Relocate one year

[unixphone]

Hello All,

I plan to study aboard for a year.
My friend agreed to let me park my car at his parkig spot.

Do you guys have any recommendations for my z4?
Remove the battery and try to keep the gas fuel low? Connect the battery and fill up gas a year later?

[Tangent]

Assuming you don't want your friend to put a few miles on it every few weeks, here's what you'll want to do:

• Wash it.
• Cover it if possible.
• Give it a fresh oil and filter change.
• Top off the gas tank and add fuel stabilizer.
• Leave parking brake off.
• Hook up a battery tender and leave battery connected.
• Ideally put car on jack stands, otherwise make sure tires are inflated properly to minimize flat spots.
• If there's any possibility of rodents, mothballs or cotton swabs dipped in peppermint oil around the car are said to deter them. Stuff something like steel wool into the intake, exhaust, and hvac inlet to make sure none get inside there and build nests.

[paris1]

Originally Posted by Tangent

Assuming you don't want your friend to put a few miles on it every few weeks, here's what you'll want to do:

• Wash it.
• Cover it if possible.
• Give it a fresh oil and filter change.
• Top off the gas tank and add fuel stabilizer.
• Leave parking brake off.
• Hook up a battery tender and leave battery connected.
• Ideally put car on jack stands, otherwise make sure tires are inflated properly to minimize flat spots.
• If there's any possibility of rodents, mothballs or cotton swabs dipped in peppermint oil around the car are said to deter them. Stuff something like steel wool into the intake, exhaust, and hvac inlet to make sure none get inside there and build nests.

If not on jack stands, overinflate the tires like Mazda does prior to putting cars on the boat.

[NoQuarter]

Make sure you can get in the trunk if the battery is removed or dies.

[unixphone]

If i have battery tender and leave battery connected, it will last a year?
Shall i keep the car unlock? I assume the alarm drains battery. Or, just disconnect the battery and buy a new one a year later.

There is another battery in the trunk? Maybe i keep the trunk unlock?

[NoQuarter]

Originally Posted by unixphone

If i have battery tender and leave battery connected, it will last a year?
Shall i keep the car unlock? I assume the alarm drains battery. Or, just disconnect the battery and buy a new one a year later.

There is another battery in the trunk? Maybe i keep the trunk unlock?

The only battery you have is in the trunk and the trunk latch is electric - leaving it unlocked does nothing to help.

[Tangent]

Originally Posted by unixphone

If i have battery tender and leave battery connected, it will last a year?
Shall i keep the car unlock? I assume the alarm drains battery. Or, just disconnect the battery and buy a new one a year later.

There is another battery in the trunk? Maybe i keep the trunk unlock?

The battery tender will keep the battery healthy just as if you were driving it regularly so go ahead and set the alarm and lock the doors. The tender will actually keep your battery healthier since there will be no high current draws from the starter or more aggressive charging from the Efficient Dynamics programming of the car's charging system; just the more gentle float charging as needed. The only reason the battery would die over the course of a year would be if the battery was old and on the verge of dying in a few weeks/months anyhow. As long as the tender stays plugged in to an outlet that has power you'll be fine.

[jparnes1]

Do not put your car on jack stands. It's a bad idea to leave your suspension unsprung for so long. Just put 50 psi in your tires and you're good to go.

[kosd]

I'd also recommend leaving the trunk open or blocked partially open. If the battery dies due to a battery problem or issue with the battery tender, it can be a pain to get into the trunk.

[NoQuarter]

You can also tie a rope to the emergency release handle in the trunk and bring the rope near the center ski hatch (if you have one).