Is it ok to leave the car idling and not driven for few days?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9
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'01 W220 S320 CDI, '96 W210 E220 Diesel, '94 W124 E200, '89 W124 E250
Is it ok to leave the car idling and not driven for few days?
I dont use my car very often unless its for an extravagant event. This does not happen very often. So at times, I dont use my car for 1 week at a stretch. Will this affect any electrical or mechanical functions in my car? Like the airmatic suspension, battery/alternator, engine performance (common rail diesel injected OM613 engine) , electrical functions such as power shutter, power seats, and etc? I have been told that compressor in the air suspension unit is bound to fail if its not used regularly. Please confirm if its true? Would appreciate your replies.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
'01 W220 S320 CDI, '96 W210 E220 Diesel, '94 W124 E200, '89 W124 E250
Oliverk,
sorry, should have termed it "is it ok to leave the car sitting in one place for few days without it been used?" rather. What you were confused about is definitely not what I meant
.
C280 sport,
Thanks for the reply and advice. I do start the car and let it sit for a few mins once a week or so. But apart from the battery, anything else that would be affected as a result of car sitting in one place for a long period of time? Since my W220 is equipped with airmatic suspension, I was told that to increase the suspension's life, car should be driven often. I just want to reassure that from an expert? Dont want my suspension to die on me relatively earlier as its supposed due to my negligence. One airmatic unit costs about $1100 here.
sorry, should have termed it "is it ok to leave the car sitting in one place for few days without it been used?" rather. What you were confused about is definitely not what I meant
.C280 sport,
Thanks for the reply and advice. I do start the car and let it sit for a few mins once a week or so. But apart from the battery, anything else that would be affected as a result of car sitting in one place for a long period of time? Since my W220 is equipped with airmatic suspension, I was told that to increase the suspension's life, car should be driven often. I just want to reassure that from an expert? Dont want my suspension to die on me relatively earlier as its supposed due to my negligence. One airmatic unit costs about $1100 here.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
all, idling the car for 20 minutes is probably the worst thing to do. It results in condensation build up in the oil that never burns off. Also, idling for 20 minutes doesn't result in any meaningful charging of the battery.
Your best bet is to get a trickle charger and drive it when you need to.
Your best bet is to get a trickle charger and drive it when you need to.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Oliverk,
sorry, should have termed it "is it ok to leave the car sitting in one place for few days without it been used?" rather. What you were confused about is definitely not what I meant .
C280 sport,
Thanks for the reply and advice. I do start the car and let it sit for a few mins once a week or so. But apart from the battery, anything else that would be affected as a result of car sitting in one place for a long period of time? Since my W220 is equipped with airmatic suspension, I was told that to increase the suspension's life, car should be driven often. I just want to reassure that from an expert? Dont want my suspension to die on me relatively earlier as its supposed due to my negligence. One airmatic unit costs about $1100 here.
sorry, should have termed it "is it ok to leave the car sitting in one place for few days without it been used?" rather. What you were confused about is definitely not what I meant
.C280 sport,
Thanks for the reply and advice. I do start the car and let it sit for a few mins once a week or so. But apart from the battery, anything else that would be affected as a result of car sitting in one place for a long period of time? Since my W220 is equipped with airmatic suspension, I was told that to increase the suspension's life, car should be driven often. I just want to reassure that from an expert? Dont want my suspension to die on me relatively earlier as its supposed due to my negligence. One airmatic unit costs about $1100 here.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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C-GAGL Heavy
Don't start and idle it. You're gonna mess up your engine!
Drive it once a week, get it up to operating temperature and put it back. If that's not a possibility, leave it on a trickle charger and only start it when you plan to drive it. If it sits for a long time, put in fuel stabilizer.
Drive it once a week, get it up to operating temperature and put it back. If that's not a possibility, leave it on a trickle charger and only start it when you plan to drive it. If it sits for a long time, put in fuel stabilizer.
