thspeller

Active Member

• Jun 25, 2019

• #1

Hi all. Living in London, I’m getting limited time to use my series 3. Perhaps twice a month (5 miles at a time). The long term plan is to move it to Devon where she will be more at home. What are the risks of being parked up for long periods and is there any precautions that can be taken against low use and mileage? Or am I worrying about nothing? She lives in gated car park under a cover. Tom

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Jun 25, 2019

• #2

what your doing is fine its turning a wheel and getting warmed up periodically

 

thspeller

Active Member

• Jun 25, 2019

• #3

Thanks James. Really helpful.

 

R

rob1miles

Well-Known Member

• Jun 25, 2019

• #4

The key is to use it until it gets hot. Starting it and stopping it before its hot does more harm than not starting it. Its all about getting it hot enough to evaporate the moiture in the gear box and engine and you want the therrmo state to open too. I suspect 5 miles is a bit short. You also want plenty of ventilation so there's no damp building up of the vehisle staying wet after a drive, that's why vehiles in barns often rust less than those in garages .

 

Blackburn

Well-Known Member

• Jun 26, 2019

• #5

Hydraulics seem to suffer from lack of use ie clutch and brake seals going prematurely

 

C

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

• Jun 26, 2019

• #6

Hand brake can sometimes start sticking on if left for a longtime. Also, it may be worth disconnecting the earth lead from the battery if, like mine, there is a parasitic drain.

Col

 

R

rob1miles

Well-Known Member

• Jun 26, 2019

• #7

Agree re - handbrake, never park for any period with it on, the drum corrodes under the shoes and if its a cable it will stick on. The problem is you only have the return spring to free it if its on, if its off you can work the lever slowly to get movement.

 

W

Webley1991

Well-Known Member

• Jun 27, 2019

• #8

Blackburn said:

Hydraulics seem to suffer from lack of use ie clutch and brake seals going prematurely

Click to expand...

This is very true. I also live in London and my Series 3 spends most of its time stored away. I had to replace all of the brake cylinders early this year as they had all started to leak.

As others have said, make sure the engine gets warmed through properly each time you drive it.