Anyone garage/hibernate their Z4 over winter?
- Thread starter g3org3y
- Start date
I’m definitely putting mine away now, many don’t, but it entirely depends on your car and circumstances 
I’m doing it as I’ve just had my MR detailed and I’ve only bought it for the summer.
In answer to the battery question, either will help but preference would always be to use a battery conditioner. The battery could well go flat anyway with it disconnected over the winter. I’ve wired the post connectors for my Ctek so I can connect to the battery in the boot without having to take any covers off.
Few points I try to follow for the winter:
use the brakes on a short run if you wash it before you put it away to dry everything off and save corrosion.
Also, leave the handbrake off, put the tyre pressures up to ~50psi, and roll the car to keep the tyres from getting flat spots.
Some people choose to do an oil change before the winter too, as as oil and gains surfactants it can cause contamination inside the engine... I’ve never gone in for this though.
I’m sure other people will add other bits too, hope this helps though
I’m doing it as I’ve just had my MR detailed and I’ve only bought it for the summer. In answer to the battery question, either will help but preference would always be to use a battery conditioner. The battery could well go flat anyway with it disconnected over the winter. I’ve wired the post connectors for my Ctek so I can connect to the battery in the boot without having to take any covers off.
Few points I try to follow for the winter:
use the brakes on a short run if you wash it before you put it away to dry everything off and save corrosion.
Also, leave the handbrake off, put the tyre pressures up to ~50psi, and roll the car to keep the tyres from getting flat spots.
Some people choose to do an oil change before the winter too, as as oil and gains surfactants it can cause contamination inside the engine... I’ve never gone in for this though.
I’m sure other people will add other bits too, hope this helps though
I garage the M over winter - with a ctek plugged into the cigarette lighter socket. I don't tend to leave it on but give it a couple of days boost every 2 weeks or so.
Other than that I pump the tyres up to 45psi or so, am careful to take any surface corrosion off the brakes before putting away and put a car cover on it.
I always plan to get an oil change done ASAP after getting it out of hibernation too - for the relatively small cost it gives me peace of mind that it's fully ready to be spanked all summer :lol:
Other than that I pump the tyres up to 45psi or so, am careful to take any surface corrosion off the brakes before putting away and put a car cover on it.
I always plan to get an oil change done ASAP after getting it out of hibernation too - for the relatively small cost it gives me peace of mind that it's fully ready to be spanked all summer :lol:
I have a coupe and am lucky enough to be able to garage it all year. I tend to plug it in to a Ctek if it's not driven for in excess of 7 to 10 days (at any time of year). I always leave the handbrake off with the car in gear and will roll it during the rare occasions when it's not used for two to three weeks (or more). I don't use a car cover for a couple of reasons: 1) there is a small risk of dragging something across the paintwork and doing minor damage, although I'm aware you can get soft covers and so on 2) I intend to keep using the car over winter. If the roads are dry, I'll take it out. Yes, it will get a bit of salt on it but I wash it frequently and given how it's cared for the rest of the time I would prefer that it gets at least some use year round. I strongly prefer to take it out in the dry and in good weather, but let's face it - it won't dissolve in the rain!
Yes, washed and dried then take for a short run to make sure brakes are dry, then tyres pumped to 45psi, wheels chocked, handbrake off, fuel stabiliser in tank, battery conditioner on and cover on.. jobs a good un 
I also defo recommend choosing a dry day every 6 weeks or so and getting the car fully up to temperature on a gentle run - it’s important to keep the oil running around the various seals etc. The worst thing you can do is just start it up for a minute or so then switch it off again.
North West Surrey
g3org3y said:
Thats what I am using, does the job perfectly - good led display showing exactly what stage of the 'conditioning/charging' cycle its on
I also bought a Ctek comfort connect lead - which attaches to the battery and has a LED display to show you the state of the battery charge in simple terms like a traffic light system - green for good, red for poor. The MXS 5.0 comes with its own lead to connect to the battery but it doesnt have the LED display on it.
For 4 months from 1st November to 1st March. I always give a good clean & take her for a good run before pumping the tyres up to 45psi then fitting the Ctek to the terminals under the bonnet. Finally put the indoor cover on to keep the dust off, oh & I leave the handbrake off.
Mine gets used every day of the year.....also the fact I don't have a garage :?
It's a daily commuter that has the roof down as much as possible weather permitting, Day/Night Warm/Cold also fog! One day on the way home from work think it was like 2 years ago in november, horrendous fog I had the roof down, couldn't even see the clocks let alone the cars infront
It's a daily commuter that has the roof down as much as possible weather permitting, Day/Night Warm/Cold also fog! One day on the way home from work think it was like 2 years ago in november, horrendous fog I had the roof down, couldn't even see the clocks let alone the cars infront
I use mine all year round but never ice or bad conditions, and it lives in the garage most of the time.
Hi
I lay my E46 m3 up from Oct to April all i do is pump the tyres up to 45 PSI. Run the tank down until its around a 1/4 full or less, trickle charger on the battery.
Then on first use i fill the tank up with Power. Done this for 4 years and never had a problem.
Car is in a garage.
Rich
I lay my E46 m3 up from Oct to April all i do is pump the tyres up to 45 PSI. Run the tank down until its around a 1/4 full or less, trickle charger on the battery.
Then on first use i fill the tank up with Power. Done this for 4 years and never had a problem.
Car is in a garage.
Rich
No for me. It's a production BMW car, more than capable of withstanding some road salt. Not special enough to warrant that. Besides, some of my best drives have been on ice cold days with blue skies, heated seats on.....
Different if it was a Lotus Elise or kit car.
Just enjoy it. That said, I do connect my car to a battery conditioner over the winter since it does get driven less and temperatures are colder, so battery is more likely to degrade.
Different if it was a Lotus Elise or kit car.
Just enjoy it. That said, I do connect my car to a battery conditioner over the winter since it does get driven less and temperatures are colder, so battery is more likely to degrade.
Thanks for the replies chaps. Will look into the C-Tek kit. It was more the opportunity to keep the Zed out of the rain. Everytime I see the rain hammering on the cloth roof it makes me a bit sad.
Never had a problem driving my E30 325i Cabrio all year round. Rain, snow etc. No problem. (I just accepted the occasional roof leak!)
Never had a problem driving my E30 325i Cabrio all year round. Rain, snow etc. No problem. (I just accepted the occasional roof leak!)