Your Annual Winter Storage Checklist From Turner Motorsport
I think we can all agree that 2020 has been mostly filled with disappointment. Regardless of your stance on the global situation, the fact is, many of us have not been able to enjoy our cars on the track or at events this year due to quarantine. Let’s just get ready for 2020 to end and pack it up for next year. With that, we’re rolling out our annual winter storage checklist reminder! Put your car away and wait for next year. It’s like going to bed early to get through the week faster, right? | | | | Clean cars are happy cars
No one likes coming home to a sink full of dishes. Similarly, the worst thing when you pull your car out of storage in the spring for that first drive is finding last year’s garbage and grime all over and inside your car. Before you put it away for the big cold, bathe it! Not just your normal Saturday afternoon car wash, mind you. Really get in there. Take the seats out and clean your carpets, pull anything that doesn’t go back in the car out of it, and either toss it or put it somewhere it can live for the winter. No loose change, no napkins, no old toll booth tickets, wrappers, or anything else should be in your car.
Treat your leather, shampoo your carpet, and wipe down every surface. Make sure to let it completely dry before you store it, though. You don’t want to come back to a colony of mold and mildew on the verge of scientific advancement to a class 1 civilization.
We have all the best cleaning equipment, soaps, and any tools you might need to give your BMW that deep clean it deserves here, so grab them now and you won’t have to rush when you’re ready to store your car. | | | | | | | | | | | Just the Basics
While your car sits all winter, all the oil is going to drain down into the pan, so you’ll want to do an oil service before your first start next spring, but that doesn’t mean you should just leave your old oil in there all winter. Why not have it do some cleaning work for you while it sits?
We suggest a LIQUI MOLY engine flush to remove all the buildup and carbon you might have in your engine before you fill it with fresh oil. This way, your engine is as clean as possible when you drain that old oil out and put fresh, new oil, in. Anything left over will be collected with the new oil and settle at the bottom of your pan over winter, ready to be drained out for the cleanest possible engine next year. | | | | | | | | | Hit the Brakes
Save yourself the headache of doing all the bigger maintenance next spring and get a jump on it now. Go ahead and do your brake fluid service and throw new pads/rotors on if you need them. You should flush your brakes every two years, so if it’s getting close, go ahead and do that now. This way, you won’t have to deal with it before your first drive next year! | | | | | | | | | | | Antifreeze
If you store your car in a climate-controlled facility, this isn’t much of an issue. But if you only drive your car in the summer and don’t run BMW coolant, you should go ahead and flush your cooling system anyway. Our Schwaben Coolant Purge Tool makes this process extremely easy. With Genuine BMW coolant, you won’t have to worry about rust, corrosion, or expansion from freezing while it sits. Plus, it’s a BMW. It probably needs a cooling service anyway. If you don’t remember when you changed your thermostat and water pump, you probably should do it now. | | | | | | | | | | | A Good Once-Over
When we put our cars away for months at a time, it can be hard to remember if there was some little annoyance about it before we put it away. Things like burned out bulbs, the alignment, squeaks, rattles, and the like. It’s a good idea to at least make a list of anything that bothered you, even if you aren’t going to address it now, so you aren’t woefully reminded of it in the spring on that first drive. Go through all the lights, interior and exterior, hood struts, trunk struts, door hinges, and anything that you frequently use to make sure everything is as it should be. With that list, you can plan over winter to purchase and address any little quirks your car might have. | | | | | Trickle Charge
While your BMW sits, even if it’s off, it isn’t entirely off. It constantly runs background programs that, over time, will eventually kill the battery. You can, of course, disconnect your battery, but that’s just a hassle. A good trickle charger, like our Schwaben Battery Tender, will keep your car completely charged all winter plugged into the wall. Make sure you have one or something like it hooked up if you plan to leave it parked all winter. | | | | | | | Wheel Storage
Does your garage have too many wheels stacked up everywhere? Are you tired of tripping over stacks of tires? Schwaben wheel storage racks and dollies help organize your wheel collection and keep everything out of your way. These are perfect for the track enthusiast with multiple sets. Even if you aren’t storing your car and just want to switch out for your winter wheels, a wheel storage rack is a way to go to keep them stored correctly so no flat spots develop. Plus, extra space is always nice in the garage. | | | | | | | Wrapping Up
With your BMW squeaky clean, freshly serviced, and ready for a long nap, you’ll be in great shape to tuck it away until next season. If anything, it’s at least something to keep you busy for a few more weekends since you likely won’t be driving your car anyway. So get out there, take care of your BMW, and let’s all just bed down with hopes for next season. We’ll be back next week with more content to keep you entertained through it all. | | | | |
