So anyway, I was talking to a technical specialist at Mercedes Benz and he told me that the AMG engines, specifically the slk55 amg one comes broken in. But when I was reading the manual which was for all slk models, it said that it takes about 1000 miles to break in. Someone please clarify this for me.

 

If you heard this from a specialist, then it is mostly correct. But then again, most of the stuff on this forum is incorrect. No one is really going to know this answer because none of us are technical specialist that work on AMG engines, especially the SLK 55 AMG. This is just going to be another one of those long forums, just like when someone said that there was going to be SLK 63 AMG. <----THere are no plans for a SLK 63 AMG, I don't want to confuse anybody.

 

Well, for what it's worth:

On page 272 of the SLK manual (The first 1000 miles), in the far right column, it does give "Additional instructions for the SLK 55 AMG" stating to not exceed 85 mph and to avoid engine speeds above 4500 rpm for the first 1000 miles.

Also, when I picked up my car, there was a sticker placed on the inside of the windshield in front of the driver that said the same thing.

JS

 

The manual SPECIFICALLY calls out additional conditions for the SLK55 AMG breakin. It is NOT just a generic R171 breakin instructions.

Can you ask your specialist to explain?

 

ah crap, yea I see it in the manual too. So, now my question is, what happens if i exceed the limit a couple times? I havent exceed 85 mph, but I floored it past 4500, almost redlining it too.

 

I can see how someone would make the mistake of thinking a "hand crafted engine" is already broken-in. However, at the same time, it makes me question their technical competance. (Refering to the techician.)

The idea of engine break-in is to allow the engine's components time to adjust their imperfections. As manufacturing processes have improved, part tolerances have gotten far better. So the amount of "shaving" that parts do as they are used occurs far less than even 10 years ago.

Even though I do not think break-in is extremely ciritical, I can not bring myself to push a new engine hard. Regardless of what you believe, it will not harm anything to be gentle for the few thousand miles or so.

If you bounce the throttle off the rev limiter as your tear out of the dealership's parking lot, you can't expect the car to treat you well down the road.

 

I wouldn't overally worry about it. Numerous dealers have been quoted as saying basically "don't worry about it". That includes mine, as I drove off.

Do a search on "break in" or "break-in".

 

AFAIK, ALL AMG engines are "run in" on a dyno. You would most likely have no trouble with the motor being broken in if you ran it WOT before the 1000-mile interval.

It's the rest of the drivetrain (tranny, diff, etc.) that needs the proper break in, especially on the high hp cars. Enjoy!

 

from what i understand i was told not to worry too much about the break in suggestions as they are mostly for the manufacturer. the engine will do just fine.

 

Yes but the dealer doesn't give a toss about your car as soon as you drive off so they can say anything they want....... most new car dealers will tell you that a new car doesn't need running in but nearly every car manual I've ever seen CLEARLY tells you to be gentle and run the car in. Its my hard earned cash that is invested in the car so I'll break her in carefully!

Even if you thrash the car from day one you will probably be fine but for the sake of a few weeks of careful driving would you not rather think that you are helping the car break in more gently?

 

i suppose each person has a right to their own preferances as to how one decides to "raise their child".

 

After the break in period is when you want to floor it from the light as much as possible. According to MB, you will be teaching the chip in your car about your driving style (fast or comfortable), but really you are just making sure your chip is switching gears as fast as possible. From what I understand, this is the only way to change the chip.

Of course, this begs the question, "what if you get your car chipped and then drive like a slug?" Does the chip change itself back to "comfortable driver" mode?

 

From my visit to the factory in Bremen - SOME cars are driven in by test drivers. They pick cars at random and then hammer the hell out of them around their test track. I was lucky enough to go in one of these cars on the test track. The car I was in was a Red SLK 55 AMG, destined for a member of the US Military based in Germany. He knew this as they are prepared in a particular way, so that they are in MPH/KPH but are with Europe spec, so that they are road legal in Germany.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, he was flooring the car. He didn't care less about this wear in or anything else for that matter. We went around this track at maximum speed (for the distance he had) ESP was off etc... from my recollection we were at 140mph at some stages before he slammed on the brakes to bring it down to about 5mph, we then took a sharp turn and then off we went again.

He said that they may do up to 60 laps in each car, to make sure that things are in good order on each batch of stock they receive. The cars still go who they were destined for too and the new owner would be nonthewiser.

So, I still think that yes, it's worth taking it easy in your car, before you try to get the ultimate performance out of it. If you dont and something goes wrong, your warranty goes out of the window. a) Doing 140mph and then the engine or gearbox going bang breaches the instructions you got with the car given the mileage your likely to have and b) couldn't ever be considered normal wear and tear. But upon saying this, they seem pretty sure that the cars can handle this, but I doubt that a brand new car could take the high speed strain for too long, consider it's just been put together.

Thrash your car at your own risk... but if it goes bang... be ready with the credit card and for some surgery to remove your nuts, as it's going to cost you BIG TIME!!

 

There was an article saying every AMG engine is bench tested at wide open throttle for two minutes. It showed the exhaust manifolds glowing from the heat. The engine will be fine but take it easy on the transmission.

 

My discipline to let breakin any cars

Before reaching 1000km milege

- No engine braking
- No emeregency heavy braking
- No rev exceeding 4000rpm
- No speed over 160km/h

Before reaching 5000km milege

- No trying top speed over 200km/h
- No rev exceeding 5000rpm

I am at 14000km milege now, transmission, engine all work great , not a sign of any abnormalities since day-1.

cnt

 

Drive it hard, and drive it soft. Don't baby the engine, and don't rape it. It's the best of both worlds

 

there are two schools of thought on this "break in" period. one is to run it soflty as suggested in the manual to let the tranny and engine get the "idea" of the hp, torque, etc. the other school of thought, which was mention by some guy on this forum that actually makes engines is to run the engine hard, not rape it but run it hard b/c in doing that, it actually seals in all the gaskets, o-rings and seals much more propely and it has a less chance of failing... he did a wrteup on it a while back( 2-3 months) but i cannt find the link. do a seach it may take a good 10-15 minutes but youll find it.

 

Is this the post? Break In

 

AMG motors need to be broken in. I know it from good source.

 

Very interesting.

 

please expand on this....