Winter storage/battery question....

This will be my first winter with my '97 2.8i (I am second owner, car was never out in winter). I will be putting the Z in a rented garage for the winter. Such is life in Maine-good thing for the X5!

Should I:

A) remove battery altogether?, or

B) Leave battery in with a battery tender?

If answer "B", should it be the BMW battery tender that roadstersolutions.com sells, or can it be one from my local auto parts store? TIA.

I would say B and I would get the one from leatherz.com
as opposed to soulutions

The battery tender we sell is the Battery Tender Jr. Costs less than the regular battery tender and works just as well. BMW uses Battery Tender also, but with BMW label on it.

I also will be storing my newly acquired 2001 Z3 3.0... Heated indoor facility. The manual states to inflate the tires to 51PSI...assume to prevent flat spots...but is this correct, or are there better solutions??

Any other steps I should take??

Thanks

Mark

also before start up after it sitting all winter, drain the oil, pour in fresh so it coats everything before start up, you have to do that to be a member of the z3 anal retentive club

1) for long term storage, change the oil just before storage, then run until hot. This is not needed for most winter storage (Montana and Alaska may be exempt ).

2) Use a battery tender, even if you remove the battery, the battery will discharge over time.

3) Inflate the tires to 50 psi plus to reduce flat spotting, or get a set of the storage devices (you lay them on the floor and drive onto them).

4) Fill the tank to reduce the possibility of condensation in the tank. You can also use some gasoline stabilizer, but I don't think this is needed for most winters (a few months). You would add it to the tank and fill the tank, then drive home, which wil distribute it throughout the fuel system.

5) DO NOT run the eninge for short periods during the winter. LEAVE IT ALONE, unless youa re able to drive it loong enough for the engine to get fully up to operating temperature thoughout the engine. And it must be driven to do this.

I disagree that adding oil will "coat everything with oil". For serious long term storage use a storage oil, and FILL the engine up to the very top. Squirt a generous amount into the cylinders. Remember to drain the storage oil before starting and fill with normal oil.

If you didn't do anything special and the car has ended up sitting, pull the plugs, squirt some oil in (about a tablespoon) and crank the engine with the plugs OUT untl you get oil pressure or the warning light goes out and then a few seconds more. This distributes oil to the bearings withou inducing any load. Then replace plugs, start adn run, get up to operating temperature and then change the oil.

i also do the following-

· place a box of baking soda inside the car to reduce the stale/musty smell after long periods of storage
· place moth balls around the car to keep rodents from moving in
· cover the exhaust pipes (extra measure against rodent intrusion)

I prefer to shoot rodents across the garage on first start up. A good healthy one makes good enough seal to REALLY pop out of the exhaust.

Is anyone using Battery Tender Plus ? I'm considering to buy one to use it in the Alpina. Is it conditioning the battery too ?

Any feedback is appreciated.

I have both Battery Tender Plus and Battery Minder units. For conditioning the Battery Minder is better. It has some features to help reduce sulphation of the plates.