Almost winter time

statZ4 · 10-17-2010, 07:23 PM

With winter approaching, I was wondering what steps does everyone take before parking their car for the winter?
Do we need an oil change?? I asked the BMW dealership here and they told me no, just stick to the regular maintenance schedule? Everywhere I read, it says to switch it out?
Let me know folks!

teagueAMX · 10-17-2010, 07:28 PM

Oil is fine

Trickle charger for the battery

cdeslandes · 10-18-2010, 12:02 AM

If oil is more than 2,000 miles old, change it as it gets corrosive and you don't want that sitting in there.

Fuel preservative in a full tank.

Trickle charger.

Tires slightly overinflated.

Wash, wax and a cover.

BMWZ4 · 10-18-2010, 07:23 AM

My regiment:

Wash / wax
Clean rims (inside rim as well), rotors etc
Trickle charger
Gummi Phledge all seals
Fill fuel tank & add gas treatment, run for roughly 20 minutes afteward
Cover
Over inflate tires to 40psi - 50psi
Wait 6 months

Dave

cdeslandes · 10-18-2010, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Marien

My regiment:

Wash / wax
Clean rims (inside rim as well), rotors etc
Trickle charger
Gummi Phledge all seals
Fill fuel tank & add gas treatment, run for roughly 20 minutes afteward
Cover
Over inflate tires to 40psi - 50psi
Wait 6 months

Dave

That last part's the most difficult.

alan64 · 10-18-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statZ4

With winter approaching, I was wondering what steps does everyone take before parking their car for the winter?
Do we need an oil change?? I asked the BMW dealership here and they told me no, just stick to the regular maintenance schedule? Everywhere I read, it says to switch it out?
Let me know folks!

the best is not to park it. Get the winter wheel and tire package, and drive it. Heated steering wheel, heated seats, and unless you have a blizzard its wonderful to drive all year. Recently had the oil checked and looked under the car, and it was clean as a whistle. I used to park my vettes, and hated having it sit there. Now enjoying the car all year round.

mcbeee · 10-18-2010, 10:31 AM

Clean it, trickle charger, park it on carpet (anything to get it off the cement),
a dash of fuel preservative in the tank and put the cover on it. Then go in the house and pout for 7 months...and any sunny day that's warm, start it up for a half hour to circulate the oil etc.

lux good · 10-18-2010, 11:08 AM

Park it up....go to bed....get up the next day....drive it!!

persian54 · 10-18-2010, 11:11 AM

I do love SoCal... where we can drive with the top down even in the 'winter' hehe

ChuckB · 10-18-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lux good

Park it up....go to bed....get up the next day....drive it!!

+1

didn't spend that much money on something I can't drive most of the year, plus the E89 rocks in the snow...

cdeslandes · 10-18-2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcbeee

and any sunny day that's warm, start it up for a half hour to circulate the oil etc.

I wouldn't do that. The most damaging thing one can do to an engine is a cold start, and just running it buys you absolutely nothing.

If you start the car, take it for a ride!

cdeslandes · 10-18-2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan64

the best is not to park it. Get the winter wheel and tire package, and drive it. Heated steering wheel, heated seats, and unless you have a blizzard its wonderful to drive all year. Recently had the oil checked and looked under the car, and it was clean as a whistle. I used to park my vettes, and hated having it sit there. Now enjoying the car all year round.

That's what I plan to do. One of the reasons I got a Z4 instead of a Boxster was the hardtop for winter.
I just plan on keeping it inside on cold days (say, lower than 20F), during and just after snow storms when there's a lot of sand and salt on the roads.
At most will keep it garaged during the worst part of winter (January/February)

Silver-Bolt · 10-18-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

I wouldn't do that. The most damaging thing one can do to an engine is a cold start, and just running it buys you absolutely nothing.

If you start the car, take it for a ride!

+1
Letting it idle only will create condensation within the motor and oil. Bad idea. Take it out and drive. Get it fully up to operating temp before shutting it down.

BenTrovato · 10-21-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan64

the best is not to park it. Get the winter wheel and tire package, and drive it. Heated steering wheel, heated seats, and unless you have a blizzard its wonderful to drive all year. Recently had the oil checked and looked under the car, and it was clean as a whistle. I used to park my vettes, and hated having it sit there. Now enjoying the car all year round.

I like your mentality!

One of the best pieces of advice I got when not playing full out in anything was "What are you saving yourself for?"

What are you saving the car for, life is short, enjoy it.

Mr Breeze · 10-21-2010, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by persian54

I do love SoCal... where we can drive with the top down even in the 'winter' hehe

...plus 1

MN winters....full tank with gas stabilizer, battery tender, on jack stands, breathable cover, don't start it (that only causes condensation in the oil) until spring when you are ready to drive it, wait, wait, wait.

AZ winters....top down driving at it's best.

....can you guess why I moved to AZ?

alan64 · 10-21-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenTrovato

I like your mentality!

One of the best pieces of advice I got when not playing full out in anything was "What are you saving yourself for?"

