Putting the M away for the winter

[hpannu]

As the cold weather is slowly creeping up on us, I've starting thinking of what I have to do to store the M for the season. Any advice as to what should be done to ensure the battery stays strong and any other precautions I may not know of would be great.


Thanks in advance guys!

[SiRR]

When I store my sport bike for the winter top up the gas tank and add fuel stabilizer, then attach the battery tender, I picked one up from my local AMA registry, will be getting another one soon when the M gets stored in a few weeks, or you can pick one them up from here http://batterytender.com/

HTH!

[Vise]

M3 + Winter Tires = Good times.

[redline9001]

Originally Posted by Vise

M3 + Winter Tires + 3m = Good times.

corrected for truth

[apecush]

I'd kill for some winter mudflaps as well, just to prevent road rash behind the wheel wells...

[bobbyd1961]

Originally Posted by hpannu

As the cold weather is slowly creeping up on us, I've starting thinking of what I have to do to store the M for the season. Any advice as to what should be done to ensure the battery stays strong and any other precautions I may not know of would be great.


Thanks in advance guys!

store the M3 ? never! buy some great snows and drive it! i would go into a state of depression if i couldnt drive it for 3 months

[Doctor J]

battery tender for sure

[hpannu]

Thanks for all the help guys! And yeah it's going to suck not having the car for the winter but its only going to be for this winter, first winter gotta baby it a bit

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by hpannu

As the cold weather is slowly creeping up on us, I've starting thinking of what I have to do to store the M for the season. Any advice as to what should be done to ensure the battery stays strong and any other precautions I may not know of would be great.


Thanks in advance guys!

In 2009 I purchased a 2008 e85 Z4 and asked the same question of my SA at BMW. He drives a Porsche and stores it each winter. His recommendation was ....

A) Remove the battery, store in a dry place .... B) add 4 PSI to the tires to prevent flat spots and C) cover the car to safeguard from dust.

I did just that and all worked out fine ... I have to admit I did not make it thru the winter and had to take her out for some spins when the roads were dry, you know the feeling That happened 4 or 5 times during the winter months.

Then in 2010 I traded that one for a 2009 e89 sDrive Z4 35i and got myself a set of winter wheels and tires I will use them on my M3 for they are M 220m wheels (not stock, they look very close to stock) 18 inches square all around.

I recommend you ask your SA he properly recommend A, B and C above. We chat in the spring to see if you had the willpower to keep her covered all of the winter months

EDIT ... goes without saying top up the gas tank ... you knew that of course

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by apecush

I'd kill for some winter mudflaps as well, just to prevent road rash behind the wheel wells...

I drove my e46 for 6 winters in Edmonton ... you have some great indoor do it yourself car washes I always used the one on 165 Ave and 97 ST Husky spend a extra few dollars for the wheel wells to keep them nice and clean and drive only on dry roads ... get a lift on snowy days

[2thdr]

Would love to drive in the winter, but those in Calgary/Edmonton know that with our lack of proper snow clearing in the burbs, it's a great way to mess up your bodywork. No way in hell I could have driven here last year. More so a function of being lowered, though.

Power to those who do, though...the M's rock in the winter with the LSD.

[redline9001]

^^ This will be the first winter with E92, but my lowered E46 went three winters, The only days i dont dive is really heavy snow days. I dont drive it due to weather is about a week a year.

[hpannu]

thats another worry i have, I'm def going to raise the car back up for next winter when i bring it out, but also those of you who have a front spoiler what do you do? Do you remove it for the winter? I've ordered a challenge spoiler and am just going to put it on next summer but how would it hold up in these winters?

[hpannu]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

In 2009 I purchased a 2008 e85 Z4 and asked the same question of my SA at BMW. He drives a Porsche and stores it each winter. His recommendation was ....

A) Remove the battery, store in a dry place .... B) add 4 PSI to the tires to prevent flat spots and C) cover the car to safeguard from dust.

I did just that and all worked out fine ... I have to admit I did not make it thru the winter and had to take her out for some spins when the roads were dry, you know the feeling That happened 4 or 5 times during the winter months.

Then in 2010 I traded that one for a 2009 e89 sDrive Z4 35i and got myself a set of winter wheels and tires I will use them on my M3 for they are M 220m wheels (not stock, they look very close to stock) 18 inches square all around.

I recommend you ask your SA he properly recommend A, B and C above. We chat in the spring to see if you had the willpower to keep her covered all of the winter months

EDIT ... goes without saying top up the gas tank ... you knew that of course

Thanks thats a great help, will definitely consult my SA for more information

[apecush]

Originally Posted by hpannu

thats another worry i have, I'm def going to raise the car back up for next winter when i bring it out, but also those of you who have a front spoiler what do you do? Do you remove it for the winter? I've ordered a challenge spoiler and am just going to put it on next summer but how would it hold up in these winters?

Well, you feel like being a snow plow?

I'd leave it off until summer, the car is lower than average as it is, which means you'll be plowing the snow flattened by other vehicles.

[ns2000x]

Thanks to Heath I'll be driving my M this winter with his former set of 219/260's with a square 245 tire setup.

I store my '71 Dodge Charger year around basically. It is super basic so no need to tend the battery as there is literally no draw on it even without disconnecting.

Ensure you have lots of good gas, and firm tires. I wish I had a cover for the charger, so those tips above are a great one. The layer dust can form is really annoying.

James

[hpannu]

Originally Posted by apecush

Well, you feel like being a snow plow?

I'd leave it off until summer, the car is lower than average as it is, which means you'll be plowing the snow flattened by other vehicles.

Haha yeah that was my concern. Def waiting til next season.

Originally Posted by ns2000x

Thanks to Heath I'll be driving my M this winter with his former set of 219/260's with a square 245 tire setup.

I store my '71 Dodge Charger year around basically. It is super basic so no need to tend the battery as there is literally no draw on it even without disconnecting.

Ensure you have lots of good gas, and firm tires. I wish I had a cover for the charger, so those tips above are a great one. The layer dust can form is really annoying.

James

Yeah I just ordered a cover off ebay, really don't want that annoying dust. Thanks for the tips. And that 71' charger sounds like a beast! I'm a fan of the 69' camaro SS

[CalgaryX3]

I'm a pretty finicky fella when it comes to my cars, and I have been storing my cars for quite some time. I do find however, that the OEM BMW covers do allow some fine dust to come through over time.

I have been storing my E90 335i for the past four years, but since the quality/fit of the OEM cover is second to none, I have ordered another through United BMW, a sponsor on here for my E90 M3.

Asif

[Millie]

bump.

I'll be parking the M outside this winter and I'd like to put on a car cover. Other than OEM, anything you guys recommend from experience? Thanks.

[playground]

I'll slap on the winter tires and drive it all through the year. I love the car, drifts nice.

[Millie]

Originally Posted by playground

I'll slap on the winter tires and drive it all through the year. I love the car, drifts nice.

I have a Subaru for winter drifting thanks. That is not what I asked.

[markymarc1979]

ummmmm it's only August. I thought the first day of Winter is December 21st?

I think we're getting way ahead of ourselves here. I would start worrying about it November when actual winter weather arrives.

Until then, drive it like you stole it.