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Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
2012 C250 Coupe
all, idling the car for 20 minutes is probably the worst thing to do. It results in condensation build up in the oil that never burns off. Also, idling for 20 minutes doesn't result in any meaningful charging of the battery.
Your best bet is to get a trickle charger and drive it when you need to.
Your best bet is to get a trickle charger and drive it when you need to.
Unless you fancy replacing engines. Unless you are going to drive it, don't idle it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,359
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SL55, S500
Why not just disconnect the battery?
I left my car sitting for 3 weeks with the battery connected back in 2010, came back and it started like a champ.
A month later though is when my battery drain issues started...related or unrelated? who knows.
I left my car sitting for 3 weeks with the battery connected back in 2010, came back and it started like a champ.
A month later though is when my battery drain issues started...related or unrelated? who knows.
Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 181
Likes: 4
S600
DO NOT DISCONNECT THE BATTERY!! That is unless you WANT to reset every electronic device on the vehicle. Leave it connected and set up a trickle charger. Better yet, can't you take it to the mall or grocery shopping once a week? Or take it to work once a week or so, maybe make it Benz Friday? 
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 340
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From: Ludicrous Speed
opposite-lock...
Well, carting my happy@$$ around to/from werk and shuffling my monsters to assorted practices and activities are pretty extravagant events IMO... use it 24/7/365 and it will be a LOT happier of a machine.
Machines... do not like to SIT. They are built to be used.
Kidding aside (sort of?), agreed w/ others - don't just start it, drive it up to temp and get it WOT at least once before you park it. You know, the 'ole Eyetalian Tuneup.
Works wonders!
I'll never understand those who buy such marvels only to park them to gawk upon static.
Make 'life' your extravagant event 8-)...
Machines... do not like to SIT. They are built to be used.
Kidding aside (sort of?), agreed w/ others - don't just start it, drive it up to temp and get it WOT at least once before you park it. You know, the 'ole Eyetalian Tuneup.
Works wonders!
I'll never understand those who buy such marvels only to park them to gawk upon static.
Make 'life' your extravagant event 8-)...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,359
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SL55, S500
DO NOT DISCONNECT THE BATTERY!! That is unless you WANT to reset every electronic device on the vehicle. Leave it connected and set up a trickle charger. Better yet, can't you take it to the mall or grocery shopping once a week? Or take it to work once a week or so, maybe make it Benz Friday?
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3
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S320 2001, E320 2003
but when you leave your precious Airmatic will fail sooner than usual.
i did your trick before, and my airmatic fails within 2 years.
so i have replaced my airmatic suspensions, and leave the trick alone.
i took my car
just around the house just took like 5 mins when i dont use it.and it has almost 5 years and the airmatic doesnt fail.
cmiiw.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,359
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SL55, S500
well, sunroof and windows, isn't a problem yet until it leaks.
but when you leave your precious Airmatic will fail sooner than usual.
i did your trick before, and my airmatic fails within 2 years.
so i have replaced my airmatic suspensions, and leave the trick alone.
i took my car just around the house just took like 5 mins when i dont use it.
and it has almost 5 years and the airmatic doesnt fail.
cmiiw.
but when you leave your precious Airmatic will fail sooner than usual.
i did your trick before, and my airmatic fails within 2 years.
so i have replaced my airmatic suspensions, and leave the trick alone.
i took my car
just around the house just took like 5 mins when i dont use it.and it has almost 5 years and the airmatic doesnt fail.
cmiiw.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 312
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco
2000 mercedes benz s430
These cars need to be driven allot. When they sit always it messes up lots of things. Because one day u might start using it more often and your thinking i got low miles car is like new but i seen cars like that just fall apart
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 141
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From: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
2002 S430 Sport Pkg
Well here in Michigan during the winter they use salt on the roads, so I dont drive my car in the winter unless it has been dry for a few days then I will take it out. When it does snow, and they salt roads like salt is free I will clear the driveway back the car out Let it run while I finish up the rest of the driveway and walkways. I realize it isn't ideal, but I feel bad driving on salted roads.
