Winter Storage Questions

[onlybmw]

I'm looking into stroing the car in the winter in my garage for 4-5 months. I've done a lot of research and talked to several people and EVERYBODY seems to have different opinions on this. Assuming I have a trickle chrager hooked up and cover over the car, will that be sufficient?

Will the tires develop a flat spot? (some people said YES, some said NO).

Should I keep a full tank or very little gas? (I understand the moisture thing with a little gas in the tank but then a full tank goes bad - I've heard adding 100 percent octane when ready to go in the spring should be fine??).

Most of all - should I start it every 2-3 weeks or let it rest (I know the most damage is done when you start a car but going 4-5 months without ANY engine lubrication, can that be OK??

Thanks-

[gtr]

Just FYI that we need a special lithium charger for the battery.

[jmr986]

I do the following:

Inflate tires to 50-60- lbs. Never had a flat spot problem. One year I put plywood underneath the tires. Don't think that made a difference.

Fill up the tank, put in some Stabil, and drive it a few miles.

I use a trickle charger plugged into my cigarette lighter.

I shove a rag in the exhaust pipe just to keep critters from making a nest.

Put the car in gear, but don't engage the parking brake. Manual tranny.

Finally, cover her with a nice fitted cover.

Have done it this way for the last 12 years without any problems.

[M!]

The M4 Owner's Manual states on page 139, "Do not connect battery chargers to the factory-installed 12 volt sockets in the vehicle as this may damage the vehicle battery due to an increased power consumption."

Does this make any sense at all???

[EYEHAVEYOU]

Originally Posted by jmr986

I do the following:

Inflate tires to 50-60- lbs. Never had a slat spot problem. One year I put plywood underneath the tires. Don't thing that made a difference.

Fill up the tank, put in some Stabil, and drive it a few miles.

I use a trickle charger plugged into my cigarette lighter.

I shove a rag in the exhaust pipe just to keep critters from making a nest.

Put the car in gear, but don't engage the parking brake. Manual tranny.

Finally, cover her with a nice fitted cover.

Have done it this way for the last 12 years without any problems.

+1, I have done all of this for multiple winters and never had an issue. Only point where I differ is that I hook my trickle charger right to the battery - given what the M4 manual says, I'd suggest you also go that route.

[rubber_ducky]

Jmr986 pretty much covered everything. The only thing that I might add is that I would fill the tires to the max psi, whatever that might be, printed on the sidewall.

Also, in addition to plugging the exhaust pipes (use steel wool vs rags), I would put some moth balls on a dish or a piece of foil in each of the wheel barrels.

[DocWeatherington]

Hmm... winter tires, window scrapper and De-Icer

[jmr986]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

Jmr986 pretty much covered everything. The only thing that I might add is that I would fill the tires to the max psi, whatever that might be, printed on the sidewall.

Also, in addition to plugging the exhaust pipes (use steel wool vs rags), I would put some moth balls on a dish or a piece of foil in each of the wheel barrels.

I also read somewhere they recommended moth balls under the car and in the interior as a critter deterent. Those little bastards can get in anything.

Oh and make sure your tailpipe is cooled off before you cover it. Melted some fabric to the pipe!

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by jmr986

I also read somewhere they recommended moth balls under the car and in the interior as a critter deterent. Those little bastards can get in anything.

Oh and make sure your tailpipe is cooled off before you cover it. Melted some fabric to the pipe!

Some porsche guys have found wiring damage and rodent "deposits" all over the interiors of their cars. But they can't jump all that well, so putting moth balls in the wheel wells should prevent them from getting in. I would try to avoid putting them inside the car though as the smell might be hard to get rid of

[SOM3]

Originally Posted by gtr

Just FYI that we need a special lithium charger for the battery.

Have you got one of those? I was looking to get one.

[Gstone]

I have no experience with storing a car and am worried about hooking up a battery charger. How long would you guys go between start-ups and short drives in the winter instead of storage?

thanks

[DslDwg]

Originally Posted by M!

The M4 Owner's Manual states on page 139, "Do not connect battery chargers to the factory-installed 12 volt sockets in the vehicle as this may damage the vehicle battery due to an increased power consumption."

Does this make any sense at all???

I'm not sure I'd be worried about the battery.

I could see where there could be a possibility of putting too much amperage through the 12 volt "socket" circuit.

This is probably one of those issues where 99 times of 100 you wouldn't have a problem.

But no. 1 of 100 hooks up an industrial battery charger and fries half the electrical system.

[onlybmw]

thanks everybody for the advice!!

[angelc5]

I'm in the Charlotte NC area so no issues here driving the car in the winer for the most part.

[AIRHEIR]

Originally Posted by SOM3

Have you got one of those? I was looking to get one.

Got It...from amazon

[schmitzna]

Aren't the 12V sockets all switched power? What good does attaching a trickle charger to a switched off outlet do?

[ss134]

What trickle chargers are people using? I've got a charger I used previously but apparantly this cannot be used with the new lithium battery ?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by M!

The M4 Owner's Manual states on page 139, "Do not connect battery chargers to the factory-installed 12 volt sockets in the vehicle as this may damage the vehicle battery due to an increased power consumption."

Does this make any sense at all???

I interpret this warning the other way around. If you charge the batteries of external devices using the 12V outlet, you will drain the car's battery.

[smedin]

Originally Posted by DocWeatherington

Hmm... winter tires, window scrapper and De-Icer

Hear, hear!

[SOM3]

Originally Posted by AIRHEIR

Got It...from amazon

You got a link to it?

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by smedin

Hear, hear!

I have been waiting on someone to notice it.

[DocWeatherington]

On the plus side, this may help with the charger issues.

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=964593