Car Battery

[zeaq]

Me and family will be going on vacation to Oman for 3 weeks.So all cars will be sitting in the garrage for 3 weeks.
Will the battery be flat? used
If not i'll take the battery out or give the keys to my neighbours that is my cousins to start the car every few days.

[uiuc240]

3 weeks is fine. go have fun.

[BMWBeauty416]

3 weeks you will be fine

it's when you start racking up months you need to worry
have fun!

~*Teg*~

[97alpineM3]

BS... if your car is like mine... perfect running condition.. everything is practically new... gaskets.. battery.. filters... oil... if I dont start my car every day or two.. she has a hard time waking up. So... best bet.. just to be sure... get someone to start her ever few days.. or atleast once a week for 30 minutes.. just to get the oil warm and circulating...

Good Luck,

Les

[uiuc240]

??? Les, I find your situation hard to believe. I've parked mine for well over a week at the airport before and had no problems whatsoever with starting the car.

Also, warming the car at idle is specifically *not* recommended in the Owner's Manual. If you're having a friend start your car for you, you should also have them drive it around town a bit.

Eric

[dutchbmw]

3 weeks are no problem!

[zeaq]

Thanks everyone..
uiuc240,I'm not so sure of giving my cousins driving my BMW around or my parents car because i think they will drive it roughly since that's not their car.
I rather to follow Les idea of giving them the keys for them to start but since many of u all says it's OK for 3 weeks ,i think just leave it like that in the garage.

[robbins6103]

I am in the Navy and deploy for months at a time, everytime I come home she starts right up!

[mostwired]

I went for a 3-week vacation once. When I got back - my battery was probably discharged so much, that alternator had a hard time charging it all the way up again. As a result, my alternator died I ended up changing the VR inside for 40$ (and saved myself $450 in the process).

My suggestion - disconnect the battery (don't remove it, just disconnect). You will loose the clock of course, and your radio presets. And maybe (just maybe), the damn airbag light may come on after you reconnect the battery. To reset it - $10 at the dealer.

But hey - your situation may be completely different. I went to Cali, and you're going to Oman

[zeaq]

Originally posted by mostwired@Dec 8 2004, 11:23 PM
I went for a 3-week vacation once. When I got back - my battery was probably discharged so much, that alternator had a hard time charging it all the way up again. As a result, my alternator died I ended up changing the VR inside for 40$ (and saved myself $450 in the process).

- disconnect the battery (don't remove it, just disconnect). You will loose the clock of course, and your radio presets. And maybe (just maybe), the damn airbag light may come on after you reconnect the battery. To reset it - $10 at the dealer.

But hey - your situation may be completely different. I went to Cali, and you're going to Oman

[snapback]246255[/snapback]

Yo..Bad news..I'm not going to Oman...only my daddy goes there..But instead of Oman we are going to Singapore for three weeks..

[93 325i]

Im pretty sure I read somewhere that starting your car occasionally, especially in cold weather, is in fact worse than letting it sit and doing one "cold" start when your ready to drive her again. Think about it- it makes sense. The frequent cold starts will be more harmful. Plus letting it idle to warm up is also bad. As for the battery- if it's in good shape you should't have a problem for a 3 week rest..

[bimmer_boy]

I didnt drive my car when i baught it for about a month because I was too lazy to go to the dmv to get the license plate. Point being, it started up just fine after the wait.

[El Presidente]

my car is tempermental. She fusses when I leave her alone for more than 5 days or so.so rear starting issues, just low idle. give her some gas and clear the cobwebs and shes fine.