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      12-25-2018, 03:45 PM   #1
WestRace
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Not driving the car for awhile

I won't be driving my M3 for awhile. So what I plan to do is just to idle the car for about 15min every two or three days. Is this OK?
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      12-25-2018, 08:58 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by WestRace View Post
I won't be driving my M3 for awhile. So what I plan to do is just to idle the car for about 15min every two or three days. Is this OK?
I've heard it's better to not idle it upon cold start, and rather to drive (lightly) immediately after starting until warm.. I'm sure more knowledgeable people on here can give you better feedback, but I would guess its better to drive a little if you are wanting to keep it fresh, or don't drive at all. Guess it depends on how long it will be sitting and whether it's in a garage, etc. just my thoughts..
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      12-25-2018, 09:29 PM   #3
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I would expect that would do more harm than good.

I regularly leave my car for a week without driving it since I’m frequently away or in and out of other cars for work.

If it’s really a problem get a trickle charger.
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      12-25-2018, 11:04 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WestRace View Post
I won't be driving my M3 for awhile. So what I plan to do is just to idle the car for about 15min every two or three days. Is this OK?
how long will you not be driving it? might be better just to get a trickle charger.
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      12-26-2018, 06:28 AM   #5
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Starting it every 2-3 days is way too frequent and only running it for 15 minutes may be too short. One start up a month is plenty. As above said you can also use a trickle charger between starts. When you do start it you want it to reach operating temp which will most likely take over 15 mins depending upon ambient temperature. If possible drive it even if it's just down the street and back to help clean the cats from all the cold start fuel and to spin the tires to help with flatspots. It's best to not just let the car idle the whole time.
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      12-26-2018, 11:44 AM   #6
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Worse than not turning it on at all.
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      12-27-2018, 05:56 PM   #7
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Just get a trickle charge and inflate the tires to like 45psi. I've let mine sit for 6 months on a trickle charger, it's starts up and runs just fine. No need to turn it on every few days.
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      12-27-2018, 06:15 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eatsleepboost View Post
Starting it every 2-3 days is way too frequent and only running it for 15 minutes may be too short. One start up a month is plenty. As above said you can also use a trickle charger between starts. When you do start it you want it to reach operating temp which will most likely take over 15 mins depending upon ambient temperature. If possible drive it even if it's just down the street and back to help clean the cats from all the cold start fuel and to spin the tires to help with flatspots. It's best to not just let the car idle the whole time.
Reaching operating temp takes over 15 min?
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      12-27-2018, 10:37 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty_miller View Post
...I've let mine sit for 6 months on a trickle charger, it's starts up and runs just fine. No need to turn it on every few days.
Agreed, my '04 is on a trickle charger for up to 6 months, starts and runs fine when it's time to play again, also, that is what my BMW dealer suggests.
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Last edited by Oregon; 01-03-2019 at 10:04 PM..
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      12-29-2018, 11:30 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty_miller View Post
Just get a trickle charge and inflate the tires to like 45psi. I've let mine sit for 6 months on a trickle charger, it's starts up and runs just fine. No need to turn it on every few days.
I was wondering what would happen to various engine and transmission seals for an extended period of not driving?
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      12-29-2018, 01:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WestRace View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty_miller View Post
Just get a trickle charge and inflate the tires to like 45psi. I've let mine sit for 6 months on a trickle charger, it's starts up and runs just fine. No need to turn it on every few days.
I was wondering what would happen to various engine and transmission seals for an extended period of not driving?
Absolutely nothing. My m3 has 45k on it. Sat a Mannheim auction prior to me buying for 7 years under a car port structure because it wouldn't run. Not one seal was leaking or had to be replaced due to sitting for extended periods of time not even the oil pan or valve cover. Nothing was clogged up and when I got it running (all it needed was a fuel pump pigtail replaced and some gas) I let it warm up and went and beat the snot out of it. No issues. Now that it's a full blown race car it sits anywhere from 1 month to 6-7 months on a trickle charger with Hoosiers pumped up to 45 pounds. No need to start it up to keep the cats from getting clogged or any stupid reason like that it's all bs. If you're gonna let it sit, let it sit and don't even touch it. It's a car not a human that needs attention
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      12-29-2018, 01:43 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WestRace View Post
I was wondering what would happen to various engine and transmission seals for an extended period of not driving?
You haven’t defined what you mean by an extended period, are you talking six month, three years, how long?

My E90 sat for three weeks while I was in Hawaii, started up normal yesterday.
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