles.
Additional instructions for SLK 55 AMG:
- During the first 1000 miles, do not exceed a speed of 85 mph.
- During this period, avoid engine speeds above 4500 rpm in each gear.
- During this period, avoid engine speeds above 4500 rpm in each gear.
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2002
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From: Pensacola, FL "Home of Ivan the Terrible"
05 SLK350; 00 Lexus GS400; 05 Corvette
Unfortunately, the first 350 miles were interstate driving at 60-75MPH while bringing the car home from Atanta.
It didn't get driven for two more months,(Jan & Feb) actually, while my wife was advertising (and finally sold) her '98 SLK230 (got $18.8K on eBay).
Anyways..., when starting up the new SLK350, it would "puff" oil smoke for the first two seconds... I assume some oil which had collected in the cylinders between bi-weekly "battery-charging" sessions.
Now that its got 600 miles of city/hwy driving, I don't think that the "oil smoke starts" are happening anymore, with the break-in continuing...
Will keep an update on this, and watch oil consumption over the first 3000 miles...
It didn't get driven for two more months,(Jan & Feb) actually, while my wife was advertising (and finally sold) her '98 SLK230 (got $18.8K on eBay).
Anyways..., when starting up the new SLK350, it would "puff" oil smoke for the first two seconds... I assume some oil which had collected in the cylinders between bi-weekly "battery-charging" sessions.
Now that its got 600 miles of city/hwy driving, I don't think that the "oil smoke starts" are happening anymore, with the break-in continuing...
Will keep an update on this, and watch oil consumption over the first 3000 miles...
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