Long time storage of my 325

[shadow]

Hi, I am in the military deploying for a year in Iraq and will be storing my car in my garage for the entire time. I have been confusing facts of what to do and what not to do. Any advice on how to store and the necessary precautions needed to do so would be greatly appreciated! I plan to put the car on jacks, with the jacks on wood, fill the gas tank, add a stabilizer additive, have the car waxed and then put a car cover on. Any additions or any better way of doing the above items again would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[Alex Baumann]

Hi Shadow,

where are you going to store the car? In your own garage? Do you have someone who might check the car regularly?

- check the anti-freeze and add if neccessary.
- Change the oil. Old oil may contain contaminants and may cause rust.
- Disconnect the battery. (although it might need to be replaced later)

Take care and be safe in Iraq.

[shadow]

Thanks for the advice. It will be in my own garage, with noone to be able to do weekly startup checks. I plan to have the oil changed before I go as it is coming up on a year and I think that I will have one due at that time. Thanks again.

[gek330i]

Add to your list to make sure your tires are not underinflated so that you don't get flat spots.
Some people inflate them to the max. recommended pressure and put pieces of carpert under the tires to prevent flat spots.

[obmd1]

you can always trickle-charge the battery... be safe in Iraq.

[Alex Baumann]

Add to your list to make sure your tires are not underinflated so that you don't get flat spots.
Some people inflate them to the max. recommended pressure and put pieces of carpert under the tires to prevent flat spots.

He's putting the car on jacks :)

[gek330i]

He's putting the car on jacks :)
he he he... D'oh!
Guess I should read whole post before replying... :tsk:

[Alex Baumann]

he he he... D'oh!
Guess I should read whole post before replying... :tsk:

No problem, happens to me too :eeps:

[FierySphere]

Drain the fuel, or use a stabilizer (Sta-Bil ?). The fuel will break down over time.

[shadow]

This site rocks for the above mentioned posts, again guys I appreciate it, I still have about a month or so, just trying to prepare beforehand. Sta-Bil, is that available at the dealer or at any local car shop? Thought about the trickle charger, someone else mentioned to me, but I don't know enough of the affects, will have to check on that one.. Thanks again.

[bimmere46]

Sta-Bil is available at any auto parts store.

[aschueler]

I was deployed for 6 months, not 1 year, so not sure if your experience will be the same as mine was. I did the following for a car that was 1 month old, and it was in perfect shape when I got back. It wasn't started or moved for that time frame.

1. Fuel: add sta-bil to a full tank

2. Oil: mine was only 1 month old, so I didn't change it.

3. Battery: hooked up BMW branded battery maintainer. Worked perfectly.

4. Tires: this got expensive. I have low profile/performance tires, so I figured this was cheaper than replacing them: used these rubber-like mats that I drove the car onto, after inflating to 50 psi all around. (BTW below is a link to the place I got the tire protectors and battery maintainer from)

5. Garage: check to make sure you don't have a bright spot of sun that could cook part of your car or cause windows to shatter. I placed rat poison in containers in the garage, having heard that rodents will sometimes nest in your hoses/belts/etc and gnaw at them

6. Overkill: placed dehydrators in the garage -- only good for a month or two

Here is the big warning: if you DON'T drive it, some of the seals around the transmission or the pistons (for example) may drive out and leak. I am not an expert at this, but if you have family that you can dump your car off with that you trust -- no teenage kids -- you would be better to do this that let it sit.

Good luck in Iraq.

http://64.225.94.154/ShopSite/page78.html

[johnf]

6. Overkill: placed dehydrators in the garage -- only good for a month or twoI placed desiccant inside a car I left outside over a wet, Seattle winter (wet enough to sink a floating bridge). That worked very well although it couldn't do anything about the outside of the car, whose north side -- I kid you not -- turned green!

Someone will probably need to empty the catch basin and replace the desiccant once in a while, perhaps once a quarter?

I wish you well!

[Pinecone]

Do NOT put it up on jacks with the suspension hanging. YOu need to have weight on the suspension.

For 1 year, I would inflate the tires up to about 50 psi cold (do not drive it at these pressures) and leave it.

DEFINATELY a battery charger, BMW, or Battery Minder or Battery Tender.

[bimmrgirl]

Hi, I am in the military deploying for a year in Iraq and will be storing my car in my garage for the entire time. I have been confusing facts of what to do and what not to do. Any advice on how to store and the necessary precautions needed to do so would be greatly appreciated! I plan to put the car on jacks, with the jacks on wood, fill the gas tank, add a stabilizer additive, have the car waxed and then put a car cover on. Any additions or any better way of doing the above items again would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Iraq? :( be safe and return safe

[Artslinger]

If the car will be left for a year without driving buy a set of cheap used tires and swap them with the good set then toss them when you drive the car again in a year. Even if you over inflate low profile tires they will more than likely flat spot after a year if not moved and could lose air over a years time.