What are you saving the car for, life is short, enjoy it.

it comes from getting older, and you start to realize, that things in life are to be used, and not saved for the next guy who buys it. Use it, enjoy it, because everything especially time is going really fast, and you pay attention to that the older you get.

esqu1re · 10-21-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan64

it comes from getting older, and you start to realize, that things in life are to be used, and not saved for the next guy who buys it. Use it, enjoy it, because everything especially time is going really fast, and you pay attention to that the older you get.

KrisNL · 10-22-2010, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan64

the best is not to park it. Get the winter wheel and tire package, and drive it. Heated steering wheel, heated seats, and unless you have a blizzard its wonderful to drive all year. Recently had the oil checked and looked under the car, and it was clean as a whistle. I used to park my vettes, and hated having it sit there. Now enjoying the car all year round.

Same here!! I get a new one every 3 years anyway!
This is my fun car, I got family car for the rides together with wife/kid.
When me and my wife go on a date together we take the Z4 too.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 10-23-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statZ4

With winter approaching, I was wondering what steps does everyone take before parking their car for the winter?
Do we need an oil change?? I asked the BMW dealership here and they told me no, just stick to the regular maintenance schedule? Everywhere I read, it says to switch it out?
Let me know folks!

Don't have the heart to park a car like that ... it would be like locking up a sexy Lady in a darkroom

seriously ... if you have too then yes a good wash and wax (wax if it needs to be) trickle charger, add say 4 PSI to each tire (check the pressure once in a while) and cover her carefully (make sure it can breathe, therefore a car cover from BMW or similar quality would be appropriate, don't penny pinch here think of what you paid for your babe).

Good Luck

tranquility · 10-23-2010, 09:18 PM

No cocooning the Z for me. It's my only car!

the belgian · 10-24-2010, 12:37 PM

hey guys, you did not buy this to sit in the garage did you. one day you will realise that live is not for ever ,go and enjoy it to the full , drive the arse of it summer or winter rain or shine.

10-17-2010, 07:23 PM	#1
statZ4 New Member 2 Rep 13 Posts Drives: BMW z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Almost winter time With winter approaching, I was wondering what steps does everyone take before parking their car for the winter? Do we need an oil change?? I asked the BMW dealership here and they told me no, just stick to the regular maintenance schedule? Everywhere I read, it says to switch it out? Let me know folks!
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10-17-2010, 07:28 PM	#2
teagueAMX Colonel 60 Rep 2,087 Posts Drives: Some are road worthy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: So Cal, USA iTrader: (0)	Oil is fine Trickle charger for the battery __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
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10-18-2010, 12:02 AM	#3
cdeslandes Captain 27 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 s35i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Jeep Wrangler ... [0.00] 2013 Volvo XC90 [0.00] 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i [8.67]	If oil is more than 2,000 miles old, change it as it gets corrosive and you don't want that sitting in there. Fuel preservative in a full tank. Trickle charger. Tires slightly overinflated. Wash, wax and a cover. __________________ 2010 BMW Z4 s35i 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90
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10-18-2010, 07:23 AM	#4
BMWZ4 Major General 1908 Rep 5,102 Posts Drives: '23 X1/'23 Allroad Progressiv Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	My regiment: Wash / wax Clean rims (inside rim as well), rotors etc Trickle charger Gummi Phledge all seals Fill fuel tank & add gas treatment, run for roughly 20 minutes afteward Cover Over inflate tires to 40psi - 50psi Wait 6 months Dave __________________ '11 Z4 30i (retired);'11 X3 28i (retired); '15 M235i Stage 1 Dinan (recalled & crushed); '16 M235i Stage 3 Dinan (retired); '15 X3 28i (retired); '14 328i (retired), 2019 X3M40i (retired); Loaded '18 X1 (retired); Loaded '20 X3MC DG, Black/Tan Merino (retired); Loaded '23 X1 Cape York green and Red/Black interior; '23 Audi A4 Allroad Progressiv
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10-18-2010, 10:31 AM	#7
mcbeee Lieutenant 5 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 3.0i [5.00] 2001 Z3 3.0i [0.00] 2009 Z4 s35i [7.00]	Clean it, trickle charger, park it on carpet (anything to get it off the cement), a dash of fuel preservative in the tank and put the cover on it. Then go in the house and pout for 7 months...and any sunny day that's warm, start it up for a half hour to circulate the oil etc. __________________ Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps '03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine)
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10-18-2010, 11:08 AM	#8
lux good Banned 24 Rep 291 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 23i & Q5 2.0 TSFI Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Park it up....go to bed....get up the next day....drive it!!
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10-18-2010, 11:11 AM	#9
persian54 Lieutenant General 922 Rep 15,818 Posts Drives: M760/G83M4 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Valley, SoCal iTrader: (298)	I do love SoCal... where we can drive with the top down even in the 'winter' hehe __________________ From E93 335i to E89 Z4 to E93 M3/E89 Z4 to E350/SL550
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10-23-2010, 09:18 PM	#20
tranquility sportscars only 3236 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	No cocooning the Z for me. It's my only car!
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10-24-2010, 12:37 PM	#21
the belgian Enlisted Member 5 Rep 39 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 Roadster Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: kilmarnock iTrader: (0)	hey guys, you did not buy this to sit in the garage did you. one day you will realise that live is not for ever ,go and enjoy it to the full , drive the arse of it summer or winter rain or shine.
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