The infamous "break-in" period.

Dark_Sub_Rosa

If you saw how cars were tested directly off the assembly line you wouldn't worry about break in. Like stated before about the guy who works or worked at Lexus, when they come off the line they have to put them through a quick short test track that usually includes some harsh testing to ensure the car is ok. I'm not saying every single car is put through this but some get the **** beat out of them for that first mile or two on the test track.

Here is the one in the quick test tracks in Smyrna where the Altima is built.

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wstar

It's always possible that they're recording some small long-term critical data values, like time spent with VDC off, or time spent over XXX mph, but I don't think it's likely. They're definitely not recording every little detail over any long period. And if they are doing anything of this sort, it's probably only available to Nissan specialists with special equipment to check up on expensive warranty claims.

More likely than not, all we've got is the standard black-box functionality (which, given legal authority to do so in your state, insurance and law enforcement and everyone else can read). The norm is a rolling record of the most recent 30 seconds of all the vitals (speed, RPM, gearing, accel pedal, steering wheel angle, various VDC/brake info, brake pedal pressure, etc) which gets frozen on a critical event (like airbag deployment) for later analysis.

But of course, my post is entirely speculation, I could be wrong.

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BigD

Sorry guys but there is only one way to break-in your new car.
***Drive it from the beginning the way you intend to drive it later***
Meaning: If you want a quick car, wring its neck out (within reason) from day one.
Over the last 20 years, my brother-in-law and I have owned a total of 38 cars.
17 of those have been brand new and they include Mercs, Porsches, BMWs, Jags etc.
ALL of them had been broken-in the hard way and guess what?
NONE of them have developed any problems as a result of our breaking-in process.
The way we look at it is that if you break-in your car driving like an old woman, the car will drive later like an old woman and vice versa.
My new 370z has seen the redline every day it has been driven.
This includes a redline in the first 3 gears on the way out of the dealer's yard.
I have done 130mph and on the 29th Aug, I'm tracking it with our local Porsche Club.
Stop worrying and drive your cars the way they were intended to be driven. The "Z" was intended as a sports car, so drive it like a sports car.
I am not saying to put it in first gear and sit on a redline for 10 minutes. That would be a stupidity, but there is nothing wrong in putting your pedal to the metal and changing gears as the needle touches the redline.
If you still have doubts, read the car magazines, watch Top Gear and Fifth Gear etc etc.
Do you think the cars they test are fully broken-in in accordance with the user manual?
No chance.
They've been driven by the journos from day one and they've been hammered from day one!
Have you noticed that somehow the cars they test do better 0-60 and 1/4 mile then the times the owners get?
By now you should know the answer.

fuct

i think some guys on here are more worried about their warranty being voided if nissan sees that our first 2k miles were as rough as BigD's. i dont have the money to own half of 38 cars, so a basic warranty is kinda important to poor people like myself.

BigD

I have discussed the warranty issues with my local dealer's service manager.
He told me that on the GTR, they can find out what the car was doing and it's GPS location at any given time they want.
He said that as far as he is aware, the 370z does NOT give them the same information.
Apparently, the 370z gives them only a log of any malfunctions that the ECU recorded and hitting the redline is not a malfunction.

thispecialk

dammit i already drove my car about 4000 i stay under 5k well that shows i dont like reading manual lol

Modshack

Be good to your engine and it will be good to you...That's all you need to know. That said, I don't subscribe to any particular Break-in "theory". Don't beat on your car (or your wife) and you'll have a long and happy relationship..

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GTRFAN

For sure...it's all about the dealer walking away from a claim = save money



Thats exactly right, although it was more important for older engines that had crosshatched honed bores and not so perfect diameters. I am not sure about the laser finished bores these days. Nissan doesn't do things in halves, so their engine build quality will be up there with the best. They always run the engine on an engine dyno before it gets installed. By the time we get it, it's pretty right to drive hard.

Yep have seen it here in Oz. I think they have even changed the launch control firmware on Aussie GTR's to stop people launching them too hard.

rudi

Not saying your wrong. However, I've seen somewhere can't remember where, that Top Gear break a lot of cars making their shows.

Santent

Im right at about 1050 miles thus far, and i am yet to red line, i think i've got it over 7000 rpm twice.. but it didnt go over into the red line Im trying to break this **** in properly!! (one of the close calls i was in manual mode... stopped at a stop sign.. and forgot i was in manual mode.. oops!) i had my music blaring as well, it didnt help

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jayhuffdaddy

Nissan Already Using Black Box Data To Void GT-R Warranty Claims - AutoSpies Auto News

Zsteve

so why the F*** sell a GTR that can do what it can?

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rolmo

when i got my Z it had 197 miles on it (on the lot for 10 months) ....... i then proceeded to drive it approx. 900 miles (over 2 days) without cruise control fluctuating between 50mph and 85-90mph. hope i didn't screw the engine (or my warranty) but seems to me a bit of rigorous treatment (no redlining/revs no higher than 2500-3000 etc) should seat everything nicely.
do me a favor.... if i ****** the car.... don't tell me
r

MightyBobo

Barring a badly built motor, you'll be just fine. Dont sweat it.

And FROM THE DEAD THREAD IS FROM THE DEAD!

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