Storing a car for 2 years

[beanitos]

Say in theory I had an overseas job for 2 years but couldn't bear to part with the Zed. Is there a realistic way to store it undriven for that time?

I know ideally it would be with a trustworthy friend/family member who could drive it occasionally but then it will need to be taxed which at £500+ per year is a pain.

 

[biojo]

if you know some one with a nice big drive way and leave it there, other alternative would be to rent a garage for 40-60 a month

Some places near us hire out shipping containers for you to store things in

 

[beanitos]

I could find a place to store it. I'm more concerned about it being sat not being used for 2 years.
Surely that can't be good for any car?

 

[Havard]

Find a secure, dry place. Leave the petrol tank almost empty, take the wheels off and put it on axle stands. It's whether you would insure it for theft that is a question and also whether to put it on a Ctek charger or remove the battery all together.

H.

 

[mr.tourette]

wouldnt worry me tbh..Ive had motorbikes that have stood unused for years with no issues...warm and dry garage mind

 

[k31ron]

wouldnt worry me tbh..Ive had motorbikes that have stood unused for years with no issues...warm and dry garage mind

Agree, its a non issue, tyres might square off if left static and I'd disconnect battery ... that's about it.

 

[Chris_D]

'Overseas job for 2 years' and you couldn't get a trip back home in that time?
Come on OP, fess up you're really bein sent down for a bit of porridge aren't you? lol
Say awoight to Rolf Harris for us :lol:

 

[Bing]

wouldnt worry me tbh..Ive had motorbikes that have stood unused for years with no issues...warm and dry garage mind

Agree, its a non issue, tyres might square off if left static and I'd disconnect battery ... that's about it.

...but, remember that the car will likely go into 'transit mode' with the battery disconnected for so long, and you'll need to know how to get it out of that mode when you come back to it. See this thread :

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20974

I'd leave it on a CTek charger I think, unless there is any reason why it couldn't be ? Otherwise would a removed battery may well die over two years of no use ?

 

[beanitos]

Thanks guys

By 'CTek charger' we're talking about a trickle charger right?

I'm 50/50 right now. I could sell at a great price but worried I'll regret it and won't have the chance to buy one again.

 

[Bing]

Yep, trickle charger. BMWZ4MC stored his for about a year when he went to work in Oz, so may be worth contacting him by PM. If you can afford to keep it then why not ?

 

[beanitos]

It's a good point made by Chris_D that I'll be back every 6 months or so. I won't be hanging out with Rolf Harris honest!

I've got 3 months to mull it over as I'm not going until the end of June (if it happens).

 

[cj10jeeper]

Frankly 2 years is a long time without ever being driven
Def needs to be jacked up and on stands so no load on tyres. They could easily deflate and destroy themselves
Oil must be changed and new filter else the acids will rot the engine
Fuel tank should be full as vapour is explosive and allows the fuel to go stale quickly. add a stabiliser
On a charger - actually dangerous for this length of time, but a CTEK or intelligent should be OK as they will cut off. Trickle charger is not the same. If anything happens to the battery it can dry out and literally explode. Done it on one of my Jeeps and filled the interior with acid..
Handbrake off
Animals and moisture are the big killers so has to be a vented dry garage

If you or someone can take it for a run every 6 months or so, or be prepared for some work to bring it back then that's fine

Don't forget insurance won't be valid. You can get laid up insurance

 

[Bing]

If anything happens to the battery it can dry out and literally explode. Done it on one of my Jeeps and filled the interior with acid..

Can this happen with a battery removed from the car too ? Just out of interest.

 

[beanitos]

Frankly 2 years is a long time without ever being driven
Def needs to be jacked up and on stands so no load on tyres. They could easily deflate and destroy themselves
Oil must be changed and new filter else the acids will rot the engine
Fuel tank should be full as vapour is explosive and allows the fuel to go stale quickly. add a stabiliser
On a charger - actually dangerous for this length of time, but a CTEK or intelligent should be OK as they will cut off. Trickle charger is not the same. If anything happens to the battery it can dry out and literally explode. Done it on one of my Jeeps and filled the interior with acid..
Handbrake off
Animals and moisture are the big killers so has to be a vented dry garage

If you or someone can take it for a run every 6 months or so, or be prepared for some work to bring it back then that's fine

Don't forget insurance won't be valid. You can get laid up insurance

Thanks for that, sound advice.

 

[cj10jeeper]

If anything happens to the battery it can dry out and literally explode. Done it on one of my Jeeps and filled the interior with acid..

Can this happen with a battery removed from the car too ? Just out of interest.

Yes - nothing to do with if it's connected to the car or not. If you just keep piling electricity into a battery the outcome isn't pretty. I'm not talking about 24 hours, but weeks and months and in this case years. If you use a sophisticated battery manager (such as CTEK) then it knows what's happening and in effect just maintains at the correct voltage and not trickle charging

 

[Silverzedtom]

I'd also get the brake fluid changed. Two year intervals anyway, and any water that has been absorbed into the fluid will cause corrosion.

 

[Bing]

Cool - thanks CJ

My bad calling it trickle charging - dangerously part-educated inexperienced non-tech layman at large :lol:

 

[G600]

Personally I wouldn't jack it up, the bushes are designed to have the weight on them at standard ride height not to support the wheels hanging off them, pump up the tyres to prevent flat spots.

 

[domsz4]

http://www.southerncarstorage.co.uk/car-storage-rates

what about this 320 sounds money well spent although im not convinced by the 1/4 routine. but something similar

 

[andyfanshawe]

I have had a battery removed from a car for 6 years connected to one of those solar chargers you can get from ebay for about £12. And its perfect.
Storing a car is a science in itself.
There are many web sites around that cover it far better than anyone of us here can.
No substitute for driving it occasionally though. No matter how well its stored.
Fuel pumps don't like sitting for too long.
Anyway, so much expertsie out there for long term stoarge........