So winter's a coming for me in northern Wisconsin..and it's time to putt the mini away for the winter, any one have any suggestions or storage tip's?

 

Sta-bil in the tank, trickle charger, fresh coat of wax, cover it, store indoors (heated if possible/affordable). That's what we do with my wife's car. Mine I drive.

 

Be very careful where you park it....
I would leave some rat poison around....mice love MINI's.....
IMO modern cars like to be driven, not sit...so drive it an hour or more every 2 weeks, and it will be in better shape....
But do get a battery tender....a modern version of a trickle charger....some items like keyless entry always run...so will slowly drain the battery...make sure ypubhook it up to the battery directly, DO NOT TRY TO PLUG IT INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER to backfeed, as the computer will disconnect it after a period of disuse, even if the voltage is good...

 

Battery care, fuel stabilizer, and regular startups are a must. Also consider putting it up on jacks or ensuring there's adequate tire pressure.

 

I'm assuming you want to keep the salt and grime off of your car, so I wouldn't drive it around since that would kind of defeat the purpose of storing it. We don't take my wife's car back out in the spring until it's rained two times to get the salt off the roads.

 

If you could possibly source some ethanol-free gas, fill it with that. Ethanol absorbs water while stored.

 

All good suggestions. I would also add a can of 'dry gas' to the tank. It will absorb water condensation.

 

Hmm, interesting. Last winter I used stabil and some 93 octane. I ad no issues this spring. The local station has 90 octane ethanol free, but I didn't know if it would be worth the extra cost and lower octane.

I also pump up the tires to a bit below the sidewall maximum. this should help reduce an flat spots.

I put the battery on a tender and left it for the winter, (~6 months here). I didn't start or drive it.

Probably what I will do this year as well.

 

All very good suggestions! If you need a very well made MINI cover we have some HERE. We also have some great battery tenders here that is definitely a smart choice so that your battery doesn't drain while it sits.