Sadly putting my Zed in storage, any tips welcome.

Smudgemanuk

Smudgemanuk

Zorg Guru (II)
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 1, 2024
Points
104
Location
Bicester, Oxford
Model of Z
2.8l TU pre-facelift z3
Due to a change in circumstances I am putting my beloved Zed in storage in my Grandma's garage for at least a year maybe two.

I will put my"plan of action" down below and I am open to feedback.

I plan to:
  • Give everything a thorough clean and scrub before putting in the garage (engine bay, interior, outside, underneath, wheel wells) and will ensure it is bone dry. It will be covered with a light breathable indoor car cover
  • Every few months start and drive the car for at least 15 minutes up and down the reasonably long private driveway ensuring it gets fully up to temp.
  • Use Bounce dryer sheets in the interior and engine bay and outside the car as a hopeful rodent repellent, I would really rather not use inhumane options for this.
  • Block up the exhaust tips and intake.
  • Premium fuel + a stabiliser. I don't know whether to brim the tank or barely anything (and then top it up when I want to drive it to dilute the old fuel). I know condensation can be a problem but surely it doesn't affect plastic tanks in the same way as metal.
  • Use a smart battery maintainer and will leave the battery connected
  • Run a dehumidifier in the garage and use silica beads in the interior, windows closed
  • Put my "old wheels" with old tyres on when it is sat to prevent flat spotting of my nice Michelins.
My two main questions:
The car will be on painted sealed concrete, should I put anything underneath the car to help prevent corrosion?
Should I brim the fuel tank (premium fuel) with stabiliser or mostly empty (and then top up before driving)?

Any other tips, advice or feedback would be much appreciated. Thank you
 
Smudgemanuk said:
Due to a change in circumstances I am putting my beloved Zed in storage in my Grandma's garage for at least a year maybe two.

I will put my"plan of action" down below and I am open to feedback.

I plan to:
  • Give everything a thorough clean and scrub before putting in the garage (engine bay, interior, outside, underneath, wheel wells) and will ensure it is bone dry. It will be covered with a light breathable indoor car cover
  • Every few months start and drive the car for at least 15 minutes up and down the reasonably long private driveway ensuring it gets fully up to temp.
  • Use Bounce dryer sheets in the interior and engine bay and outside the car as a hopeful rodent repellent, I would really rather not use inhumane options for this.
  • Block up the exhaust tips and intake.
  • Premium fuel + a stabiliser. I don't know whether to brim the tank or barely anything (and then top it up when I want to drive it to dilute the old fuel). I know condensation can be a problem but surely it doesn't affect plastic tanks in the same way as metal.
  • Use a smart battery maintainer and will leave the battery connected
  • Run a dehumidifier in the garage and use silica beads in the interior, windows closed
  • Put my "old wheels" with old tyres on when it is sat to prevent flat spotting of my nice Michelins.
My two main questions:
The car will be on painted sealed concrete, should I put anything underneath the car to help prevent corrosion?
Should I brim the fuel tank (premium fuel) with stabiliser or mostly empty (and then top up before driving)?

Any other tips, advice or feedback would be much appreciated. Thank you
Click to expand...
I take handbrake off and put into gear, but not sure that a tip, obvious or crap
 
I sit my car on four squares of cheap old carpet to keep the cold concrete away from the tyres for long periods.

If you can rotate the wheels a bit every few weeks that will help the tyres from cracking IMO.

If you put a dehumidifier in a normal garage (that is draughty) you are wasting your time. The dehum will be trying to dry the whole world.

The only issues with cars and condensation is if the weather changes temperature quickly (which it can in the UK). Basically if metal (or any product) is cold and the weather warms quickly, the car will form condensation, as the car doesn't warm quickly enough. Forced ventilation is the best (cheapest) solution when this happens.

If the car is under a soft cover take it off when the above happens, or the condensation will just sit there.
 
Detol wipes on everything you touch inc the seatbelt..you won’t believe how fast mould grows on the bacteria otherwise
 
I would try get some rubber mat or similar between concrete floor and car
Concrete is porous and will draw moisture leaving a potential damp micro climate under the car.

Stephen
 
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