st220kyle

how do you guys store your cars when they are sometimes not used for weeks/months at a time?
want advice (do's/dont's) to ensure there is no issues when car is taken out of the garage again,

bubs_rsturbo

iTrader: (1)

leave it out of gear with the handbrake off, otherwise things can get stuck!

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

Ideally get the car up on axle stands if leaving for long periods

A trickle charger is also very worth while, saves keep having to remove the earth from the battery and keeps it in good health. The CTEK ones are very good http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=ctek&_sacat=0&_odkw=car+trickle+charge r&_osacat=0

studabear

some people inflate the tyres at a very high pressure, they say it can prevent tyres developing flat spots. (i've never bothered)

Some people even go as far as putting the car on 4 axle stands.

You could use a battery maintanance charger (c-tek are very good)

If the car is in a garage leave the windows open a little bit to let air circulate.

During the winter I will try and leave the garage door open for the odd hour or so where possible to allow the garage to breath a bit-let a bit of fresh air in.

studabear

phil beat me to a few points there, teach me to be on 3 websites at once lol

clyde 1800

dont cover with a unbreathable cover itl make the paint sweat into little bubbles
disconnect the battery
out of gear with hand brake off
open window an inch
run a dehumidifyer in the garage if you wish will draw the vapour out of the air
alot of these points already mentioned axel stands are a good idea to

cossiestu

Give it a good polish, I've had mine in the garage for a while, give it a dust off every week or so. Don't help when there's a fecking tumble drier in there too, but no choice.... Seen you can get ally 'cups' to park it on, to help keep the tires round.

bigkevin

parked mine up in my nans garage for a month and i left axle stands and jack in the area where the door would open as its a tight garage, so when the kids went down to pretend to drive the rs, yeah you guessed it they scratched the hell out of the door,sticky fingerprints all over the paintwork and interior the lil barstids not sure how they scratched the bodykit but they did. so keep children away

st220kyle

so who bothers with car covers?
going by what ive read on this site they seem to do more harm then good,

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

I did miss these out though mate

caboking

Covers can be bad idea if leaving the car for several months at a time as they can cause micro blisters in the paint but just by removing the cover for a few hours every week to let the paint breathe sorts this.

For indoor use the cover to use is one that is 100% cotton, these are usually mega expensive but get your self down dunelm and get yourself 2 large 100% cotton bed sheets and stitch them together. 100% cotton allows the paint to breathe, i use a home made one and dont take the cover off for months at a time.

Mr S1

iTrader: (2)

Bound to repeat what's been said, but here's my two'penneth:

Handbrake off, brick in front of the front wheel, one behind the rear wheel.
Leave car in neutral.
Sunroof in raised position if you have one, or windows open an inch or so.
Don't put her on axle stands - the suspension will sag and when under load will squeak like a bastard.
If you can get one of the crystal bags that absorb moisture put one inside the car - they are good and they work.
If you have a quality BREATHABLE indoor car cover - use it. If it isn't breathable then don't - you don't want the paintwork sweating.
Connect a battery conditioner up - it will keep the battery as it should be.
Don't block up all the airways into the garage, the car needs to breathe. If it is sealed then open the doors regularly the air the place and get rid of the damp air inside.
If you have a storage device (CarCoon) - use that. they also work but are a bit expensive to buy if you use the car regularly.
Either pump the tyres up rock hard, or if you have access to a crappy set of rims that she can just 'sit' on then use them. Saves your tyres flat spotting.
Make sure the garage is watertight !

About all I can think off of the top of my head, but this is what I do for 6 months of the year with my S1 so will gve you a reasonable idea.