Not driving the car for 20 days

Ben Lee · 07-11-2013, 12:48 AM

Hello,

Leaving for vacation for 20 days soon and my car will be locked in my garage. Will there be any issues I can expect if I start to use my car again after such a prolong period? Any problems I can expect from the battery? My X3 is the new X3-3.5i

Thanks in advance.

UKMS · 07-11-2013, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Lee

Hello,

Leaving for vacation for 20 days soon and my car will be locked in my garage. Will there be any issues I can expect if I start to use my car again after such a prolong period? Any problems I can expect from the battery? My X3 is the new X3-3.5i

Thanks in advance.

No ! ... Lock it, forget about the X3 and enjoy your vacation

MS

richy577 · 07-11-2013, 05:32 AM

Hi dont worry about it, mine was off 28 days it goes in to some sort of lower power mode, as the message said when I started the car. It started no problem.

plymjack · 07-11-2013, 07:11 AM

Same here - went back after 15 days and the battery said it had shut down consumer circuits? - reported this a couple of times as I was stop starting and then did a long run and it was all ok...

RhoXS · 07-11-2013, 08:25 AM

I suggest you let it sit with a full tank of gas, especially in a humid climate.

Supposedly, repeated condensation inside the tank every night, when the temperature drops, will cause water to pool under the gasoline. Although the tank is supposed to be sealed from the atmosphere to prevent gas fumes from escaping, there must be a vent path to allow air to enter as the gasoline is used up. I am a believer because I clearly had a problem with this in South Florida a number of years ago when my car sat for two weeks on an almost empty tank of gas. When I returned I had difficulty starting the car and once it did start it would have short fits of very rough running. After a short time the rough running just gradually went away and I assume this was the result of the pooled water being depleted as it was pumped into the engine along with gasoline.

winkyyee · 07-11-2013, 11:56 AM

You may see flat spots with your RFT tires, but they should disappear after driving your car. Maybe not...

Tangsta · 07-11-2013, 01:43 PM

I left mine for a 21 day vacation and came back to a battery warning followed by no audio through the stereo system. A nice longer drive (my typical trips are 5km) charged the battery enough to sort that out.

I now have a battery tender for longer absences.

Ben Lee · 07-13-2013, 06:50 AM

OK. Reason I asked is because recently, my BMW X3 battery warning indicator lights up and the technician says the battery needs to recharge. According to him, it is best to start the car at least once a week.

The X Men · 07-13-2013, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Lee

OK. Reason I asked is because recently, my BMW X3 battery warning indicator lights up and the technician says the battery needs to recharge. According to him, it is best to start the car at least once a week.

he is right, it is best to start the car and go for a long drive at least once a week. If you have someone that can do that for you, by all means, do so. If not, then you can put a battery tender on it while you are away or take your chance and hope it will start when you come back.

UKMS · 07-13-2013, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkyyee

You may see flat spots with your RFT tires, but they should disappear after driving your car. Maybe not...

I assume you are joking

?

MS

96_Impreza · 07-13-2013, 01:59 PM

When our cars are unused for a couple weeks we use a CTEK 7002 to keep the battery happy. Hooks to underhood terminals on the X3 35i.
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-700.../dp/B000FRLO9Y

isrihel · 07-14-2013, 02:50 PM

Hi, I have been away even winter-time (- 2o degree celsius ) for one month and did not have any problem when I got back

minilude · 07-15-2013, 02:03 PM

even my old honda prelude had no problem for 20days...trust your x3 lol

Tangsta · 07-15-2013, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minilude

even my old honda prelude had no problem for 20days...trust your x3 lol

My old Acura and wife's Mazda had no problems after sitting for a month. The X3's battery doesn't seem to fare as well though, there's a lot more electronics demanding power in the X3.

IamTT · 07-17-2013, 01:17 AM

The BMW guy told me to start the car for half an hour every 2 days. oh, man.

lbjgh · 07-17-2013, 06:25 PM

You may be able to find a good used kia or hyundai for the price of a good battery charger. I'm sure you can rely upon the kia or hyundai to start after 20 days.

BBender · 07-21-2013, 03:53 PM

No problem with battery after 3 months parking... Started with no problem!

