Advice please!

[Samwilde681]

Hi all, after March when the tax/insurance stops im going to take the VEE off the road until the Cambelt is due in July. I want to get all the wheels off/ bumpers and engine covers off and give it all a good clean and check it all out. I just need a bit of advice on storing it for a bit, I don't have a trickle charger but could get one or just disconnect the battery. Also wheres the best place to insure for fire/theft? tesco wanted £10 less than keeping it on comprehensive and unlimited milage!!! I have a heated garage on the side of the house now so not a problem with access etc. Is there anything I need to know or do? I have always avoided doing this as I never think its good for a car but need to really for a bit. Thanks guys

 

[taipan]

OCD answer:
- Ensure petrol tank is more than a 1/4 full
- Car cleaned, polished, protected and waxed to an inch of it's life
- Large tarpaulin laid on garage floor. Car driven onto it.
- Tyres deflated to roughly half the running PSI, taken off the car and into wheel storage bags.
- Car put on axle stands.
- Trickle charger put on with a back-up power supply should the garage mains fail (only necessary if the car is going to be left in storage for instance)
- Soft, felt indoor car cover put on (breathable)
- Exterior car cover put on (breathable)
- Tarpaulin edges raised up and held in place but not touching the car.
- Tiny drainage holes put in corners of tarpaulin.

What I did:
- Cleaned car
- Disconnected battery
- Put on breathable exterior cover

10 months later put battery back in, fired her up and all was fine. I did get someone to move the car about a little bit to guard against flat spots on the tyres but that's it.

Re Insurance seeing as it's in your garage would your Home Insurance cover it? Probably won't but maybe worth asking?

 

[Brembov6]

Give these guys a try for SORN insurance - http://www.sorninsurance.co.uk/

They do 6 and 12 months policy for SORN vehicles, I will be using them once my Comp policy is up so I earn 1 years NCD

 

[Andrew Smith]

Taipan has it nailed!
I never drive any of mine and can't add a great deal!! Although I have been told to turn the engine over and run to hot from time to time to stop 'shaping of the Cam Belt'. That said your having the belts done later anyway!

 

[Samwilde681]

What I did:
- Cleaned car
- Disconnected battery
- Put on breathable exterior cover

Like this! :approve: thanks guys, I love this forum! just wasn't sure in terms of engine turnover etc, I'm go an hate it but it'll look amazing once it's all done! Now for that bumper removal...... [smilie=icon_eek.gif]

 

[quik99]

I will happily give you a hand taking everything apart. Would be good to know tbh

 

[Samwilde681]

Mate that's awesome thanks! I'm bloody useless with stuff like that! But I just want to give it a good overhaul

 

[Big Iain]

Again.... [smilie=yay.gif]

 

[Samwilde681]

Love it Iain! Although now you know who I'm gonna ask about taking the bumper off!!

 

[Big Iain]

Doddle mate, that was the night before Mark picked it up. How has the polish lasted on the exhaust?

 

[Samwilde681]

Not bad tbh, still shiny! Just needs a going over and all the other bits too.

 

[Brembov6]

Rear bumper is fairly, seems hard when you do it the for the first time. Can imagine the front bunper being slightly harder.

Quite fancy doing this aswell, will hopefully get all the arches and wheels done before summer time - something I was supposed to have done last year!

 

[Ali]

I'm not that pedantic tbh...Mine is detailed before it comes off the road...But unfortunately this time round i smacked a fox on the way home and had to leave it in a dreadful condition (It was washed, but not detailed)

I also do not insure it whilst it's off the road? It's in a locked garage/secure garage in a bubble with no access to it...It is a minor risk i suppose in the event the fan catches fire etc, but a risk i'm willing to take.

 

[E30 M3]

are the sills easy enough to take off, do you know..

I need to detail mine before i put on on the road this year and for my mates wedding in April [smilie=yay.gif]

 

[Samwilde681]

I don't know, but I can tell you in 2/3 months time when I can't put it back together! I've never done this sort of thing before just fancy trying. I'm not very practical with this sort of stuff but know loads of people who are! My brother has built cars so if I get stuck I'm ok :approve: good shout on the insurance, my worry is the house attached to the garage etc but I guess you're right, if the battery is out as well I guess you're right. I can hide it! Lol

 

[Chris V6]

The sills are not hard to remove although I am sure from memory u have to remove the air vent to get at a screw. U will have to remove the stick on sill protectors as 3 or 4 screws hide under there. Be carefull and take ur time as they can crack and they r 120 each to replace ! I would say warm them up

Also check the knowledge base as there r how to guides for removing bumpers

 

[Samwilde681]

Maybe just the wheels and bumper to start with....... :tumble: