Running in a new SLK

james.bowman · 05-08-2008

My wife and I have just ordered a new SLK 350 and been given a delivery date sometime in July. Whilst this is still some way off, I was wondering whether anyone here could give me any advice or recommendations regarding running in the new engine. I know many people claim modern engines do not require running in but I believe it makes a difference. Does anyone have any advice or thoughts on the matter?

**SLKman** · 05-08-2008

Congrats on your new purchase.

Sorry I can not help you but there are many here that can.

I am sure they will let you know what is best.

Again,
Congrats!

SLKman

**alroumi** · 05-08-2008

Congrats on your new purchase, running down the car is easy and you need to keep it in C mode with the rev's under 4,500 rpm for the first 1,500km.

**DansSlk** · 05-08-2008

Your not going to be racing the car are you mate?

If your a town/motorway driver then drive however the hell you like my friend, the car will thank you for it just avoid thing's like full throttle overtaking or use of kickdown (i think you said your's is manual if so forget about this) for a few hundred miles to bed in the gearbox.

**dltslk** · 05-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

If your a town/motorway driver then drive however the hell you like my friend, the car will thank you for it just avoid thing's like full throttle overtaking or use of kickdown (i think you said your's is manual if so forget about this) for a few hundred miles to bed in the gearbox.

Or you can try my method: Drive fairly easily for 200 miles, then engine blows up, AMG sends a new one, and MB dealer installs and you get to start over again!

P.S. This method is not highly recommended.

**Dolebludger** · 05-08-2008

The owners' manual for our new SLK 280 does set forth a break in procedure -- like keep her under 4K rpm for the first 500 miles. I was a bit surprised, and my older Mercedes I bought new had no such recommended procedure. Before I bought the 280, I had been led to believe that Mercedes has no break in procedure.

The manual also said to run the car in "C" mode for 500 miles. I'm not a big fan of "C" mode unless there is snow, so I just kept her in "S" and kept the rpms down below 4K.

**DansSlk** · 05-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dltslk

Or you can try my method: Drive fairly easily for 200 miles, then engine blows up, AMG sends a new one, and MB dealer installs and you get to start over again!

P.S. This method is not highly recommended.

Yeah that really must have sucked, very rare thing for an old AMG engine and considering they run them at redline speed's in Germany for testing i would have expected it to have shown itself to them.

I tell the same thing to most of my customer's just to drive sensibly don't go full throttle right away but don't ***** foot around either because you will find the engine is not as lively.

**dltslk** · 05-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

Yeah that really must have sucked, very rare thing for an old AMG engine and considering they run them at redline speed's in Germany for testing i would have expected it to have shown itself to them.

Was no fun but ACC treated us great. All I asked, other than some freebees, was make sure that the new engine was put together by a different tech!

**Duo-Art** · 05-08-2008

Some 40+ years ago, I read an article by a British engineer named Ormel F. Duke about how to break in an internal combustion engine. He explained the technique and reasons for the proceedure. I'm trying to remember exactly what he said. In 44 years of driving, I've never had a bad engine.

drcarrera · 05-15-2008

When we picked up our 350, the dealer said drive it from day one as you intend to drive it always. He said there's no running in/breaking in period and any necessary bedding in is done at the factory.

**Duo-Art** · 05-15-2008

One thing that helps with brake in is to talk nicely to your car. When they are new they can be a bit sensitive and a kind word will make them feel at home in your garage.

mtiede · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by drcarrera

When we picked up our 350, the dealer said drive it from day one as you intend to drive it always. He said there's no running in/breaking in period and any necessary bedding in is done at the factory.

I would follow what the manual recommends. I would be afraid the dealer would recommend something to his advantage. Like something that would wear out the car sooner.

But that is just paranoid me...

**etyu** · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtiede

I would follow what the manual recommends. I would be afraid the dealer would recommend something to his advantage. Like something that would wear out the car sooner.

But that is just paranoid me...

Ditto here.

Follow what is printed on the Owner's manual. Better yet, get the owner's manual on-line (e.g., pdf file) and start reading.

drcarrera · 05-16-2008

This is from the owners manual :

The first 1,500 km

If you treat the engine with sufficient care from the very start, it will reward you with excellent performance for a very long period afterwards.

You should therefore drive at varying road and engine speeds for the first 1,500 km.
Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throttle, during this time. Do not exceed 2/3 of the maximum permissible engine speed for each gear.
Change gear in good time.
Do not shift down a gear manually in order to brake.

Vehicles with automatic transmission*:

Try to avoid depressing the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point (kickdown).
Only use ranges 3, 2 or 1 for slow driving, e.g. in mountainous terrain.