07-11-2013, 12:48 AM	#1
Ben Lee Enlisted Member 8 Rep 39 Posts Drives: BMW F10 528i and BMW X3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Indonesia iTrader: (0)	Not driving the car for 20 days Hello, Leaving for vacation for 20 days soon and my car will be locked in my garage. Will there be any issues I can expect if I start to use my car again after such a prolong period? Any problems I can expect from the battery? My X3 is the new X3-3.5i Thanks in advance.
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07-11-2013, 05:32 AM	#3
richy577 Pokerboy 2 Rep 55 Posts Drives: BMW M Sport 2.0D Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Durham iTrader: (0)	Hi dont worry about it, mine was off 28 days it goes in to some sort of lower power mode, as the message said when I started the car. It started no problem.
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07-11-2013, 07:11 AM	#4
plymjack Nuclear Chief of the Watch 120 Rep 637 Posts Drives: X3 (F25) 2.0D, i3 BEV Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Plymouth, UK iTrader: (0)	Same here - went back after 15 days and the battery said it had shut down consumer circuits? - reported this a couple of times as I was stop starting and then did a long run and it was all ok... __________________ BMW i3 (BEV) 2014. . Capparis White. . Park Assist, Comfort Access, Enhanced USB BMW X3 (F25) xDrive20d SE 2017. . . . Oyster Leather . . 8 Speed Servotronic. .RFTs. . Electric Seats Canon 70D 500mm, 85mm, 40mm, 24mm Sony QX10 & GoPro Hero 3
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07-11-2013, 08:25 AM	#5
RhoXS Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 233 Posts Drives: 2002 Z3 3.0i + 2016 X3 28i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	I suggest you let it sit with a full tank of gas, especially in a humid climate. Supposedly, repeated condensation inside the tank every night, when the temperature drops, will cause water to pool under the gasoline. Although the tank is supposed to be sealed from the atmosphere to prevent gas fumes from escaping, there must be a vent path to allow air to enter as the gasoline is used up. I am a believer because I clearly had a problem with this in South Florida a number of years ago when my car sat for two weeks on an almost empty tank of gas. When I returned I had difficulty starting the car and once it did start it would have short fits of very rough running. After a short time the rough running just gradually went away and I assume this was the result of the pooled water being depleted as it was pumped into the engine along with gasoline.
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07-11-2013, 11:56 AM	#6
winkyyee New Member 6 Rep 18 Posts Drives: X3 and 535i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	You may see flat spots with your RFT tires, but they should disappear after driving your car. Maybe not...
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07-11-2013, 01:43 PM	#7
Tangsta Private First Class 29 Rep 131 Posts Drives: '22 x3 M40i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	I left mine for a 21 day vacation and came back to a battery warning followed by no audio through the stereo system. A nice longer drive (my typical trips are 5km) charged the battery enough to sort that out. I now have a battery tender for longer absences.
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07-13-2013, 06:50 AM	#8
Ben Lee Enlisted Member 8 Rep 39 Posts Drives: BMW F10 528i and BMW X3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Indonesia iTrader: (0)	OK. Reason I asked is because recently, my BMW X3 battery warning indicator lights up and the technician says the battery needs to recharge. According to him, it is best to start the car at least once a week.
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07-13-2013, 01:59 PM	#11
96_Impreza Private First Class 12 Rep 140 Posts Drives: 96 Impreza,07 Vette,11 X3 35i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albuquerque iTrader: (0)	When our cars are unused for a couple weeks we use a CTEK 7002 to keep the battery happy. Hooks to underhood terminals on the X3 35i. http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-700.../dp/B000FRLO9Y
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07-14-2013, 02:50 PM	#12
isrihel Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: BMW X3 2.0 D Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	Hi, I have been away even winter-time (- 2o degree celsius ) for one month and did not have any problem when I got back
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07-15-2013, 02:03 PM	#13
minilude Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: bmw x3 f25 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Richmond Hill, ON, Canada iTrader: (0)	even my old honda prelude had no problem for 20days...trust your x3 lol
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07-17-2013, 01:17 AM	#15
IamTT Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: thailand iTrader: (0)	The BMW guy told me to start the car for half an hour every 2 days. oh, man.
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07-17-2013, 06:25 PM	#16
lbjgh Lieutenant Colonel 104 Rep 1,511 Posts Drives: 2013 AW X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North of Toronto iTrader: (0)	You may be able to find a good used kia or hyundai for the price of a good battery charger. I'm sure you can rely upon the kia or hyundai to start after 20 days. __________________ 2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes
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07-21-2013, 03:53 PM	#17
BBender Private 23 Rep 88 Posts Drives: X3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: ZZ iTrader: (0)	No problem with battery after 3 months parking... Started with no problem!
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