Hey all. I am going to put my MINI into storage for the 1st time and am wondering what I should do to keep her healthy. Here are some of the specs on her:

• She will have 50K miles on her
• She is an '04 MCS w/ non-RF's

I will change the oil before she goes into storage, but is there anything else?

Thanks in advance

 

Mine is going into storage very soon also. I plan on the following.

Changing the oil
Add Stabil to the gas along with topping off the tank to the top so no moisture can form.
Put Bounce dryer sheets on the floor mats and one in the boot to repel rodents. (old RV trick)
Pump up the tires a little extra expecting some to bleed off over the winter.
Wash, wax, vacuum.
Hook up trickle charger to the battery.
Last thing is to find some rubber ***** to shove in the exhaust... again to keep out the mice. (not that we have many or any for that matter, I just don't need them to show up and move in!)
Oh yeah and don't forget the car cover!


I think that covers it. I've stored different cars over the years and this technique always results in a car that starts right away with no issues.

 

Place a tarp, or something similar down beneath the car if you have a cement floor. This will prevent moisture from gathering on undercarriage parts, and causing rust.

Also, see if you can find some think, hard insulation like they use on the outside of some homes. It's usually pink, and about a 1/2-3/4 inch thick. Place it under the tires to prevent flat spots. Unless you have stands, which is better.

 

Great! Thanks for the tips.

 

chsk8's tips are "spot-on". I've been storing my '00 M-Roadster exactly like that for 7 years with no problems. I use a battery tender which works great. My car starts right up every spring and I still have the original battery. The only thing I don't do is cover it. I like to look at it in the winter and long for spring to get here. The only problem is it gets a little dusty.

 

you can also disconnect the battery vs. a trickle charger. stands are better than sitting on the tires. if you need to leave it on the ground, leave the e-brake off and put some chocks on the wheels - the e-brake can seize when engaged for extended periods.

 

If I put her on stands, should I lift her totally off the ground, or just enough where the tires are barely touching?

 

Don't let the tires touch at all if you lift it. Other than that, height is preference, really.

 

I think the jury is still out about letting the suspension hang when stored. One theory is that a hanging suspension will stress the strut or shock being in an unnatural position for an extended time.
Good point about th e-brake. Best not to use it since it can rust and get stuck.
Flat spotting of the tires is an old term that was far more common before the age of radial tires. When you read forums for "toy" cars that are stored winters you see more people leaving them on the ground and pumping up the tires an extra 5-10psi instead. I generally leave my cars on the stock wheels. ( have aftermarket wheels and leave the stockers for winter storage)

Of course everyone has an opinion, I'm just expressing what has worked for me over the years.

 

If this is all it takes then my MINI is all set for storage. This winter it will be inside the heated garage and not in the cold. I had the battery go low once so I left the bonnet open in case I had to attach the charger. I have a trickle charger now.

I do want to wash and wax it one more time but that is not a big deal.

 

tell that to Pirelli PZero M&S owners. They get flatspots overnight.

 

Pump up your tires but do not exceed max pressure as stated on the sidewall. In the spring, reduce pressure to recommended amount, and after a short drive they'll be just fine. The hardest part about storing my car is getting it turned around in the back of the garage.

 

Poor sad MINI doesn't get to go motoring this winter.

 

I don't want to put her through snow and salt anymore. She is happy that she doesn't have to deal with that. Now, if it was like last Winter, than she won't be stored for most of the Winter. We shall see. Thanks again for all the great tips. I am going to use most of these. I won't have a trickle charger though, no power in the storage unit.

 

Having 3 cars, I store my Mini from October to March inside my garage. Here's what I do:
1. I give a good wash & wax. I also clean the underside & wheel wells from dirt & soil deposits. Engine wash depends if it is dirty but mine does not.
2. I increase tire pressure to 45 psi.
3. I add Stabil or Gunk Fuel Stabilizer then fill up with gas.
4. I hook a trickle charger with over-charge protection two days a week.
5. I start my car every 2 weeks, let it run for 15-20 minutes until all the water in the muffler is out. This will prevent rusting of the exhaust system.
6. While running, i open the heater for 10 minutes to circulate coolant liquid in the heater core. I also open the A/C for 5 minutes after, to seal the O-rings in the system and prevent refrigerant loss.
7. I do not engage the hand brake so as not to lose the tension of the springs.
8. I apply Meguires Rubber & Vinyl Protectant to rubber seals of doors & hatch, dashboard, and seats.

During this time of the year, I also like putting my mod parts.

 

Where are you storing it? If you have access to power I would defiantly get a "battery tender" to keep the battery charged but making sure at the same time it doesn't get over charged. I totally agree with the dryer sheets to repel rodents worked perfectly in the pop's m3

 

Are you expecting a big snow season in the DC area? Even the worst snow seasons here would last no more than a week.

 

Actually, I am not expecting alot of snow here. I just have the opportunity to store her. My MINI is not an everyday driver like she used to be. I live in a condo w/o a garage, and she just sits there baking in the elements. This will probably be her permanent parking spot. As of right now, she doesn't even get driven once a week. I did take her out for a 10 mile run though and she started right up.