I'll be putting the CM in storage for the winter and this will be the first time I've put a car up for storage. For my motorcycle, I put gas stabilizer in, drain the oil and put in fresh oil, and then pull the battery.

Just wondering if the same is true for the CM or if there are other things to perform. I've always redrained the winter oil from the motorcycle and out fresh in come spring, but that gets pricey to do with the CM. I've found the threads on battery removal (geez Mini, make a simple task hard to do), so I'll remove the cowl at home, but is it an issue driving the car 10 miles with the missing cowl?

Going to be a long 6 months without the CM, but spring will get here sometime.

 

I'd toss a battery minder/matainer on it....clean oil, and a full tank of fuel. Park it.
Then maybe you will get lucky, have a warm day...and go for a 2 hr drive sometime!!
With all the electronics, I would NOT remove the battery....just keep it fully charged....

 

Can't have a charger on it, its in a commercial storage building. Also, once its in the building, no early drives, it'll be blocked in by many other vehicles.

 

Good luck 'pulling' the battery. You have to tear down a good portion of the cowl in the engine bay to do so.

 

Hmm, from reading some of the threads on that subject, it appeared that you need to remove 3 screws and then carefully lift/slide off the passenger side small section of the cowl. Is there more that has to be removed to gain access to the battery?

 

No that's it, it's just kind of a PITA.

 

just a thought....what if you just reach in, and disconnect the battery....stop the drain, and hope in a few months you can do a slow charge, have it recover, then reconnect?
Might not be as ideal as leaving the battery on a shelf with a minder....
I just hope in a few months everything powers up OK.
One thought....
Batteries are cheap (compared to getting the car to a dealer for reprogramming)....so any thoughts of just leaving it in there...letting it keep stuff alive for 4 months or so before the battery reaches zero (I have gone 2 months ok, and still started on my 2005, with a optima battery, so I guess another 2 for the electronics if not more...)....and then hoping it takes a charge in the spring....with all the flash memory in the computers...a couple months no power seems ok,,,but 6 months seems to be getting in the danger range IMO.
Modern cars are sure not like the old days.....

 

I store my Miata in a barn for the winter. I remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger. Fill the gas tank ( minimize tank condensation) and add sta-bil. Put extra 10 psi air in the tires, leave the windows open a crack. Put a tin can over the exhaust pipe to keep any critters out. Stuff a rag or something in the intake (same reason), get it good and clean and dry. I change the oil in the spring (some do it in the fall). Rotate the tires. Do NOT set the hand brake. Leave it in neutral (manual tranny). I can cancel the insurance and save a few bucks there too. Cover the car. Wait until spring.

 

Great tip on plugging the exhaust & intake. I have to place a cork in my motorcycle intake all summer because the mice with make a nest in there within a couple of days if I don't (learned that by having to buy 2 $25 air filters one year!). The commercial storage building is suppose to be free of critters, but its best to be prepared.

 

Thanks for all the info on winter storage. I checked with the storage owners and I can (hopefully)get a electric outlet. Though that means placing the car in storage early. Given everything I think next winter I just may keep it out and drive it on clear days, but I've paid for storage this year).

So what charger do folks use/trust? I know for motorcycles the big brand is "Battery Tender", wondering what others are using on their Mini's

 

My take...
Just make sure it us a modern battery "tender", as opposed to the older trickle chargers that are still around....and no matter what the instructions say, hardwire it to the battery, do not be tempted to plug it into a 12v plug, and back feed...
Keeping it out, and driving it on nice days in the future is a winner IMO. Modern cars like to be driven...and storing then is less than ideal....and more complicated by things like modern unleaded fuels and computer ECU's.....lol...the days of tossing a couple gallons of leaded racing fuel/aviation fuel in the tank, parking it, and yanking the battery...and no worries seem to be behind us....

 

Brian --

One of the often overlooked issues with the CM is the direct path from the cowl into the cabin through the opening behind the battery. I had mice invade my CM and it was a nightmare. My local MINI independent garage took apart the whole interior, scrubbed it down, cleaned all the pieces, then fabricated and installed a solution to block-off the vent. It's been over a year and the mice are still flummoxed! Smell no more!

Take care of that vent before putting the CM away this winter!

Read about my issues HERE.