my first winter storage

[ant1path]

Hi guys,

This will be my first winter storing the Z4 away. Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything.

1 - engine oil change/filter
2 - wash/wax car
3 - full tank with fuel sta-bil
4 - smart battery charger
5 - interior car cover
6 - over inflate my RFT? is this necessarily if my tires are RTF?
7 - putting a tarp under my car to stay off the cold concrete/moist <- good idea or bad?


Thanks!
Vince

[jparnes1]

If you're storing the car in a climate controlled place, there's no need to place a tarp under it, otherwise it can't hurt. I wouldn't change the oil until the spring - what's the point? Looks like you've got it covered.

[nicknaz]

if you have dry days it will be a lot easier to drive the car periodically (warm it up fully) and just keep topping up with fuel + stabil and keep it on the trickle charger.

I stored my motorcycle as you wrote but found that I had less random maintenance tasks in the spring if I kept riding once every 4 to 6 weeks

[Vector Pilot]

No need to do all that the ZER is not that fragile, drive it as much possible.

[Putzo]

Originally Posted by ant1path

1 - engine oil change/filter
2 - wash/wax car
3 - full tank with fuel sta-bil
4 - smart battery charger
5 - interior car cover
6 - over inflate my RFT? is this necessarily if my tires are RTF?
7 - putting a tarp under my car to stay off the cold concrete/moist <- good idea or bad?

This will be my first winter storage of the Z4 also, but I plan to follow the same procedure as with my dearly departed 335i.

1 - not until spring
2 - definitely
3 - full tank for sure, but I haven't bothered with fuel stabilizer in the past - might revisit
4 - yup
5 - nope
6 - haven't heard of this one before
7 - also new to me
8 - start and warm up engine every two weeks (cannot winter drive, garage is situated off a steep back lane that's always full of snow and ice)

[rking117]

Originally Posted by ant1path

1 - engine oil change/filter
2 - wash/wax car
3 - full tank with fuel sta-bil
4 - smart battery charger
5 - interior car cover
6 - over inflate my RFT? is this necessarily if my tires are RTF?
7 - putting a tarp under my car to stay off the cold concrete/moist <- good idea or bad?

1. if it was changed recently then no. Get it changed afterwards.
2. yes
3. Most definately, also run the engine for 20 minutes or more to get the stabil fuel into the cylinders. Also might think about non ethanol fuel.
4. sure
5. your preference
6. NO
7. Not necessary as it will not change anything.

[Atebit]

I also take this opportunity to gummi pflege the rubber as part of the "farewell" wash before I halo it for the winter.

[Greddy2000]

I'm also storing my 09 35i for winter. My smart battery charger has a AGM battery setting, however I'm not sure what type of battery the stock one is. There are no obvious labels on it. Does anyone know if it is an AGM type?

[Frank Costanza]

Anymore info on this? I'm leaving the country for 2 months and need to either disconnect the batter or get one of these smart chargers.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Frank Costanza

Anymore info on this? I'm leaving the country for 2 months and need to either disconnect the batter or get one of these smart chargers.

Don't dicsonnnect the battery. You'll need to bring it in to the dealer to reset several things. Just get a trickle charger and you're done.

[DACZ4]

Don't forget rodent control. Mickey and Mini can do a lot of damage when they set up house in your engine compartment!

[ant1path]

Originally Posted by DACZ4

Don't forget rodent control. Mickey and Mini can do a lot of damage when they set up house in your engine compartment!

Yep. just put dryer sheets inside the car and around engine compartment.

[DACZ4]

I read that dryer sheets will work in a contained area like the cabin of a Z4, it is the smell that they do not like. I am not sure about the engine compartment. The engine area is well ventilated.

I have had numerous issues with Mikey and Mini on lawn tractors, snow blowers and outside A/C coils.

They can cause a lot of damage, especially to wiring.

I don't mess around with none lethal remedies any more

[jparnes1]

Place a ring of mothballs around the perimeter of the car to keep mice away. Stuff steel wool in the tail pipes.

[ant1path]

or having a shotgun in standby mode like DACZ4 suggests

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by ant1path

or having a shotgun in standby mode like DACZ4 suggests

Maybe consider moving south? Here it's 70 degrees and I'm driving with the top down in sunny Southern California. The longest I've stored my car here is overnight.

[DACZ4]

Actually I have reverted to chemical warfare with Mickey and Mini.

Placing moth balls around a car is just a bit to much. As I try to take the Z4 out on days were the temp is above 40. U

Not a really bad drive with the top down, I have heated seats and a heated steering wheel. I really enjoy the ride!

I would love to move south, but we have grand kids. The wife will not move.

Of course with global warming the weather in SE PA is not to bad, not much snow in the last 2 years.

I have been to southern California many times, but the real estate is a killer.

[toofache32]

Jeez where do you guys live where you have to pack up a car for a season? Antarctica?

[DACZ4]

In south eastern Pa! Last few years very little snow. Before that 2 Ft of snow each time it snowed! Problem is here than places north of here, they do not know how to clear it. So it is a mess.

[jparnes1]

I live in Rochester NY and we clear the snow just fine. The bigger issue is road salt

[DACZ4]

Cause you deal with heavy snow each year. I am originally from Wisconsin. They can deal with snow up there. In SE Pa they cannot deal with snow. First snow, even if an inch, major issues here and lots of accident. The Z4 will remind in the garage out of harms way!

[airboss1998]

Any suggestions on the smart charger?