How to properly store your C63 for the winter?
#1
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From: Germany
2019 C43 (SOLD) & 2012 C63 P31
How to properly store your C63 for the winter?
I've grown up in a climate where I didn't have to worry about snow for winter but have moved to Germany and this will be my first time living through a cold, humid, and snowy climate. My question for any of you who live in similar climates, how do you store your C63 (or any other car that you wish to preserve) for the winter months to protect from rust and any other issues that may arise from a winter climate?
I'll be getting a place with a garage of course. But what I'm really curious about are stuff like dehumidifiers, battery tricklers, etc. Any tips, advice, opinions, etc. are greatly welcomed.
I'll be getting a place with a garage of course. But what I'm really curious about are stuff like dehumidifiers, battery tricklers, etc. Any tips, advice, opinions, etc. are greatly welcomed.
#2
An enclosed garage is all you really need. Todays cars don't rust unless you really neglect them for a lengthy time. IMO it's the severe temperature change for cars that are not garaged for years that affects parts. You will be fine, just keep all the road salt off. People here have been storing their cars in garages for years with no issues.
As for the battery trickle, yes if you don't plan on driving the car this would probably be a good idea.
Not that complicated.
As for the battery trickle, yes if you don't plan on driving the car this would probably be a good idea.
Not that complicated.
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CheckOrHold (09-09-2020)
#3
Everything places said.
I'll usually air up the tires to the max recommended pressure as well, fill up the tank with some fuel stabilizer, and I have one of those little solar trickle chargers I hook up to maintain the battery over the winter and that's about it
I'll usually air up the tires to the max recommended pressure as well, fill up the tank with some fuel stabilizer, and I have one of those little solar trickle chargers I hook up to maintain the battery over the winter and that's about it
#4
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From: Germany
2019 C43 (SOLD) & 2012 C63 P31
Is there any fuel stabilizer that you'd recommend?
#5
Not to hijack the thread, but I also plan on storing my car for the winter (~6 months). Is it true that I shouldnt start up the car once or twice during this time to "get the fluids moving"?
#6
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12 C63BS Magno Alanite Grey, 22 X3M Brooklyn Grey, 08 BMW E93, 22 Ducati Desert Sled, John Deere 3R
As above all is great advice, I usually either air up the tires a bit or just move the car once a month to not flat spot the tires. Trickle charger for sure or pull the batter and put it somewhere else and trickle charge if you have no power fuel conditioner in the fuel and run it enough to get all the way through the system before you put it away.
If it is somewhere that mice might be able to get to I like to put dryer sheets under the car to deter them (or mothballs etc) anything to keep nesting rodents out from under your hood.
I always put it away clean so wash it well and then put an indoor cover on it if stored indoors and that is about it.
If you are going to say start it once a month (you don't really need to) but if you are you really want to run it for 15-20 minutes to get up to temp and burn off any water vapor.
Come spring change the oil in the engine and check air pressure in the tires and you should be good to go.
If it is somewhere that mice might be able to get to I like to put dryer sheets under the car to deter them (or mothballs etc) anything to keep nesting rodents out from under your hood.
I always put it away clean so wash it well and then put an indoor cover on it if stored indoors and that is about it.
If you are going to say start it once a month (you don't really need to) but if you are you really want to run it for 15-20 minutes to get up to temp and burn off any water vapor.
Come spring change the oil in the engine and check air pressure in the tires and you should be good to go.
#7
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2010 Irridium Silver MB C63 AMG Sedan
If you wash it, thoroughly dry it first, roll on the brake rotors a bit, and don’t put a cover on it without getting all the water and moisture out of the spaces. Keep tank full, battery tender, and air in tires. Ideally you should turn it on every 2 weeks or so to let fluids circulate and roll over on tire spots. Beware mice.
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#8
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From: Germany
2019 C43 (SOLD) & 2012 C63 P31
As above all is great advice, I usually either air up the tires a bit or just move the car once a month to not flat spot the tires. Trickle charger for sure or pull the batter and put it somewhere else and trickle charge if you have no power fuel conditioner in the fuel and run it enough to get all the way through the system before you put it away.
If it is somewhere that mice might be able to get to I like to put dryer sheets under the car to deter them (or mothballs etc) anything to keep nesting rodents out from under your hood.
I always put it away clean so wash it well and then put an indoor cover on it if stored indoors and that is about it.
If you are going to say start it once a month (you don't really need to) but if you are you really want to run it for 15-20 minutes to get up to temp and burn off any water vapor.
Come spring change the oil in the engine and check air pressure in the tires and you should be good to go.
If it is somewhere that mice might be able to get to I like to put dryer sheets under the car to deter them (or mothballs etc) anything to keep nesting rodents out from under your hood.
I always put it away clean so wash it well and then put an indoor cover on it if stored indoors and that is about it.
If you are going to say start it once a month (you don't really need to) but if you are you really want to run it for 15-20 minutes to get up to temp and burn off any water vapor.
Come spring change the oil in the engine and check air pressure in the tires and you should be good to go.
I heard if you're storing a vehicle for a long time it's better to not run it unless you actually are going to drive it; running it idle does more harm than good.