Additional driving tips for AMG vehicles:

Do not drive faster than 140 km/h for the first 1,500 km.
Only bring the engine up to a maximum speed of 4,500 rpm for a brief period.

That's pretty much how we drive anyway, so no real problems ( and of course we don't have to worry about the silly auto tramission

)

**SLKman** · 05-16-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtiede

I would follow what the manual recommends. I would be afraid the dealer would recommend something to his advantage. Like something that would wear out the car sooner.

But that is just paranoid me...

Yeah, although mine is not new, when I took mine in for service, My MB dealer told me to drive it hard. He said "These cars were made to be driven hard."

Maybe so, but I'm not gonna do it!

Ok...maybe just a little...hehehe

SLKman

05-08-2008	#1 (permalink)
james.bowman SLK World Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Running in a new SLK My wife and I have just ordered a new SLK 350 and been given a delivery date sometime in July. Whilst this is still some way off, I was wondering whether anyone here could give me any advice or recommendations regarding running in the new engine. I know many people claim modern engines do not require running in but I believe it makes a difference. Does anyone have any advice or thoughts on the matter?

05-08-2008	#2 (permalink)
SLKman Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Texas Vehicle: 2000 Copper Designo Sport Posts: 1,063 Country: Thanks: 261 Thanked 73 Times in 35 Posts	Congrats on your new purchase. Sorry I can not help you but there are many here that can. I am sure they will let you know what is best. Again, Congrats! SLKman __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 2000 SLK230 copper Designo Sport To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-08-2008	#3 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,288 Country: Thanks: 298 Thanked 232 Times in 146 Posts	Congrats on your new purchase, running down the car is easy and you need to keep it in C mode with the rev's under 4,500 rpm for the first 1,500km. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

05-08-2008	#4 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,794 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 225 Times in 177 Posts	Your not going to be racing the car are you mate? If your a town/motorway driver then drive however the hell you like my friend, the car will thank you for it just avoid thing's like full throttle overtaking or use of kickdown (i think you said your's is manual if so forget about this) for a few hundred miles to bed in the gearbox. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

05-16-2008	#14 (permalink)
drcarrera SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Berkshire, UK Vehicle: Facelift 350 Manual. Palladium/Gullwing. COMAND,Airscarf,Parkassist,Direct-Steer,Xenons Posts: 21 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This is from the owners manual : The first 1,500 km If you treat the engine with sufficient care from the very start, it will reward you with excellent performance for a very long period afterwards. You should therefore drive at varying road and engine speeds for the first 1,500 km. Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throttle, during this time. Do not exceed 2/3 of the maximum permissible engine speed for each gear. Change gear in good time. Do not shift down a gear manually in order to brake. Vehicles with automatic transmission*: Try to avoid depressing the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point (kickdown). Only use ranges 3, 2 or 1 for slow driving, e.g. in mountainous terrain. Additional driving tips for AMG vehicles: Do not drive faster than 140 km/h for the first 1,500 km. Only bring the engine up to a maximum speed of 4,500 rpm for a brief period. That's pretty much how we drive anyway, so no real problems ( and of course we don't have to worry about the silly auto tramission )

05-08-2008	#6 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 569 Country: Thanks: 40 Thanked 77 Times in 52 Posts	The owners' manual for our new SLK 280 does set forth a break in procedure -- like keep her under 4K rpm for the first 500 miles. I was a bit surprised, and my older Mercedes I bought new had no such recommended procedure. Before I bought the 280, I had been led to believe that Mercedes has no break in procedure. The manual also said to run the car in "C" mode for 500 miles. I'm not a big fan of "C" mode unless there is snow, so I just kept her in "S" and kept the rpms down below 4K.

05-08-2008	#9 (permalink)
Duo-Art Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 546 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Some 40+ years ago, I read an article by a British engineer named Ormel F. Duke about how to break in an internal combustion engine. He explained the technique and reasons for the proceedure. I'm trying to remember exactly what he said. In 44 years of driving, I've never had a bad engine.

05-15-2008	#10 (permalink)
drcarrera SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Berkshire, UK Vehicle: Facelift 350 Manual. Palladium/Gullwing. COMAND,Airscarf,Parkassist,Direct-Steer,Xenons Posts: 21 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	When we picked up our 350, the dealer said drive it from day one as you intend to drive it always. He said there's no running in/breaking in period and any necessary bedding in is done at the factory.

05-15-2008	#11 (permalink)
Duo-Art Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 546 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	One thing that helps with brake in is to talk nicely to your car. When they are new they can be a bit sensitive and a kind word will make them feel at home in your garage.

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