how to maintain cars when not used?

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

Well..
it is (probably) a long period i do not start my car (BMW M3 e36 convertible).
Business matters(brand new rebuild of a shop in Milano, and restart of my activity) and really few free time made me really forget also just to start her also if just for a short turn of the house.
So..the car is now completely gone (think is battery) and this is the third time this happens (theme and tyres...really trashed a lot of money this way).
I noted this time really ANYTHING electrical works (the bmw has a system in the lateral windows that makes a little movement to fit the glass into the canvas), and also this is dead.
Previous battery failures allow me at least to have some few energy also if the engine didnt start.
Neither clacson or internal small lights work....really NOTHING.
Consider the battery was bought brand new in september(a Bosch)..but I suspect I didnt used the car since last summer.:dead:

Now the question is:
what can I do to preserve the car without such problems?.
If a modern vehicle as this bmw is not been used for several months will be a serious damage for the car(engine and trans..or liquids inside..), or only battery failures will be so frequent?.

Consider my car is as a model of my shop...200% original in every detail (have 4 spares BBS racing wheels from WTCC..but I didnt mount and used those, cause not originals),and nice as when born in Monaco factory.

..any tip from professionals is wellcome, think (unfortunately) this is a problem many people with second cars can have.

Thx
Paolo

 

[Ron Earp]

Sounds like you need to put a battery tender on it. I mount a 1amp charger in every race car we do so that you simply plug it in - no muss or fuss with finding a charger, hooking it up, etc. - cord hangs out in the trunk and you just hook it up when not in use. Costs about $15.

Otherwise we've found just as you have, that after say a month or so a battery just doesn't seem to work like it should, even if new. It is compounded on modern cars with theft devices that use current, ECUs that preserve settings, etc.

Ron

 

[David Morton]

Do you have electrical power nearby to the car? If so, a battery conditioner
would help out:
https://sslrelay.com/s147574293.one...tery+Conditioners/product_overview.shopscript

 

[John W]

Absolutely need a battery monitor.

I use 'optimate' product ons all my bikes and cars.
Even so it is still a good idea to unplug the charger on a regular basis to allow the battery to discharge a little, and then recharge. I do this one week out of 4.
Otherwise the battery develops a memory and so loses capacity. What I mean is, it shows full voltage but if it doesn't start first time it doesn't have the capacity to crank the car for many times.

Ideally check the tyre pressures, and roll the car out, or at the very least rotate the wheels slightly. Otherwise the tyres develop flat spots due to the side walls compressing in one place for a period of time. It is noticeable too when you drive the car, especially if its a heavy car. Some people advocate pulling the wheels off and sticking the car on old wheels, or leave it on axle stands. A cheaper option is to buy some 'wheel ramps', which are shaped plastic chocks, often supplied by camping outlets. They help to spread the wieght of the car further around the tyres.

When you park it up, leave it in gear, but handbrake off. This stops pads sticking to discs.

If your garage is dry and not prone to condensation there isn't really any other issues. If it does get damp, then you will develop corrosion on parts, most likely alloy engine parts, and the exhaust. Starting the engine regularly (once a month) will stop the engine corrosion, but compounds the exhaust corrosion unless you let the car get up to temp to clear the condensation.
Another side effect of damp garages is for the clutch plate to stick to the flywheel as it corrodes. This happens less on newer cars as they seem to use better quality flywheels compared to the old iron jobs of 70s and older cars.

Hope that helps

 

[CliffBeer]

Maybe just a simple in-line battery disconnect would work - no need to run a power supply, and, the battery will last longer disconnected. You can even just remove the batter and place in a temperate climate (your bedroom closet!). It should be fine for a year or more in this setting.

Also good to put some fuel stabilizer in the gas tank if you're not going to drive the car for six or more months. This will help to prevent dirty injectors down the road. Finally, put a few mouse traps on the floor near the car - mice seem to love to make homes in sleeping cars and they'll use all kinds of soft interior parts to make a bed for themselves...

