Long Term Storage of M5

ciskaj · 7th March 2002, 05:19

I might have to go out of town for approximately 3 months (for work) and leave my M5 behind. Anyone have any long term storage advice. Some of my questions include:

1. Should I put a trickle charger on the battery?

2. Is it harmful to have the car sit, without an occasion starting, for 3 months?

3. What other advice can be given in regard to this issue?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

atomic80 · 7th March 2002, 05:31

Chris Foote would be a good person to ask about long term storage. His M5 is a garage queen!!!

I would pump air into the tires...max pressure possible and use a trickle batter charger. That's about it. It should be fine if you're storing it for only 3 months.

Texas M5 · 7th March 2002, 05:34

I had my 535i in storage for 2 mos. w/ out any prep and it started and worked like a champ afterwards.

M5Laser · 7th March 2002, 05:41

Advice? Drive it up to Nova Scotia and put it in my good hands for the time that you are away. I promise that the tires will get plenty of action and the battry will get plenty of charge! And I will do all that for free!

Good deal huh? PM me...

Wilkie · 7th March 2002, 20:24

Quote:

Originally posted by atomic80
I would pump air into the tires...max pressure possible and use a trickle batter charger. That's about it. It should be fine if you're storing it for only 3 months.

I agree, except that instead of a regular trickle charger. I would use a "smart" charger, i.e, a battery maintainer such as the Battery Tender-- this will maintain the battery at a fully charged level without overcharging it.

You might also want to put some gas stabilizer in the gas tank.

M5Phil · 7th March 2002, 21:06

Watch out for tire being flat on one side, it should be fine after a few miles but just hope it does not cause permenant damage to
your tire. So if you can get somebody to drive it a little bit once
a week that would help otherwise you should really be fine. As
for the battery a Smart charger seems like a really good idea

I've tried jumping a E39 M5 before and it was

MAVERICK · 8th March 2002, 01:50

Storage:

Here are some tips on proper storage:

Change oil and filter.

Test antifreeze and service as needed.

Clean the car thoroughly inside and out. Dry car completely, make sure brakes are dry.

Fill the gas tank to full but don't "top off" the tank. Add a bottle of fuel stabilizer.

Inflate tires to fifty-five psi.

DO NOT put a car up on blocks. Cars are meant to be supported by their tires not jack stands.

Buy three small bags of mouth balls, cut a hole in the side of each bag to form tray. Put one bag under the hood, one in the interior and one in the trunk. This will keep your BMW from becoming a home to rodents or insects. This is a very common problem.

Close all windows and vents (including moving the heater vent from outside to recirculate). Seal the tail pipe and air intake to prevent rodents from entering.

Write down the radio code and unlock doors before disconnecting battery.

Remove the battery, store in a dry, warm place and trickle charge.

On manual transmission cars put the car in second or fourth gear. This moves the shift selector rod onto the transmission to keep it from rusting where the shaft travels through the seal.

DO NOT set the hand brake.

Jacob Lee · 8th March 2002, 15:28

Quote:

Originally posted by MAVERICK
Storage:

DO NOT set the hand brake.

understand the rest, but what happens if you park with the hand brake up for prolonged periods? didn't know this was bad.

Chris Foote · 8th March 2002, 20:33

Hahahahaha I HEARD THAT JASON :p

(3.2k and counting!)

-Chris

Roton · 8th March 2002, 22:07

Mine's been under the car cover in my heated garage since Dec 1. It has:

1. "Smart" Battery Manager Junior
2. Full tank with gas stabilizer
3. Tires at 55 PSI. (After 2 months, they were down to 50, so I pumped them back up)
4. Fresh oil and filter (about 100 miles old)
5. Waxed and cleaned inside and out
6. Parking brake not set
7. second gear slected
8. Nothing corked up or mothballed because my garage is secure from critters (although this is a great idea I hadn't thought of)

I'll probably be starting it for the first time in about a month after they get the sand and salt off the roads. Then it's going right to the dealer to have the rear fender wells rolled for clearance.