[shadow]

I thank u all for the input, helps tremendously.. I heard another thing though that if u don't put up on jacks then the weight on the suspension is not good if not moved.. the extra tires would be a good idea.... I have to weigh my options, IK have a month left before I have to do anything, but again thanx for the well wishes and advice..

[Pinecone]

Wrong, weight on suspension, even if not moved is good.

The problem comes in SHIPPING a car. If there is wieght ont h car, and it is moved slightly (like auto transport or ship motion) for a LONG period of time, it will wear bearings unevenly. But not a problem with todays materials.

YOU can put the car up off the tires, but make sure it is supported by the suspension, not the frame.

BTW you mentioned weekly start up, BAD idea, creates moisture in the engine, but doesn't get it hot enough to boils it off. Only have it started if it is going to be driven long enough to get all the parts up to full operating temperature for a reasonable period of time (at least 15 - 30 minutes AFTER it comes up to temp).

Really, 1 year is not that long a storage. I have had cars sitting without ANY precautions for a year or more, and other than maybe needing a battery charge to get started, they start, run, and drive fine. My LTW sits all winter with just a Battery Tender on it.

[Rmart]

Hi, I am in the military deploying for a year in Iraq and will be storing my car in my garage for the entire time. I have been confusing facts of what to do and what not to do. Any advice on how to store and the necessary precautions needed to do so would be greatly appreciated! I plan to put the car on jacks, with the jacks on wood, fill the gas tank, add a stabilizer additive, have the car waxed and then put a car cover on. Any additions or any better way of doing the above items again would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Shadow,

Take care in Iraq. Best of luck.

[AKC]

I had to store my car twice for a year, when I was on an overseas assignment.
First time in 1993, I left my 318i outdoors, disconnected the battery, overinflated tires, full tank of gas, fresh oil. Came back, charged the battery, cranked it and the car started on the 2nd go. Ran rough for 1 tank of gas, then was smooth after that. A bimmer engine. However, the air conditioning was shot, and the metallic paint was messed up.
2nd time around in 2003/2004, did the same with my current car, except stored indoors as we have a garage now. No problems whatsover, except the Air conditioning needed a recharge.
Friends of ours had their Mercedes professionally stored. The company put the cars on jacks, and had it running before they returned from overseas.
Hope that helps, and take care in Iraq.

[shadow]

I am leaving in a couple of weeks, and tryed to talk to the dealer to have them change the oil. I have 2000 miles left until the first service and will not have had it for a year until Sept. The response of the Service manager was that they cannot service the car as it is too far away from the mileage inspection and the yearly inspection! He also was explicit by not changing the oil and leaving it as is, stating the reason of contaminants might build and would have to change the oil after the year storage anyways???? :dunno:
So now I am more confused... any insight? Oh, and one more thing thank you to all the well wishers for my safety in Iraq, greatly appreciated!

[Artslinger]

Better safe than sorry.

If it was my car I would get a simple oil/filter change, my dealer charges 65 bucks for one. The bad part will be the oil change when you get back, maybe than you can convince the dealer to do the oil change ahead of time... :thumbup: for a brave American soldier.

[shadow]

lol, I hate to play the soldier gig, but even asked him because I was deploying if they could change the oil, as the service for a year is in 2 weeks and he said it was too far away..

[BMWenthusiast]

Stay Safe in Iraq. Best of Luck.

[cheps]

I have a similar question regarding storage of a vehicle. Justed picked up my bimmer on saturday and do not plan on driving it much during the winter. If it was to sit in the garage for about four weeks at a time between should I prepare it as thought many have suggested above. ie overinflate tires, battery maintainer, etc. Or will letting it run for 20 minutes in the garage or taking it for a short ride be acceptable. :dunno: Everyone has been amazing at answering my questions about the pending purchase and I'm sure I will have more now that it's in the garage.(?waxes, polishes, rags oh my) I will post pics when I am able to get ahold of a digital cam. again thank you all. scott

[shadow]

Hey everyone, here I am 4 months into my Iraq tour and am doing good! Missing my BMW :bawling: but instead they let me fly a multi-million dollar helicopter. Haven't been on the sight in a long while and wanted to say hello and good driving... makes me jealous, and hoping my car is doing well.... :dunno: