Winter Storage - Hate Having To Put Her Away

[Kairos]

Although I am hesitant to do so, I just moved to Minnesota and have to reluctantly store my black beauty until Spring. I have read various threads from people regarding storing a bimmer but was hoping to get some advice from those people who have done this before. I am not going to put her on blocks. I am either going to put nitrogen in her tires or throw in 50 psi to avoid flat spots. I am also not going to take the battery out. I hear getting a battery tender that goes in the lighter is the best trick at 1.25 amps (in case the battery gets too low). Any other advice? This past weekend it was about 70 degrees so I took her out through the windy curves between 80 - 100mph. What a great car. So it is time to use the truck but want to make sure she is in good shape until the Spring comes around. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

-Q

[2001BMW325xi]

Originally posted by Kairos@Oct 11 2004, 08:09 PM
Although I am hesitant to do so, I just moved to Minnesota and have to reluctantly store my black beauty until Spring. I have read various threads from people regarding storing a bimmer but was hoping to get some advice from those people who have done this before. I am not going to put her on blocks. I am either going to put nitrogen in her tires or throw in 50 psi to avoid flat spots. I am also not going to take the battery out. I hear getting a battery tender that goes in the lighter is the best trick at 1.25 amps (in case the battery gets too low). Any other advice? This past weekend it was about 70 degrees so I took her out through the windy curves between 80 - 100mph. What a great car. So it is time to use the truck but want to make sure she is in good shape until the Spring comes around. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

-Q

[snapback]209601[/snapback]

One question why store it for the winter.....why not drive it???????? What car yu gonna drive in the winter if I may ask....? I am in Iowa and I use my xi in the snow....just curious :P

[Kairos]

Originally posted by 2001BMW325xi+Oct 12 2004, 10:52 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(2001BMW325xi @ Oct 12 2004, 10:52 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Kairos@Oct 11 2004, 08:09 PM
Although I am hesitant to do so, I just moved to Minnesota and have to reluctantly store my black beauty until Spring.* I have read various threads from people regarding storing a bimmer but was hoping to get some advice from those people who have done this before.* I am not going to put her on blocks.* I am either going to put nitrogen in her tires or throw in 50 psi to avoid flat spots.* I am also not going to take the battery out.* I hear getting a battery tender that goes in the lighter is the best trick at 1.25 amps (in case the battery gets too low).* Any other advice?* This past weekend it was about 70 degrees so I took her out through the windy curves between 80 - 100mph.* What a great car.* So it is time to use the truck but want to make sure she is in good shape until the Spring comes around.* Any thoughts would be appreciated.

-Q

[snapback]209601[/snapback]

One question why store it for the winter.....why not drive it???????? What car yu gonna drive in the winter if I may ask....? I am in Iowa and I use my xi in the snow....just curious :P

[snapback]209894[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

Toyota 4runner. The xi can handle the foul weather but not the 328ci. I don't care if you put blizzaks on it and put sakt in the trunk. I put this thing through the winter last year in Chicago but I also rarely needed to drive her. The other two previous bimmers I owned (92 325is and 87 325i convert) muscled through the snow with blizzaks. This time around I want to keep her aways from the salt. Does it kill me not to drive her...yeah but this baby will be a classic once the design team (headed by a north american) screws around with the upcoming new body style.

[moto]

Kairos. I have a 2000 328i that I store. Last year
I changed the oil a few months before storage. I
put a fuel stabilizer in the gas and filled up full.
I pumped up the tires to about 37 psi and placed
these rubber mats my brother got for me from his
work so that the tires rested on the mats. I also
purchased the BMW battery trickle charger.
I detailed and waxed the car and used a car
cover.

[Furious]

Originally posted by moto@Oct 13 2004, 10:14 PM
Kairos. I have a 2000 328i that I store. Last year
I changed the oil a few months before storage. I
put a fuel stabilizer in the gas and filled up full.
I pumped up the tires to about 37 psi and placed
these rubber mats my brother got for me from his
work so that the tires rested on the mats. I also
purchased the BMW battery trickle charger.
I detailed and waxed the car and used a car
cover.

[snapback]210913[/snapback]

this year i will be storing my car for the first time, i live in canada so its a good idea with the lowered suspension this year... anyways this is what i will be doing to my car....... (look at quote)

[Kairos]

Originally posted by moto@Oct 14 2004, 12:14 AM
Kairos. I have a 2000 328i that I store. Last year
I changed the oil a few months before storage. I
put a fuel stabilizer in the gas and filled up full.
I pumped up the tires to about 37 psi and placed
these rubber mats my brother got for me from his
work so that the tires rested on the mats. I also
purchased the BMW battery trickle charger.
I detailed and waxed the car and used a car
cover.

[snapback]210913[/snapback]

Thanks Moto...I heard you should bump the psi up to 50! I know that you lose about 2.7 psi a month and with the cold weather it might even permeate through the tires quicker. I was looking for a spot to put nitrogen in the tires and I would not have ot bump the psi up so high...just in case I wanted to take her out on a crisp sunny day. Nonetheless I can drop the air down if I needed to. I agree about the oil. Question, I have been looking for a trickle charger b/c BMW wants me to spend $70 when I know they usually run $30. Are you using the 1.25am that plugs into the cigarette lighter and a wall outlet or did you go and grab one that you connect to the battery? Thanks again for the reply... Q

[moto]

Kairos. I bought the BMW charger that plugs
in the cigarette lighter. It cost me $98 cdn.
I wouldn't use any other charger just in case
it damages the electronics of your car. The
package of the BMW charger states:

THE ADVANCED BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM
IS A 1.25 AMP BATTERY CHARGER DESIGNED
TO FULLY CHARGE AND MAINTAIN A BATTERY
AT A PROPER VOLTAGE WITHOUT THE DAMAGING
EFFECTS CAUSED BY TRICKLE CHARGERS.

OUR NEW BTP MICRO-CHIP TECHNOLOGY APPLIES
THE CORRECT PEAK CHARGE, THEN AUTOMATICALLY
MAINTAINS THE BATTERY AT THE PERFECT FLOAT
VOLTAGE WHICH ELIMINATES SULFATION.

Moto

[Kairos]

Originally posted by moto@Oct 14 2004, 12:59 PM
Kairos. I bought the BMW charger that plugs
in the cigarette lighter. It cost me $98 cdn.
I wouldn't use any other charger just in case
it damages the electronics of your car. The
package of the BMW charger states:

THE ADVANCED BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM
IS A 1.25 AMP BATTERY CHARGER DESIGNED
TO FULLY CHARGE AND MAINTAIN A BATTERY
AT A PROPER VOLTAGE WITHOUT THE DAMAGING
EFFECTS CAUSED BY TRICKLE CHARGERS.

OUR NEW BTP MICRO-CHIP TECHNOLOGY APPLIES
THE CORRECT PEAK CHARGE, THEN AUTOMATICALLY
MAINTAINS THE BATTERY AT THE PERFECT FLOAT
VOLTAGE WHICH ELIMINATES SULFATION.

Moto

[snapback]211178[/snapback]

Alright, I think you sold me on picking one of those up...I have to get the oil changed in it anyway so I will grab it. What fuel stabalizer did you put in? Did you talk to the guys at BMW about it?

cheers - Q (guinness is good for you)

[WOSBY]

I winterize and store my motorcycle every year and Moto has it right.

Wash and wax the car.
Change your oil.
Fill your tank, and add fuel stabilizer. Drive around a bit so the stabilizer circulates through the entire fuel system.
Have your brake fluid flushed to prevent corrosion of the brake system while it's just sitting there for those few months.
Inflate your tires a few pounds above normal, and park the car on rubber mats or several layers of cardboard.
Hook up a trickle-charger. Do NOT disconnect your battery.
Place a box of Arm-N-Hammer inside to absorb any moisture and odor.
Place a car cover on it.
Kiss it good-bye till next Spring.

Wosby

[moto]

Kairos. I used the STP brand of fuel stabilizer.
It is good for up to 80 litres (20 US gal's.) of gas.
MOTO

[trojp]

The BMW manual you get when you buy the car also has tips on storage during winter

[Kairos]

Originally posted by WOSBY@Oct 21 2004, 01:20 PM
I winterize and store my motorcycle every year and Moto has it right.

Wash and wax the car.
Change your oil.
Fill your tank, and add fuel stabilizer. Drive around a bit so the stabilizer circulates through the entire fuel system.
Have your brake fluid flushed to prevent corrosion of the brake system while it's just sitting there for those few months.
Inflate your tires a few pounds above normal, and park the car on rubber mats or several layers of cardboard.
Hook up a trickle-charger. Do NOT disconnect your battery.
Place a box of Arm-N-Hammer inside to absorb any moisture and odor.
Place a car cover on it.
Kiss it good-bye till next Spring.

Wosby

[snapback]215531[/snapback]

Thanks Wosby...appreciate the feedback...cheers

[Kairos]

Originally posted by moto@Oct 21 2004, 04:26 PM
Kairos. I used the STP brand of fuel stabilizer.
It is good for up to 80 litres (20 US gal's.) of gas.
MOTO

[snapback]215633[/snapback]

Great MOTO...thanks for the feedback...had to take her out today for a long drive...maybe have a few more weeks...

-Q