Your e30 winter preparations?

[E30_KIID]

Just wondering what every ones winter preparations are for their e30? Daily commuting, or are you going to be storing it over the winter?

Waiting for a nice day to come around so I can give it once last clean before I garage mine. Flush the arches out properly. and get a good coat of supaguard on it. Looking to invest in a new cover as well, an indoor breathable jobby. Anyone got any recommendations?

[ImysE30]

I'll be driving mine through winter

[jimbom30cab]

I'm going to put some decent tyres on, give the arch lips a good clean out. New wiper blades, full tank of screen wash and put a few essentials in the boot.

[Grrrmachine]

Change the screen wash, oil and filters. Stick the 14" bottletops on with new winter tyres (currently think Debica 185/65R14's). Give everything a good wash inside and out, and install a "moisture capture system": a tupperware box full of uncooked rice, with a few holes in the lid. That'll stop the interior getting iced up at night.

Other than that, keep on top of all the little things that keep breaking, as always.

[G-Bear]

All of the above really(sadly minus the winter tyres), and tackle a bit of welding thats needed on a hole I found in one of the rear arches..

[Simon13]

I won't be using mine easiest way to keep it nice

[polsta]

with a predicted worst winter in 100 years and heavy and regular snow falls, starting in november , mine will be all cosy in the garage and il be enjoying the snow in a 4x4 !!

[AndyZippy]

I was thinking about a spare set of bbs with winter tyres - Allows me to get my main 15" bbs refurbed and re-tyred over the winter too. Anyone have any they'd recommend??

[bss325i]

Staying in the garage.

[capri_rob]

Mine hasnt been out of the garage for about a month as it is and its unlikely to unless it stops p1$$ing down at some point this week.

I need to change the oil & filter, wash and polish it and thats about it

I'll be relying on my Alfa for reliable daily transport through the winter

[Grrrmachine]

I was thinking about a spare set of bbs with winter tyres - Allows me to get my main 15" bbs refurbed and re-tyred over the winter too. Anyone have any they'd recommend??

There was a thread not long ago (last week?) about winter tyres - well worth a read. It also recommends using 14" wheels, not 15s, so you can snap up some old bottletops for peanuts

[AndyZippy]

Ah sweet, yes i was thinking 14's would be more suited! Will hunt out the thread, cheers dude

[andyp]

make sure the car cover does not blow off and let water fill the shell up

[hillbilly30]

Will spend most of winter in garage now but will get the odd blast out on dry days, I use a Maypole breathable cover, size medium. It fits an e30 very well and was £15 posted from Amazon and others

Not 100% water proof outside but inside it keeps the dust and damp off.

[capnmchl]

Turn the heater up. Once they start gritting the roads then it'll get a wash every week. Up until then it's business as normal, a sort of skeleton maintenance system.

[hennabm]

The 323 is already tucked up with the blankets over the engine and the cover on.

The 320 will continue as front line transport and face all that the good old British weather can throw at it.
With 3 service lights left I expect a service due around mid winter - nice

[parkin10]

winter prep---its called waxoil and lots of it

that said its been using coolant though the summer when I fill the rad up with new coolant its going to find that leek fast

[Topblag]

I won't be using mine easiest way to keep it nice

And with all panels in the right shape.

[cjdonny]

mines tucked up in the garage

[Junglistjed]

Have only been driving my 316 a few weeks and im curious, how well do these old e30's run in winter? i only use it 3 days a week so hoping it lasts..

And as for winter prep i need to waxoyl mine.. a job ive been avoiding

[grantfk10]

I may go and see if mine is still in the garage..... Haven't seen it for over a year Hope it's still there

[magpie]

charging the people carrier battery .

[polsta]

Will spend most of winter in garage now but will get the odd blast out on dry days, I use a Maypole breathable cover, size medium. It fits an e30 very well and was £15 posted from Amazon and others

Not 100% water proof outside but inside it keeps the dust and damp off.

Got a link ? Is it nice and reasonably soft ?

[bigwinn]

Just bought all the service kit, the 325 is getting a full job before it soldiers through winter again- past all the modern cars that get stuck

oh and lots of waxoyl....

[DanThe]

Will spend most of winter in garage now but will get the odd blast out on dry days, I use a Maypole breathable cover, size medium. It fits an e30 very well and was £15 posted from Amazon and others

Not 100% water proof outside but inside it keeps the dust and damp off.

Got a link ? Is it nice and reasonably soft ?

Id be interested to know if its a soft lining or plastic?

[jimbom30cab]

wish my garage floor looked that clean ! In fact it did 3 resto's ago...

[Junglistjed]

Best way to waxoyl? i assume put the car on axle stands and get underneath?

[Speedtouch]

Yes, jack it up and get it on axle stands, or ramps, to get a decent access of the underneath.

Use a wire brush to clean away surface dirt and rust. A large flat-bladed screwdriver comes in handy for prodding away at loose underseal and nooks & crannies.

Some say it's better to leave a light coating of loose dust, rather than power wash it all clean, then spray or brush Waxoyl or similar on. Wear rubber gloves, as the stuff is very mucky, and sticky, and hard to wash off! You may also want to wear goggles, as you tend to get bits of gunge falling in your eyes otherwise.

I've been doing just that with my 1970 Minor Traveller this weekend.

[polsta]

similar on. Wear rubber gloves, as the stuff is very mucky, and sticky, and hard to wash off!

I've been doing just that with my 1970 Minor Traveller this weekend.

i think he means proper waxoyl, not that dredded tin underseal with waxoyl shite , that you really should be putting on an e30

best thing to do, is get the big tins with applicator- and leave the tin in a bucket of boiling hot water for a while, giving it the off good shake up, to get it really runny

its a good idea whilst your at it... to get fertan , pour that in the sill holes (with trim removed) and spray inner arches (from behind rear door cards and in the boot sides) and sunroof drains, bottoms of doors, then leave 24 hours, then waxoyl too, for real good protection and prevention

[Junglistjed]

will this be enough? > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WAXOYL-under- ... 1449wt_886

and as for the fertan, this stuff? > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fertan-Rust-K ... 19df4555d9

Will stick it in the garage this weekend if these arrive on time been really rainy here so want this done asap thanks for the replies guys

[Speedtouch]

A 2.5 litre tin of spray-on Waxoyl will barely cover much on an E30; you really need 5 litres to do a proper job.

However, a 2.5-litre tin of the brush-on Waxoyl underseal lasts yonks, and is OK for the underside; the spray-on stuff is best kept for the inside of sills, doors, chassis legs, etc.

[Junglistjed]

Am i better off buying 2 tins off this then mate?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAMMERITE-WAX ... 2a3171169b

[Speedtouch]

Just the one tin will be more than ample to cover the underside of an E30.

I bought one 2.5 litre tin, and have so far applied it on both sides of my Minor's central floorpan, sills and crossmember, and have only used about a fifth of the can; it goes a long way.

[polsta]

NO NO NO !!!!!!!!!! DO NOT USE THAT ON AN E30

that isnt waxoyl !!!! its underseal with added waxoyl=black death

if its re sealing you want to do, then get a decent polurethane spray sealant

sealants and waxoyl are different things for different purposes