#11
Good points made on the full tank and starting the car. Won't hurt anything if you start the car every few weeks and let it run for a few minutes. I live in a building with underground garage and one of my neighbors is a car collector, lots of super high end cars and he starts his every few weeks and lets them run for 15 minutes or so.
#13
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12 C63BS Magno Alanite Grey, 22 X3M Brooklyn Grey, 08 BMW E93, 22 Ducati Desert Sled, John Deere 3R
Good points made on the full tank and starting the car. Won't hurt anything if you start the car every few weeks and let it run for a few minutes. I live in a building with underground garage and one of my neighbors is a car collector, lots of super high end cars and he starts his every few weeks and lets them run for 15 minutes or so.
For fuel stabilizer I use the StarTron Enzyme stuff, I store a lot of small engines, motorcycles, dirt bikes etc and they all start first kick in the spring never had an issue. I never had great luck with Stabil - if you can only find Stabil you need at least the marine type for ethanol fules (not probably an issue in Germany).
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CyanideRide (09-09-2020)
#14
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12 C63BS Magno Alanite Grey, 22 X3M Brooklyn Grey, 08 BMW E93, 22 Ducati Desert Sled, John Deere 3R
#17
This 100%. As I stated earlier my neighbor has a bunch of super high line cars (McLarens, Ferraris, etc.) and all he does is trickle charge them and start them up occasionally. I'm sure a C63 will be just fine.
#18
#19
For fuel stabilizer I use the StarTron Enzyme stuff, I store a lot of small engines, motorcycles, dirt bikes etc and they all start first kick in the spring never had an issue. I never had great luck with Stabil - if you can only find Stabil you need at least the marine type for ethanol fules (not probably an issue in Germany).
#20
I literally just parked mine in the garage with a full tank and that was it. No trickle charger, additives, nothing. I also live in quite a cold place and if memory serves me correctly one February the temp didn't go above freezing at any single point in the month.
Started up every year like I had just gone in and out of the grocery store for 10 minutes. I would let it idle a little longer than usual, meaning like a full 2 minutes, just to listen to it and let it warm up a little bit on that first startup. Expected some normal chatter from the lifters as everything has fully settled at that point but goes away quickly.
Cars are stout. At most I'd throw a trickle charger on it but even then, meh.
Best suggestion that sticks out here to me is the rodent one and being aware if you have mice or what not in your area and putting down some rodent preventatives (keeping children and pets in mind, of course).
Started up every year like I had just gone in and out of the grocery store for 10 minutes. I would let it idle a little longer than usual, meaning like a full 2 minutes, just to listen to it and let it warm up a little bit on that first startup. Expected some normal chatter from the lifters as everything has fully settled at that point but goes away quickly.
Cars are stout. At most I'd throw a trickle charger on it but even then, meh.
Best suggestion that sticks out here to me is the rodent one and being aware if you have mice or what not in your area and putting down some rodent preventatives (keeping children and pets in mind, of course).
#21
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12 C63BS Magno Alanite Grey, 22 X3M Brooklyn Grey, 08 BMW E93, 22 Ducati Desert Sled, John Deere 3R
The filling it full with gas is not really even needed anymore, I do it but the purpose was that a steel gas tank if not full would condense moisture on the inside above the fuel line and could cause rust on an untreated metal, all our cars have plastic tanks so not much of an issue anymore.
#22
In the winter time if the garage isn't temp regulated you want to decrease risk of condensation from hot engine and cold air mixing so start the car for a longer period of time. The cold air in the engine starts forming steam from the little time it takes to heat up. If the garage is heated and has a humidistat or air circulator you don't run into condensation issues. Realistically though there is no real need to start it unless you miss driving it.
Rust will typically build where cam lobe wear has developed, I didn't take photos but thats what happens if moisture gets in.
Good luck!
Rust will typically build where cam lobe wear has developed, I didn't take photos but thats what happens if moisture gets in.
Good luck!
Last edited by go team; 09-13-2020 at 01:08 AM.
#23
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W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
Here's a different idea... get a set of winter wheels & tires and drive it. It's an "old-school" Mercedes that's fully galvanized so I wouldn't be concerned about rust. I don't put a lot of mileage on it, but I drive mine year-round in Canada and I am pretty sure that we get more snow here than in Germany. Take it out for a good run every couple of weeks, and driving it in the white slippery stuff is about as much fun as you can have with your pants on - plus it will teach you how to be very smooth with the throttle. Keeping the tank full does help with traction in the snow when you need to get going up an incline, but with a good set of winter tires it is not different than any other car.
#24
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From: Toronto, Canada
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
Good points made on the full tank and starting the car. Won't hurt anything if you start the car every few weeks and let it run for a few minutes. I live in a building with underground garage and one of my neighbors is a car collector, lots of super high end cars and he starts his every few weeks and lets them run for 15 minutes or so.
This. And, if you can't connect a trickle charger and can't periodically start the car, just disconnect the battery. You'll just lose your mirror and seat position presets and "convenience" preferences you may have changed from the defaults.
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places (09-14-2020)