Dans_SL

Hi... So I'd like to buy a new 2008 SL, but I live in NYC and since the SL is not a winter car, where do people keep it for the 5 months (December-April) of winter? Is it kept in some heated garage? Do you take out the battery - drain it of its fluids - remove the tires and jack it up on some blocks? Or would it be best (over the long run) to just warm it up and drive it a little each week? OK, I know it may be a lot of work, but I plan to keep the car for years, so I'll do the best car care that this forum recommends. Thanks in advance.

JRAMGV8

On my other car I usually leave it in the garage during the winter and once in a way I drive it around on a weekend. Cars setting for a long time do need some stretching

gocargo

Mine's in its 3rd winter (6 months straight) in a non heated garage located in a Canadian border town. I have a Schumaker http://store.schumachermart.com/sem-1562a.html (buy at Wal Mart $25) battery tender on each of the SL's two batteries (one under mat in truck, other under hood). I also inflate the tires to 48 lbs to mitigate flat spots, deflating to the proper pressure before driving in the spring. Last, I toss little packs of rat-mice poison around the floor under the SL and in the corners of the garage to keep them out of the upholstry and carpet.

Some may claim that you need a special charger for the rear battery, or that you can plug a charger into your cigarette lighter plug, whatever... 3 years sucess for me in above scenario.

SL2003driver

Normally where I live in KCMO you have a good day to drive the car once a week and at the worst once every 2 weeks. I then get it out and drive it for the day, wash it and put it back up. I don't like the idea of letting a car sit undriven for a long time JMPO. This keeps everything lubed and fresh.

JackStraw

Weather in NYC isn't so bad and doesn't call for the drastic measures that you describe. Keep it garaged and try to drive it once a week or so in the winter. Rarely does the snow stick around on the roads for more than a couple of days at a time.

bw53

You should always run the car at least once a week or bi-weekly. Its good for the oil and all moving parts. Other than that, do what I did and move to Austin....lived in NYC but had enough of the cold....

gqa

i live in nyc as well and jackstraw is right, the weather here is not so bad as regards to snow. you should be able to drive the car at least once a wk or once every two weeks. i make myself warm it up or drive it so its not sitting to long.

mikefili

Send the car to Florida for the winter and I will keep it in the garage along with my SL, what color is yours? Mine is White / Stone, and I would have to be sure that yours would not clash with my White.

Steven

Get a c-tek trickle charger, either a 3300 or the 7000. Most manufacturers rebadge this charger and double the price. I bought a couple of them from Apex Performance. Excellent price and service.
http://www.apexperformance.net/

alexx

C-Tek provides MB with trickle chargers with MB badge. I have a 3300 with a hard wire connection to rear battery which I can plug or unplug without messing with trunk flooring.
Also, only one charger is needed. Front battery is charged through rear.
Online price for C-Tek is around $79, MB price $209.

IngenereAMG

I have allot of cars for a long time, and I try to get everything running and moving regularly. It's much better for the car.

SL2003driver

Totally agree. A car should be driven often and when driven run long enough to warm everything up, say 10-15 miles before it is shut down. Cars that sit for months at a time suffer more then higher mileage cars that are driven. These cars are built to last 500K+ miles.

djamer

Had my service A performed here in Northern VA this morning.temp was 40 degrees..blue skies.. got the car detailed, & took the car for a nice 50 miles ride.. cold outside, but, warm and toasty in the cabin as I drove on open roads this morning.. car was begging for fresh air..

SpainSL500

I live in NJ where it snows a bit and gets cold, but I always run the car at least bi-monthly. Having a car sitting for months is not a good idea for reasons several posters have touched on. Plus, your gonna love this car so much you don't want to wait for so long in between drives!