[vmoney89]

Hi all - I took delivery of my G80 exactly a week ago after months of waiting. I love it, still trying to get through the break-in period (~500 to go) but anyways - this is my first car that I don't drive everyday or at least every other day.

I don't plan on driving it much in the winter - really depends on the salt & other road conditions so it'll mostly be in the garage. I've been told to get a battery maintainer, any recommendations on which one? Any other recs besides the maintainer?

[M4ord]

Battery maintainer for extended periods of no use. If you do drive in the cold, suggest some all seasons. Summer tires turn into hockey pucks around 50 degrees. If it's kept in a garage then I would not suggest anything else.

[Needsdecaf]

Mouse proof your garage!

In all seriousness, get some all seasons and drive it once they clear the roads.

[Znomorph4theWin]

My tried and true winterization routine:

1. Put 2 beers into the Refrigerator
2. Make sure gas tank is full
3. Complete Exterior (including wheels, brake calipers) and Interior Detail
4. Park car in garage. Place thick rubber mats under each tire to avoid direct contact with cold concrete
5. Add a few psi to each tire to prevent flat spots in spring
6. Place battery in BMW branded battery tender (note thet m3 uses lithium ion battery so set the tender on the correct mode)
7. Place moth balls around the garage and around the car (I don’t have rodents but it is a safe guard just in case)
8. Cover car with custom fit soft car cover to protect from dust and my 13 clumsy son
9. Sigh and reminisce of the enjoyment car has given me
10. Drink the two beers originally placed in refrigerator in step #1
11. Watch hockey game

Very important: Once all of the above is done. The car is officially in hibernation. I DO NOT start the car until it awakens in the spring.

Cheers

[vasillalov]

My to do list for storing cars for the winter:

1. Full tank of gas. Add Marine Stabil to fuel - 2oz for the entire tank. It will prevent the ethanol in the fuel from separating, decomposing and oxidizing the injectors

2. Oil change if you are close to 5k miles on the oil. Last thing you want is your crank and rods submerged in acidic oil full of unburned corrosive VOCs for long periods of time.

3. Put the car on jackstands if you are sure you won't drive it. It will reduce spring fatigue.

4. Remove wheels. Deflate tires completely and put them in warm storage (above 45F). Number one destroyer of summer performance tires is cold temperatures. It changes the polymers inside of the tire and the tires will lose elasticity and compliance.

5. Clean the interior thoroughly including leather and carpets.

6. Put couple of DampRid buckets on the front footwells.

7. Battery tender is a must.

8. Soft car cover if you can find a good one.

9. Mothballs around the car as deterrent for rodents is a good idea.

[jummo]

I plan to put the snows on around Halloween and enjoy the secure feeling this car has in bad weather and snow and ice.

[GolfR17]

Originally Posted by jummo

I plan to put the snows on around Halloween and enjoy the secure feeling this car has in bad weather and snow and ice.

Now that’s some grip! Car can drive upside down!

But seriously, am tempted to get some snows for mine so can do some winter mountain trips.

[jummo]

Originally Posted by GolfR17

Now that’s some grip! Car can drive upside down!

But seriously, am tempted to get some snows for mine so can do some winter mountain trips.

Ever since we returned from South America, my pictures have all posted upside down. Even if I turn them upside down first.
Anyway, this car delivers that same inspiring grip and confidence in the snow, with proper tires, it does in the summer.
And if you turn down the electronannies, boy howdy, does it drift!

[daza_gt]

PPF, Blizzaks & weekly undercarriage spray wash. Didn't buy xdrive to store it in the winters.

[vmoney89]

Originally Posted by daza_gt

PPF, Blizzaks & weekly undercarriage spray wash. Didn't buy xdrive to store it in the winters.

I have a Tacoma that I'll use in the winter, but it's not the snow I'm worried about it's just all the salt. They notoriously salt heavy around me the first sign of ice. I'd be washing after every drive.

[geko29]

If you're going to use a battery tender, this is the one you want. It is specific to the LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries the G8X are equipped with.

BMW relabels and sells the Flooded/AGM version of the CTEK charger (which I have for a different car), but the one they introduced for LiFePO4 looks like some random Chinese crap. Stick with the CTEK.

[vmoney89]

Originally Posted by geko29

If you're going to use a battery tender, this is the one you want. It is specific to the LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries the G8X are equipped with.

BMW relabels and sells the Flooded/AGM version of the CTEK charger (which I have for a different car), but the one they introduced for LiFePO4 looks like some random Chinese crap. Stick with the CTEK.

Ordered it, thank you!