 

[ChrisL]

Solar powered trickle chargers are ideal for this sort of thing and can be bought very cheaply these days and cost nothing to run. The cost of running even a modest mains power charger adds up to the equivalent of a night out if you intend to run it day and night all year round. Last I looked they were commonly available in boating stores (you think we have problems with batteries, ask a boatie )

The E36 BMW also has an easily accessible 12V point under the bonnet I think just for these sorts of devices.

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

will try all those tips, then.Really thank u
Its just a shame when u see what u have and u havent the possibility to use as it needs.

Do u maybe think I can still save the battery of the car or will be definitely gone after this matter?.

I remeber some cars also have little lifter to avoid even tyre deformation,maybe I should also think at this now.
Now, should I anyway disconnect the gone battery from the car or can I leave it connected also if not working?.

Mouse problem is something that really scares me,I live in campaign and the house is from 2003, but we have fields there and so surely a lot of "free" nature near.
I sometimes check at the other carton boxes inside garage, but seems no signs of mouses or beatles.

Sometimes being a car nut is a real illness...

 

[John W]

try charging the battery.

I'vr recharged my porsche battery a few times when it wouldn't even turn the interior light on. It only lasts a few times like this though before the plates become defomed (tell tale sign is the ends of the battery bulge out).

disconnecting the battety is fine if your in a secure place and don't need the tracker / alarm / immobiliser.
Also, the solar powered chargers need a clear line of sight to the sky. Okay if you have a window or skylight in your garage, but otherwise not a lot of use...

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

the garage is exactly under my bedroom (if i only can I would like to have a ladder directly connected to garage, but leave the idea cause comed too expensive..).Studied all the house this way to be even nearer my cars.
If only I can i am one of the fools that will park the car inside my livingroom. Some people love mona lisa, I love cars, wonder If I can have also just a rolling chassis of the gt40, think I will sleep 10 cmts near it, for the rest of my life.

Think tomorrow I will try to start the batter using the Golf 4 as BIG battery loader, and maybe only look if that will return to life.
Otherwise will take the battery away and try reload it (if all this doesnt works..its another 100 euros completely fired,e36 convertible has a giant boat battery in its back..).
As soon as possible I will place an electirc switch to save the electricals, but all this is a shame (and I know myself..hate to touch originals electric system).

think also I need a good psychiatric for my illness.

Paolo

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

Ok..I've finally regived life to the BMW.
Before anyway buy the new battery reloader (BOSCH one...payed 25 euros...good for motorbike and cars battery) I was so stupid to give the gone battery to mechanic..and he had the courage to ask me 10 euros for the reloading...:dead: (never will happen again..be sure).

This morning I remounted all and...the engine started at the first shot! (after 7 months of silence).
E36 was really one of the best bmw serie ever done.

Too happy for this (I always look at all your impressive garage works...and seems something too far away from my mechanic skill..u know), but now the question is this:

I've noted I have very few fuel in the car,so..considering I think i will anyway not use it so much neither now I dunno if can be better to fill that of new fuel or leave so few inside the car (maybe some dirty in fuel can damage pumps..I dunno), and the second question is if it is enough disconnect the black wire (MINUS) and leave only the plus connected to battery (in the hope to save the expensive charge).

Shall I maybe remove completely the battery if I do not use (can be safer maybe).

Thank u
Paolo

 

[Doug S.]

Advice I've received regarding the fuel tank issue is to store a car with as full a tank as possible. The reason for this is that leaving any air space in the tank will promote condensation of moisture out of the air in the tank and that condensed moisture will contaminate the fuel. That might cause a problem when you try to restart the car. I even had a tank on an old Chevy pickup develop rust holes in the bottom of the tank after being stored almost empty for about a year. Fuel stabilizers might help this for short term, though.

As for the battery, if it were me I'd remove it to a different place. Disconnecting the negative cable might well eliminate the discharge of the battery, but all batteries give off corrosive vapors. If there are any alloy metals in the area those vapors just might cause corrosion--what a shame to soil such a nice BMW!! Since your garage seems to be pretty tight/secure, just put it on the other side of the garage.

I don't know if it really matters, but when I store a battery I always sit it on a shelf if possible, or if not possible on a piece of wood. Sitting a battery on a concrete floor seems to drain the energy from it more quickly--maybe it is b/c of the cold nature of concrete, I don't know, but I've had fewer problems with a battery sitting up off the floor.

Hope this helps.

Doug

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

will immediately follow your tips Doug.
The battery will be completely removed (also if now I've leaved the back completely open to change air).

Next time (probably next sunday now...) will refill completely the tank (also cause the gauge doesnt really convince me...I make an easy count for it...full tank=500 kmts ).
My only problem is that I go around without any insurance...so will be very careful in driving.

Any other tip will be really appreciated.

Thank u

Paolo

 

[David Morton]

My only problem is that I go around without any insurance...so will be very careful in driving.
Paolo - are you kidding us? Is this common in Italy? Tell me what days you will be driving in Milan and I'll arrange to be somewhere completely different.
Dave M

 

[Neal]

Paolo, just sell it and when you are ready to drive again get a 40. Problem solved!

 

[Scott Calabro]

Doug,

Its the lime in the concrete that over time will kill a battery. Lime is an alkaline and just its presence near an acid (lead acid electrolyte) will tend to react with the battery. Also if a lead acid battery sits long enough its cell plates tend to "sulfate". Sometimes with constant potential charging and careful electrolyte temperature monitoring (infared thermometer) the sulfate can be broken down and the battery can be restored.

S

 

[Doug S.]

Thanks for the explanation, Scott. It never dawned on me that it might be pH related, but now that you've explained it, it makes sense. I'm guessing that the higher off the floor a battery is stored, the less this reaction will occur.

Thanks again!

Doug

 

[Scott Calabro]

Always glad to help a fellow fanatic !
S

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

Paolo, just sell it and when you are ready to drive again get a 40. Problem solved!

:dead: u right...u right...u right....:dead: :dead: :dead: :dead: :dead: :dead: :dead:

 

[John W]

Cold also affects charge stage of batteries, and concrete is renowned for being cold to the touch (it has poor thermal properites). Sitting a battery on a lump of wood helps to keep the cold off the bottom of the battery (I do exactly the same).

Personally I would NOT fill the tank to the brim. Sure you may get some condensation, but over time you will also find the modern day unleaded loses most of its benzine. I prefer to leave the tank near on empty, and then slap a gallon or two of fresh fuel in when I restart the car/bike after the lay-up.

If you have a carburated engine be sure to drain the float bowls down, as the unleaded tends to coat the innards in a lacquer like coating, and blocks jets.

Taking the battery off and removing it from the garage is the best bet. Just be sure to take a note of any radio codes, alarm reset procedures, and check any special procedures necessary before doing so (Current range rovers need ignition to be off for 2 minutes before disconnecting battery, to allow all electrics to finish powering down !)

Paolo, don't you have the opotion of a 'laid up' policy, or maybe third party only ?
Has to be better than no insurance at all...

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

also I asked around about the fuel tank matter, and seems many have different point of view.
Modern fuels seems have less impurity, and anyway modern fuel tanks are anyway done for long period parkings.
I've noted the rubber on the fuel intake was a little dry (but not damaged),and open it was a little pain (suspect some vapours from inside forcing that).
The main problem in the E36 is about fuel gauge,that NEVER works properly (was a wellknown problem of that serie...as well as the tendence to fire lights...I've changed nearly 20 of theme,since I've got the car.. )

and about insurance:
Italy is a CRAZY land for insurances (seriously watching around for eventual Gt40 registering here....and that will be a long and too expensive problem..I am sure).
Asked to almost all italian insurance companies,but seems all act in the same direction,trying to oblige u in keeping alive the insurance also when u dont use the car (the unuse of such car costs me about 200 euros monthly,just to rest parked 2 meter under my bedroom,thats why I wanted to stop all for a while.)

Next sunday will be refueling time ...even in outlaw driving conditions.

Paolo