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Dry docking the e30

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    Dry docking the e30

    This summer I dropped the e30 from my insurance and took on a lease car to get me through the next few years at school. reason for this is that I now go to school in small (compared to houston) city with awful streets, more than just your average potholes. there are trenches at almost every type of interesection whether it be entering/leaving a parking lot, school, or my apartment complex that i can not get by without bottoming out which makes it a nightmare for my iS spoiler and fog light lenses and is also a big risk for my oilpan and other under body parts. other reasons include my once decent paint has gone to hell due to non-covered parking, i make fairly frequent 400mile round trips with no A/C and window switches that cant last for more than a few months, i have no radio / cd player, the sealed beams offer virtually no visibility since most roads there are not lit, and the overall wear and tear is far greater at school than on my old streets. so even though the sound / visibility problems can be fixed for fairly cheap, i think it is best i give the e30 a rest while i can.

    I spent my first two semesters at school with the e30 and h&r sports, and instead of just putting my old springs back on (which i dont think will help that much), i decided to go with a barebones mazda 3 with crank windows, manual locks, hubcaps, and 5speed. the mazda is much better suited to this kind of enviroment and has a full warranty. so far the mazda makes me appreciate the e30 much more than i ever have, the car has virtually no grip, the engine is no where near as smooth (nevermind the power difference) and is much more sensitive to crosswinds.

    the e30 is now sitting in the 3rd spot in my parents garage with a cloth oem cover, however, i want to know of anything i can do to help preserve the car. i kick it over every 3-4weeks and drive it up and down the driveway and let it warm up and so far its still running perfect. the battery has lost charge so i'm just going to disconnect it, and i'm going to add some fuel stabilizer to whats left of the fuel (less than 1/4 tank). other than that i'm open to suggestions on what i can do to help it get back to everday use in the future without incurring big restoration costs.

    #2
    Pump up your tires to 50psi to avoid flat spots.
    Disconnect the battery.
    place a bowl with baking soda in it on your dash and in your trunk
    clean everything out of the car and wax the paint
    change the oil so it is fresh, oil with seditives in it can be corrosive.
    changing the coolant might not be a bad idea either.
    Drive it once a month and then put it back Leave it in gear but don't set the parking brake.
    '88 M3.2 S54 Lachssilber/Black
    '07 335i Alpine/Black Sedan
    '12 X5 3.5i Alpine/Black
    iS Splitters For Sale, PM ME!
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      #3
      I'll add to Ryan's with:

      1/4 tank of gas with Sta-bil in it.

      -Charlie
      Swing wild, brake later, don't apologize.
      '89 324d, '76 02, '98 318ti, '03 Z4, '07 MCS, '07 F800s - Bonafide BMW elitist prick.
      FYYFF

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        #4
        would you leave the windows cracked open? or is that what the backing soda is for?

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          #5
          I usually keep my sunroof cracked in the garage so the car gets a little fresh air, but the Baking soda helps.
          Charlie- are you sure? I have heard you should fill the tank so there is less air space for the fuel to spoil...
          '88 M3.2 S54 Lachssilber/Black
          '07 335i Alpine/Black Sedan
          '12 X5 3.5i Alpine/Black
          iS Splitters For Sale, PM ME!
          sigpic

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            #6
            Originally posted by M3 Ryan
            I usually keep my sunroof cracked in the garage so the car gets a little fresh air, but the Baking soda helps.
            Charlie- are you sure? I have heard you should fill the tank so there is less air space for the fuel to spoil...
            Yes fill your tank up with gas and add stabil. That keeps moisture from condensing and you ending up with alot of water in you gas.
            Originally posted by Fusion
            If a car is the epitome of freedom, than an electric car is house arrest with your wife titty fucking your next door neighbor.
            The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money. -Alexis de Tocqueville


            The Desire to Save Humanity is Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule it- H. L. Mencken

            Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants.
            William Pitt-

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              #7
              Ryan, my mentality was that the fuel is probably gonna go bad even with the sta-bil, so a quarter of a tank is easier to pump out.

              -Charlie
              Swing wild, brake later, don't apologize.
              '89 324d, '76 02, '98 318ti, '03 Z4, '07 MCS, '07 F800s - Bonafide BMW elitist prick.
              FYYFF

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                #8
                Originally posted by Charlie
                Ryan, my mentality was that the fuel is probably gonna go bad even with the sta-bil, so a quarter of a tank is easier to pump out.

                -Charlie
                Ah, I see.
                I figure if he drives the car once a month and gets it up to temp it will be fine. This will let the fuel circulate and be filtered several times over, so it will help to get the impurities out and keep the fuel in better condition. Just fill it and it won't get a chance for moisture to get into the tank.
                '88 M3.2 S54 Lachssilber/Black
                '07 335i Alpine/Black Sedan
                '12 X5 3.5i Alpine/Black
                iS Splitters For Sale, PM ME!
                sigpic

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