Winter storage

C

CarlostheJackall

New member
Got my first Z4 a few months ago as a second car using it daily at the minute but will put it in the garage over the winter was wondering what the best way to store it was as in

Cover or no cover?
Windows up or down? (Mould and damp inside car)
Roof up or down (same reason)
Battery charging on a solar trickle charger (no mains in garage)

Found this forum when I searched for EML codes P1050 and P1062 which a member suggested Vanos solenoids which I removed, cleaned the connections, cleaned the solenoids, swapped them over and it’s run better than ever and not missed a beat since so great advice received on here already.

Thanks in advance guys.
 
Welcome, some pics of your car on the Newbie thread always go down well with members :-). I've had 5 years experience with hibernating cars over winter, particularly with Boxsters and an S2000. My first bit of advice is not to bother, I've been through it all from deep cycling battery chargers, parking it on carpet mats with over pressured tires and all that other faff. So if you have access to a garage then put that car in to keep the worst of the weather off but simply put, just use your car regularly. It helps if you can put the car away dry but as long as the garage is dry and that you can get plenty of airflow then all will be well. These days I will tend to drive mine at least a couple of times a month in the winter and make sure I cover a sensible amount of miles, not much point in just running a mile around the block. As for covers, OK for a cap over a soft top and glass for short periods outside but they retain moister and damage paint so I'm not a fan.
 
I agree with the above - if you do too much work to it then it'll put you off driving it when the opportunity arises. I'd leave the hand brake off, windows down perhaps and sort something out for the battery. If you are genuinely not going to use it for six months then I'd change the oil before parking it up.
 
Welcome to the forum. :)

Another who agrees these cars enjoy the odd dry, salt free, day out during the winter months. Mine lives in a warm dry garage, roof down, hand brake off. I only put the charger on if she's been in there more that two or three weeks and then just for one night. I'm still on the original battery, (No doubt it will die now I said that). Other than that I do nothing. Every time I take her out over the winter she gets washed, then driven slowly around the block to dry the brakes off, before I tuck her up again.

Oh and many here would love to see a few pics of your Zed. So a little prompt.

:worthless:
 
[ref]buzyg[/ref], Roof down? what's the idea behind that? In my Porsche days it was always good to leave the roof up to keep it taught and prevent dust settling inside the car. I did leave the drivers window down for ventilation and access as well as the bonnet released as they have electronic catches.
 
If you do put it away in a garage, make sure you lock the car properly.
If you don't then I'm told by others on this forum that the car doesn't completely 'go to sleep' and will continue to drain the battery slowly.
 
Armscarf said:
[ref]buzyg[/ref], Roof down? what's the idea behind that? In my Porsche days it was always good to leave the roof up to keep it taught and prevent dust settling inside the car. I did leave the drivers window down for ventilation and access as well as the bonnet released as they have electronic catches.
Click to expand...
This one has been discussed a few times. Both up or down appear to work. :thumbsup:

Those who have a hard top fitted over winter, must have the roof down. I simply choose to have it down, as it makes access to the car much easier in the garage and has worked fine for 9 1/2 years. :D
 
30C outside let's discuss hibernating. :poke:

I store mine mid late november to late feb, or at least have done for the last 2 years as it's been so mild ( east of england).

Car is cleaned and parked in the garage, no cover. Handbrake off ( they are prone to sticking). Roof up, windows shut, and vents closed), I've never had issues but I'm aware of people who have had mice make homes in or from their upholstery. Check roof drains are cleaned out (my motor has been rehomed to the boot but the idea of standing water somewhere in the car is not good). If the roads look salt free and the weather is nice I'll let it out to play I may plug in a charger if it hasn't moved for a few weeks.
 
I sorn mine for 4 months (nov - feb)
Pump tyres up a bit
Connect to ctek
Windowns down an inch
Roof up
Handbrake off
Dust cover over car.
It wakes up in March and goes for a service and Mot.
Its started on the button and driven off fine for the last 3 or 4 years since I've owned it - cars sit on dealer forecourts for longer than that - nothing to worry about really.
 
LordOxygen said:
I sorn mine for 4 months (nov - feb)
Pump tyres up a bit
Connect to ctek
Windowns down an inch
Roof up
Handbrake off
Dust cover over car.
It wakes up in March and goes for a service and Mot.
Its started on the button and driven off fine for the last 3 or 4 years since I've owned it - cars sit on dealer forecourts for longer than that - nothing to worry about really.
Click to expand...

^ Exactly this & also I do give her a good wash, wax & vac prior to parking her up. Has started perfectly after hibernation each year. My MOT was April but now October. Considering SORN'ing a week early this year maybe, then leave MOT until next March, depending on the weather :D .
 
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