[Geighty7]

How long does everyone let their car warm up usually? I’m in SoCal so I usually let her warm up parked for 5ish minutes outside and then drive below 3k RPM until the first engine temp bar is complete.

After that, until I get to the 210 area I’m below 5k.

I’m easy on the clutch the whole time typically until I’m ready to let her rip. Not a ton of engine breaking until then also.

Just curious about everyone’s protocol!

I did notice I heat up a bit faster in efficient mode vs sport+. Maybe a closed up engine generating more heat?

[c1pher]

I usually wait for idle kickdown which is about the time I get settled into the car.

[M2 CCO]

Few minutes here as well.

[MrTiger]

I'm in Chicago with cold winters. No warm up. Get in, start the car and start driving. I do not push the car hard for the first 15-20min of driving

[Geighty7]

Originally Posted by MrTiger

I'm in Chicago with cold winters. No warm up. Get in, start the car and start driving. I do not push the car hard for the first 15-20min of driving

I can imagine it feels pretty stiff for those first 15 mins? Here in SoCal it usually gets cold at night but not terrible.

[stashstein]

Wait for idle down then drive off. Usually keep it under 5k until the oil gauge isn't blue but I'm not too crazy about it.

[M2siast]

I do what C1pher said. Anything else is wrong.

Too little time (i.e. you turn it on and the car is warming up the cat with lots of fuel and high RPM), and you are jostling your drive around the parking lot. Nothing wrong with it, other than the bucking.

Too much time, and you're wasting fuel and polluting unnecessarily, to no benefit to the vehicle.

So, as soon as the RPM settled to 750 RPM, get going.

For me it's: turn car on, set the location in navigation, buckle up, set preset M1, select Sport display with M Mode button... 1 minute or less temperature dependent.

If it's -30 it might take more than 1 minute for RPMs to drop, in which case you can ascertain whether the car is just a bit higher in RPM because it's cold and not in the warm-up sequence anymore (change in exhaust tone), and decide whether to wait for RPM to drop or drive anyway (it won't buck likely).

[Ravenseal]

Until the RPMs drop…the drive around calmly until it reaches operating temp.

[KevinC]

5-minute warm-up at idle is NOT a recommended procedure - by anyone including BMW. Start up, drive off, take it easy till oil is up to temp. That's it.

[stashstein]

Originally Posted by M2siast

For me it's: turn car on, set the location in navigation, buckle up, set preset M1, select Sport display with M Mode button... 1 minute or less temperature dependent.

You can select your M button before you start. I usually clutch in/press M1 then start car

iirc this still works if you have MDM or other TC setting, you just have to hit the button twice as usual.

[Searay55555]

Originally Posted by KevinC

5-minute warm-up at idle is NOT a recommended procedure - by anyone including BMW. Start up, drive off, take it easy till oil is up to temp. That's it.

I’ve heard the same thing. Idling isn’t good because it’s running too rich (if I remember right). Causes premature bearing wear I think. Pretty sure I read a thread about this in a n54 forum. I’d my memory right on this?

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by stashstein

You can select your M button before you start. I usually clutch in/press M1 then start car

iirc this still works if you have MDM or other TC setting, you just have to hit the button twice as usual.

No advantage to doing it before starting the car, just a longer waiting without doing those things.

[aerobod]

No warmup for me, -30C turn on heated seats and steering wheel, then drive off immediately if windows have not misted up. +30C switch air conditioning on high and drive off immediately. Gentle throttle and revs use until engine has warmed up in any ambient temp.

[Tag]

Page 257 of the Owner's Manual.

[Geighty7]

Originally Posted by Tag

Page 257 of the Owner's Manual.

But does it give a reason why? I can’t imagine it doing any significant damage in 5 minutes. I’m 3-5 mins (usually 3 mins).

I have had my engine blow more “smoke” out the back when sitting at a red light too long when still cold. Unsure what that is but oh well.

[MPowerLUFC]

By the time I’ve got my phone in the charger, switched off stop/start, speed warning & lane assist the cold start has normally dropped and I’m away.

More take off procedures than a 747.

[Shadak]

it does feel like setting up a plane but i dont let it idle unnecessarily after start, dont think it helps in any way.

[WhiteRqbbit]

I just get in and go; I mean, it's a "performance engine," but it's not really a performance engine needing start-up procedures.

[MineralGreyMetallic]

This is an age old debate.

If there was any risk of damaging the car then you can be sure there would be notifications all over the place warning you to wait just so manufacturers can reduce their own liability.

Also the manual tells you to just drive. Makes sense to me.

[ttaidapos]

Chicago here. Wait for idle to kick down, don't drive hard until engine is is fully warmed up.

[MrTiger]

Originally Posted by Geighty7

I can imagine it feels pretty stiff for those first 15 mins? Here in SoCal it usually gets cold at night but not terrible.

It is extremely stiff and jerky, but you want to move the fluids as soon as possible and get them warmed up. Dont rev or do anything crazy until temps are up to spec but start and drive is a recommended approach by manufacturers. Any type of idling is never good since oil does not go where you want in your engine.

[MrTiger]

Originally Posted by Geighty7

But does it give a reason why? I can’t imagine it doing any significant damage in 5 minutes. I’m 3-5 mins (usually 3 mins).

I have had my engine blow more “smoke” out the back when sitting at a red light too long when still cold. Unsure what that is but oh well.

Reason is simple, oil thickens with low temps and viscosity is impacted. It will not get to all the critical parts if its idling and not warming up quickly.