Infrequent driving of car

[sard]

So I recently got the wife a new ride because she's 7.5 months prego. It's the X3 and it's a pretty sweet ride! Thing is the M3 is sitting in the garage for long periods of time now.. What's the minimum precautions that should be taken?

I already have the car on a battery charger. How often is an occasional drive necessary?

Here's a photo of the garage mates =D

[BMRLVR]

You have the main thing done by having the battery charger on it.

Here are a few other things you can do:

1)Before you park the car in the garage for an extended period you should ensure your last drive was long enough that the engine was heated up to operating temperature for at least 20-30 minutes to boil off any water that had made it way in to the engine oil from normal use (Water mixes with combustion gases and makes acid which is corrosive to engine internals).

2)Air up your tires to max inflation pressures to prevent flat spots or get a set of these http://www.raceramps.com/flatstoppers.aspx.

3)Don't apply the hand brake since there is a possibility of it sticking/seizing on after a long period of time (this may not be a problem in your climate though)

4)Try and keep your fuel tank full since this will prevent water in the fuel from condensation that takes place when their is airspace in the fuel tank.

5)Put fuel stabilizer in the tank to prevent fuel from going stale.

Occasional drives are not that necessary because starting the engine after extended periods is one of the main causes of wear. Just take your car out when you want to use it otherwise just let it sit in the garage.

[sard]

Thanks for all the great info BMRLVr!

[Templar]

How often are you letting it sit without driving/starting it?

A lot of the stuff listed was good, but really depends on how long you're letting it sit.

With my other car, before I had the M3, I let it sit for 15 months with only fuel stabilizer. I disconnected the battery completely as well and took it out. When I came back (I was deployed and no one could watch the car for me), I put the battery back in and the car started just fine with no issues. Of course things are a bit different for a BMW, but if you're not letting the car sit for much longer than a couple of months at a time, I wouldn't worry about the tires getting flat spots or even the fuel going bad. If it's longer than 6 months then you may want to consider those a possibility.

[sard]

Originally Posted by Templar

How often are you letting it sit without driving/starting it?

A lot of the stuff listed was good, but really depends on how long you're letting it sit.

With my other car, before I had the M3, I let it sit for 15 months with only fuel stabilizer. I disconnected the battery completely as well and took it out. When I came back (I was deployed and no one could watch the car for me), I put the battery back in and the car started just fine with no issues. Of course things are a bit different for a BMW, but if you're not letting the car sit for much longer than a couple of months at a time, I wouldn't worry about the tires getting flat spots or even the fuel going bad. If it's longer than 6 months then you may want to consider those a possibility.

Probably 1-2 months at a time. Thanks

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by sard

Probably 1-2 months at a time. Thanks

The above post is was correct, if you will only be 1-2 months between driving the car you will only need to do #1 and #4 from my list. The rest of the stuff was for if the car was in storage for 6 months+.

The flat stoppers are not necessary but are a good idea even when not driving for only 1-2 months.

[Templar]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

The above post is was correct, if you will only be 1-2 months between driving the car you will only need to do #1 and #4 from my list. The rest of the stuff was for if the car was in storage for 6 months+.

The flat stoppers are not necessary but are a good idea even when not driving for only 1-2 months.

Definitely a good idea.

Like I said, I left my old car for 15 months while I was deployed. The fuel stabilizer did its job and disconnecting the battery left me with a fully charged battery when I came home. I was shocked at how quickly the car started up when I got back after that long, I brought a friend and cables even though I didn't need them!

[radiantm3]

I can understand not driving the wife around in the M3, but how can you not want to take it for a drive at least once every few days? I can't go a day without driving the M3 at least once. I'll just take the car out at night to drive for the sake of driving when I don't get out during the day.

BTW, love the M Sport X3.

[NiVeDh]

Do you have the battery tender hooked up directly to the battery? I've heard that's not a good thing. Use the terminals under the hood instead.

[BayerischeMotorenWerke]

sell it

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

Do you have the battery tender hooked up directly to the battery? I've heard that's not a good thing. Use the terminals under the hood instead.

It should be connected to the battery and not to the terminals under the hood.

It's advised not even to use a ground other than the negative terminal on the battery.

I bought the deltran one, (its the same one as the BMW one that was relabeled), and it kept the voltage at 12.6 to 12.7 consistently. Very cool product.

I wouldn't worry about storing it, as long as your don't start it and turn it off without warming it up to operating temp.

[Cyrax91]

Good ideas all around thanks guys. I actually have a few cars and take my M3 out mostly on the weekends. Even if you leave in the garage only for a couple weeks would you use a battery charger?

[jpirelli]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

It should be connected to the battery and not to the terminals under the hood.

It's advised not even to use a ground other than the negative terminal on the battery.

Idk bro I blew my IBS by using the BMW Advanced Battery Charger connected directly to the battery. Dealership said to use terminals under hood next time.

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by jpirelli

Idk bro I blew my IBS by using the BMW Advanced Battery Charger connected directly to the battery. Dealership said to use terminals under hood next time.

That's why they're there for indeed: jumping and charging. I've always used them with my BT+ 1.25amp charger for the last 2-1/2 years, and no issues. By the way, I never leave the charger connected after green light is steady; makes me nervous leaving crap connected all the time .
Finally, I wouldn't use a more powerful charger, nor jump the battery with the other car running; these cars are delicate . Good day folks.