Purchased a 2008 Z4 convertible this past spring. Love the car. I need advice to store this for the winter (about 4 months) since I live in Ohio. I will be renting a storage unit. I'm afraid mice will get in the car and eat the interior. Do I need to put a battery tender on it? Do you recommend a climate controlled storage unit? Thanks.
Storing Z4 during winter
- Thread starter cathy4759
- Start date
sorry. couldn't resist it.
Thankfully here in Ireland the weather is not so harsh during the winter so I get to enjoy my Mr. Z over the winter months. But I have read stories of woe from people on here who do store there car for a few months. The battery appears to go down and then the car goes into a transport mode requiring a dealer re-set. So I would think a battery tender would be a very good idea. As regards the mice, find a storage unit with a pet cat 
Cathy - first post, welcome to the Forum!
Quick search on the internet will list the essentials to do prior to storage. Some simple things are raise the pressure in the tyres to about 40psi to prevent flat spotting, full tank of 'fresh' fuel to remove any space where condensation can form and rust in the tank. Oil change before storage - but depends on when last change was done. I use a trickle charger to maintain the battery, several varieties about - not sure what you have available in the US of A . As for mice if you're using a storage unit then a thorough check prior to storage should be OK and ensure all doors etc can be sealed - of course climate controlled is even better.
And as a 'Newbie' to the Forum some details and pics of your Zed would be great
Quick search on the internet will list the essentials to do prior to storage. Some simple things are raise the pressure in the tyres to about 40psi to prevent flat spotting, full tank of 'fresh' fuel to remove any space where condensation can form and rust in the tank. Oil change before storage - but depends on when last change was done. I use a trickle charger to maintain the battery, several varieties about - not sure what you have available in the US of A . As for mice if you're using a storage unit then a thorough check prior to storage should be OK and ensure all doors etc can be sealed - of course climate controlled is even better.
And as a 'Newbie' to the Forum some details and pics of your Zed would be great
I've stored mine for the past four winters here in upstate NY. All I do is put a full tank of gas in it, wash and wax it, and put the BMW battery tender on it. The battery tender is great, make sure to get the one that plugs into the DC socket, instead of the one with that clamps on the battery terminals.
The first year I rolled the car a little bit every few weeks to a new position to prevent flat-spotting, but I haven't even done that the past three years. The first time I take it out each year it sounds like the tires might have minor flat-spotting, but then they "bounce" back once the tires warm up a little bit and they are fine (original run flats).
The first year I rolled the car a little bit every few weeks to a new position to prevent flat-spotting, but I haven't even done that the past three years. The first time I take it out each year it sounds like the tires might have minor flat-spotting, but then they "bounce" back once the tires warm up a little bit and they are fine (original run flats).
I store mine for 5 months, following these steps;
- Humidity controlled environment at 50% and temp at 60-65 F.
- Full tank
- BMW Brand battery tender (battery terminal version, not the cig lighter receptacle model). Don't recommend using the universal trickle charger types, as they won't adapt to your battery's actual charging needs.
- Inflate tires to 50 psi in order to avoid ''flat spotting''
- Interior, breathable car cover.
- Keep emergency brake released.
Cheers
- Humidity controlled environment at 50% and temp at 60-65 F.
- Full tank
- BMW Brand battery tender (battery terminal version, not the cig lighter receptacle model). Don't recommend using the universal trickle charger types, as they won't adapt to your battery's actual charging needs.
- Inflate tires to 50 psi in order to avoid ''flat spotting''
- Interior, breathable car cover.
- Keep emergency brake released.
Cheers
srhutch said:
Running it is the last thing I do before storage, 1st thing I do as soon as I start the car back up in Spring. My 2003 still blows ice cold like a factory new.
Mine is only used for about 3 months per year as I work away. I suggest:
Deep clean it
Clean the engine bay and I use WD40 on any areas where damp may attach the components
Over inflate the tires
Fill the Fuel tank
Dry the brakes off completly and don't use the hand brake. I chock my wheels with a big stone.
Car cover on!
Unfortunatly I have no power in my garage so I have to get the wife to run it every 3 or so weeks.
A battery trickle charger is really the best and most important item. I have about 5 boats and 6 jet skis all on trickle chargers and don't have any problems with battery life anymore.
Does anybody use fuel additive?
Deep clean it
Clean the engine bay and I use WD40 on any areas where damp may attach the components
Over inflate the tires
Fill the Fuel tank
Dry the brakes off completly and don't use the hand brake. I chock my wheels with a big stone.
Car cover on!
Unfortunatly I have no power in my garage so I have to get the wife to run it every 3 or so weeks.
A battery trickle charger is really the best and most important item. I have about 5 boats and 6 jet skis all on trickle chargers and don't have any problems with battery life anymore.
Does anybody use fuel additive?
michael5155
Member
Brilliant information on this thread! I'm going to be storing my 09 Z4 for about three months. I have just a few questions that weren't specifically addressed.
1. If using a trickle charger or BMW tender, do you still start the car once every couple weeks?
2. Keep windows open a crack to avoid window seals from losing cushion?
3. I don't have a car cover, but the car will be kept in my garage where nothing can fall on it. Still use a cover?
Thanks,
Michael
1. If using a trickle charger or BMW tender, do you still start the car once every couple weeks?
2. Keep windows open a crack to avoid window seals from losing cushion?
3. I don't have a car cover, but the car will be kept in my garage where nothing can fall on it. Still use a cover?
Thanks,
Michael
michael5155 said:
1. Leave the car sleeping for the whole period.
2. Yes but for ventilation purposes. No concerns about window seal compression.
3. Not critical.
As a side note: A quality high speed rated tire inflated to 45-50psi won't flatspot, even after sitting idle for several months . When driving out of storage, run the car for a few blocks at that psi before returning to OEM spec. As a tire manufacturer employee, engineers have confirmed this procedure to me on several occasions.
I had classics for years and all the above is spot-on advice Just make sure the car it totally dried out before it's stored, a hot run is ideal.
It's best to avoid jet washing in preparation as moisture will get where you don't want it particularly in the engine bay and brakes. and watch cheap indoor car covers, I had a whole top side ruined by one that etched the paint surface and would have been better left uncovered :headbang: .
Just make sure the car it totally dried out before it's stored, a hot run is ideal. It's best to avoid jet washing in preparation as moisture will get where you don't want it particularly in the engine bay and brakes. and watch cheap indoor car covers, I had a whole top side ruined by one that etched the paint surface and would have been better left uncovered :headbang: .
Mine are stored for 6 months a year (sometimes 7 months if the weather is crap)
I wash it up and wax it, full tank with fuel additive and a BATTERY TRICKLE CHARGER (sold by BMW to avoid warranty issues)
Park it on carpet or similar to get it off the concrete and I have a dust covers for them.
Parked in my attached garage, no heat but a damn sight warmer than outside
The tires do flat spot a bit but they do that anyway if you don't drive them for a couple of weeks anyway and the bumpy ride goes away in a few miles after they warm up and lose their memory....
I wash it up and wax it, full tank with fuel additive and a BATTERY TRICKLE CHARGER (sold by BMW to avoid warranty issues)
Park it on carpet or similar to get it off the concrete and I have a dust covers for them.
Parked in my attached garage, no heat but a damn sight warmer than outside
The tires do flat spot a bit but they do that anyway if you don't drive them for a couple of weeks anyway and the bumpy ride goes away in a few miles after they warm up and lose their memory....