Since handing in my notice, the remainder of 2015 is pretty much filled in with alternative pleasures. A week in Jersey early June, mostly walking around the coast. Out to sunny CA & Nevada a few days later for an extended backpack followed by house sitting duties at my friends. Return to the UK 6 weeks later to spend time with a friend at his gaff in Ibiza, then back to the States Sept and may now stay there until Dec. Return flight booked Nov but not looking forward to our UK weather then, so the trip may be extended ( my friends have lots of DiY lined up for me, as do their friends!)
So should I bite the bullet and sell the 330 now, or leave it for extended periods in my garage hooked up to a CTEK trickle charger? Getting a friend to come and drive it on occasion is too problematic, and it will need a lengthy run out, not a few miles around the block.
What would you do? It's on an 04 plate, owned by myself last 7+ years, 65k miles with FSH and runs like a dream. But leaving it for several extended periods won't do it much good...or am I being too pessimistic?
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Why even ask, LL? You've been here before, and you know already in your heart and soul that you'll stick with the BM when it comes to it :-)
Besides, many's the car has sat longer in the import compound or on a dealer's lot with no preparation at all, and no harm came to them.
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Not quite so Gromit....previously I was thinking of changing because it was impractical ( hitching up the trailer, accommodating two ancients) but as the latter are in reasonable health at the moment, I'm away to make hay whilst I can. It was just the thought of leaving it laid up for most of the next 7 months, possibly more if I get a job in a ski resort!
But I take your point....the car is worth soooo much more to me than its financial value
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Keep it. If you then sell it when you return you can call it a 'barn find' and get double!
Actually a tough decision. I think I might be tempted to sell and use the opportunity to start afresh with something else on the return. But then again, who would want to get rid of the 3.0l six
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Couldn't you arrange for whoever does your servicing to collect the car on your return, get it started and into their workshop and give it a refresher to get it over its long layoff? Even £200 for that would be far less than the cost of replacing a car you're otherwise happy with.
You could do a little preparatory work too: making sure you have safe copies of radio and immobilizer codes, for example.
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I've left cars in garages around the world for longer than that. And recommissioning is called "connecting jump cables".
In a garage with a trickle charger it'll be just fine. Frankly I'm not even sure I would bother with a trickle charger, its just one more thing to go wrong. I'd disconnect the battery and leave it to it.
It'll be just fine as long as you're careful with it when you start using it again.
What measures are you taking to keep the house safe for that period of time?
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Just the water off. As I shall be away during the UK summer & autumn months I shall leave the heating off also. Maybe even turn off the pilot light in the boiler....OTOH I may leave it on just in case of a cold snap when away mid Sept- Nov/Dec and let the frost stat do its job.
Other than that the alarm will be set and I have buildings & contents insurance. My bro will hopefully keep an eye on the ancients, but from a purely selfish point of view I cannot put my life on hold because of them. If they were ill, that would put a completely different complexion on things, but I ain't getting any younger myself.
Hands up those volunteering to take them to Asda on a regular basis. And a drive in the countryside on a nice day is much appreciated also.
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You need someone to keep the junk mail cleared out of your letterbox and the doorstep. I'd recommend one of those times to switch lights on and off - they're not convincing if somebody studies the place, but they'll stop anybody noticing.
Make sure that anything that can be stolen or wrecked can be replaced with a cheque. If its something that cannot, then put it in a box at your brother's.
I would leave the car off, the worse that can happen is a flat battery. Connected to electricity the worst that can happen is a lot worse. Make sure the brakes are off and you know where all the codes are. Make sure you have a battery charger for when you get back.
Then leave and have a great time. Don't tell me where you are, how much fun it is or how much I wish I was there, I don't want to know.
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I wouldn't even worry about it until it was alot longer than that. We have plenty of cars left at work for months at a time if they are away. Very few problems just a jump start needed and the odd brake seized on. I've left mine for a months, tried a solar changer on the dash, it didn't work just got a jump start and it was fine.
I wouldn't even bother with the trickle charger, just disconnect the battery and leave it. And have fun.
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As above. Park it up and keep it. Much easier than having to maybe source a new car in a hurry when you get back from an extended trip and may be short of funds.
Leave the handbrake off too.
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Thanks for your responses. It is much appreciated.
I always leave a few timer lights on, have good neighbours to keep an eye on things, and live on a small cul de sac. I rarely put the handbrake on when parked....instinctively I leave it in first gear, unless parked up for a short duration.
I can arrange for someone to pop in and get my mail once a fortnight, and I shall be home late July to do some washing! And drink proper beer.
No need to depress you about tales of sharing the woods with bears, expansive rudimentary Rest Rooms Al fresco, the constant sunshine, stunning views each day of the Range of Light, living off home made dehydrated food for weeks at a time, cheap Mexican food, probable blisters and filtering water daily just to brew a cup of Yorkshire Tea at day's end. That's if we can find water.
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>>I have buildings & contents insurance.
Does it cover you for being away for more than 30 or 60 days?
I'd also recommend spraying WD40 around the engine compartment, outer front and rear floor pan areas as a rodent deterrent. As suggested here or t'other place.
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Good tip bt re the WD 40. Not heard that before.
Insurance not a problem. Up to 40 days and when I renewed earlier this year I ascertained that the period could be extended for a premium.
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I wouldn't imagine these Beemers go very far in the course of a year:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FBDvP_wFOI
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Keep it, it sounds like your plans are a bit open ended but if you do come back to the UK ( even for a while ) you'll want a car and being a bit of a car buff you'll not want just any old car.
I spent a winter teaching skiing and marshalling races ( ok only at Scottish resorts but hey I was 19 ) while I had an MG Midget. It coped fine with a ski rack on the back. Your modern convertible would be even better especially with those snow tyrie thingies on it.
If you came back skint or near to and with no car that would be what's often technically described as a right bummer.
Keep it. You'd miss it.
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I fly back to the UK last few days of July. Return to the States mid Sept for a minimum of 7 weeks, maybe 12. I hope the 6 week in between period will be warm & sunny. It will be in Ibiza.
The lawns will probably need cutting at some point, and I shall be in dire need of a proper dry cured smoked bacon sandwich.
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Good Morning LL.
Seven months you say. Hmmmm. Why don't you just pop it down here or at a push I could collect. I'll ensure that it has a decent run every week and solemnly promise not to trash it.
Have a good break, it sounds like FUN.
MD
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BMW 3-Series E46 - Stick or twist? - Gromit
