Car storage in December

[Niju06]

Seeing that we all love our cars, I think this is the best place to ask for advice on car storage in December when I go overseas for about a month or so.

I'm in Cape Town. I found a place called storewell (www.storewell.co.za) close to the airport that will store my car in a warehouse with other cars. They say that they'll start the car once a week to keep the battery charged. I'm not too keen on them starting the car or anything. I just want it parked under a roof and for them not to touch anything.

So 2 questions:
1)Has anyone used Storewell before or a place like it that i can leave my car with peace of mind?
2)Does my car really need to be started once a week? Won't the battery still be fine in a month's time? I have an e90 LCI. My other car is a ford fiesta (6 yrs old) in the past when i only had that car, I used to just leave it parked without having it started for a month and when I came back it would start first time.

 

[Karthik]

Why don't you just leave your car at a family or friends residence ? And I don't think you will need to start it . Its just a month and your car is still new anyways . Just my opinion .

 

[msm]

I don't think 1 month is too long - at worst you'll need to jump start it.

Agree with K, keep it at a friends/familys place instead.

 

[frikkieh]

+1 no need to start the car for that duration.
Ensure that the tyres are @ 250kPa and the tank is full, before storeing.
(there is a nice writeup in the e90 booklets about this).

 

[Sankekur]

Wouldn't want them starting my car, who know it might be some yob that does it and he decides to rev it with a cold engine as well, I have to agree best to try and leave it at a friend's place.

 

[Mike1]

Why not call up Auto Atlantic and ask them if you can park it there? They have three floors of open bays...

They may charge you but it wont be bad.

My dad stores his MK5 Golf GTI at a place close to Woodstock and has never had issues... I could ask him for the details... I can even give you a lift or collect you from the airport.

The MK5 GTI stands there for days on end and its 5 years old with 28 000km on the clock and original battery. Its slept in a garage there for the last 9 months already.

Mike

 

[Mike1]

Oh, I also have a jumper pack which starts cars first time which we can use which means no strain on the battery when you start it a month later...

 

[Niju06]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was also thinking that a month without starting it should be fine.

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Why not call up Auto Atlantic and ask them if you can park it there? They have three floors of open bays...

They may charge you but it wont be bad.

My dad stores his MK5 Golf GTI at a place close to Woodstock and has never had issues... I could ask him for the details... I can even give you a lift or collect you from the airport.

The MK5 GTI stands there for days on end and its 5 years old with 28 000km on the clock and original battery. Its slept in a garage there for the last 9 months already.

Mike

Hi Mike - I like both your ideas! So can I call up Auto Atlantic and ask them if I can park it there while I'm away? Anyone specific I need to speak to over there about it? I like their service and general helpfulness so would feel comfortable leaving it there.

Can you also give me the details of the place close to Woodstock? Thanks for the offer to take me to the airport as well bud. Will let you know if I'll need it.

Thing is I don't really want to leave my car at any of my friend's places. They'll all want to just take it for a spin once in a while (most of my friends are below 26). I've learnt my lesson after I left my previous car with a friend.

 

[Clownshoe]

1 month for a new car if fine. Mine stands for 2 months routinely and no problems... except for the car with a tracker. Trackers are a continuous battery draw and you will have a flat battery (and a damaged battery) if left for a month. I would suggest to avoid possible issues store it somewhere with a power point and get an intelligent battery charger. All my cars get hooked up to one one of these while i am away and its always a first time trouble free start.

Everything I have read indicated that starting a car and idling it does more worse than good. Besides it will take a while to recharge the battery.

Rolling a car will help eliminate flat spots on the wheels.