Winter use....
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- Joined: Wed 12 Aug, 2009 09:59
- Posts: 63
Winter use....
Hey all. Just seeing how many people use there M's as everyday drivers including winter? I feel like i should garage it but would have to buy something else...
SJ
SJ
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- Joined: Tue 07 Oct, 2008 17:45
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Hi SJ I Have a 2.8 Zed and just recently baught a little Rover 114 P reg with one owner and all M.O.T certs and service history 58K for £670 tax and tested. A bargin and touch wood is the best buy I have done after the Zed. It allows me to keep milage low and condition. For me I did this as I work in local sport centres and all the time I was scared of coming out and having a large ding in the door, all the worry has gone now. I even get attention in the Rover by people saying that they use to have one.
hi Sj
mine is my summer / weekend fun car too. i think it would be criminal to take a beautiful zed out in the winter. she stays in my garage covered up and plugged in to keep her electrics sweet untill april.
my trusty peugeot diesel 206 does the rest.
mine is my summer / weekend fun car too. i think it would be criminal to take a beautiful zed out in the winter. she stays in my garage covered up and plugged in to keep her electrics sweet untill april.
my trusty peugeot diesel 206 does the rest.
Please help. The money will go to a good cause. email me for the link to my fundraising page.
- PERRIN Z3M
- Joined: Fri 12 Oct, 2007 19:49
- Posts: 398
- Location: Horley
I'm with Steve a Zed should be used all winter. So long as you take the necessary steps to protect the bodywork underneath and wash weekly its no problem. Sticking the car in the garage for months on end where it doesn't get warm or hot through use I feel accelerates component failures, rust, brakes seizing etc.
Tim.
Tim.
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- Joined: Wed 12 Mar, 2008 14:33
- Posts: 1967
- Location: UK
Mine will be out giving me a smile on every frosty morning whether it be sunny or snowing!
She'll be getting serious wax and regular cleans though. I understand people that garage them for winter but personally I'd miss driving it too much
She'll be getting serious wax and regular cleans though. I understand people that garage them for winter but personally I'd miss driving it too much
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I bought mine as a summer toy but the thought of wrapping it up for the winter depresses me I can see it having some runs (to keep it ticking over ) on sunny winter weekends but will not be venturing out when the salts about.
The car is parked securely and the only thing I don't do is put the alarm on (to save the battery) but I do fit a thatcham steering lock. If I am going to use for the odd run over winter I don't really want to have to connect / disconnect the battery each time so I'll see how it goes. I guess in the midst of winter if the cars not going to be used for a couple of months I should.
I just have the dilema do I fit the hardtop or not. I was going to put it on this weekend but just been out for a run with roof down and heater on
The car is parked securely and the only thing I don't do is put the alarm on (to save the battery) but I do fit a thatcham steering lock. If I am going to use for the odd run over winter I don't really want to have to connect / disconnect the battery each time so I'll see how it goes. I guess in the midst of winter if the cars not going to be used for a couple of months I should.
I just have the dilema do I fit the hardtop or not. I was going to put it on this weekend but just been out for a run with roof down and heater on
Last edited by Jonttt on Thu 01 Oct, 2009 19:57, edited 1 time in total.
Jonttt wrote:I bought mine as a summer toy but the thought of wrapping it up for the winter depresses me I can see it having some runs (to keep it ticking over ) on sunny winter weekends but will not be venturing out when the salts about.
The car is parked securely and the only thing I don't do is put the alarm on (to save the battery) but I do fit a thatcham steering lock. If I am going to use for the odd run over winter I don't really want to have to connect / disconnect the battery each time so I'll see how it goes. I guess in the midst of winter if the cars not going to be used for a couple of months I should.
I just have the dilema do I fit the hardtop or not. I was going to put it on this weekend but just been out for a run with roof down and heater on
Jon,
If you worry about the battery then one of these is a must.
http://www.ctek-chargers.co.uk/?gclid=C ... 4wodijIO2Q
Times when my zed isn't used I just plug the charger into the lighter socket and conditions the battery when it senses the batteries charge gets too low.
I think BMW now sell these but obviously with their branding.
Tim.
Tim, I already have one but don't have a power suplly where the car is parked so would have to remove the battery to use the crocodile clips.
I'm hoping that because I'll find any excuse to drive the car on a weekend I'll get away with a recondition charge at the end of winter even if it ends up being unused for 6 weeks or so in the worst of winter.
Usually I'd run a power supply to where the car is parked but the house I store it at I'm not doing any work on (once you start you never stop )
I'm hoping that because I'll find any excuse to drive the car on a weekend I'll get away with a recondition charge at the end of winter even if it ends up being unused for 6 weeks or so in the worst of winter.
Usually I'd run a power supply to where the car is parked but the house I store it at I'm not doing any work on (once you start you never stop )
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I don't use Hamish as an everyday driver as I have my 2.0 Z3 for that purpose but he comes out most weekends and will surely continue to be used over the winter weekends. Zeds are built to be driven. Just make sure they are cleaned well after a run, lots of wax etc.
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All Year Round Z3M
In spite of some interesting and probably easier alternatives (B12 Alpina, Overfinch Rangie) the Z3M is my daily driver all year round.
A cold, sunny winter's morning with the top down, heater and seats full blast is my idea of heaven!
I think there are a mixture of owners and drivers on this forum - I'm firmly in the latter category. I have never been able to understand the comments about difficult wet handling - though it is impossible in the snow.
After 4 years and 50,000 miles I'm still in love with the car, and it's survived quite happily with just a few minor upgrades (brake pads, rear shocks/mounts), otherwise normal servicing.
It's got the odd paint chip, but still looks very presentable, in spite of no intensive cleaning/polishing exercises (too busy driving!).
Off to Prodrive in Warwick next week to show the Ford RS Club what they are missing!
A cold, sunny winter's morning with the top down, heater and seats full blast is my idea of heaven!
I think there are a mixture of owners and drivers on this forum - I'm firmly in the latter category. I have never been able to understand the comments about difficult wet handling - though it is impossible in the snow.
After 4 years and 50,000 miles I'm still in love with the car, and it's survived quite happily with just a few minor upgrades (brake pads, rear shocks/mounts), otherwise normal servicing.
It's got the odd paint chip, but still looks very presentable, in spite of no intensive cleaning/polishing exercises (too busy driving!).
Off to Prodrive in Warwick next week to show the Ford RS Club what they are missing!
Mike
I wish I could use my ///M as a daily driver but 30k+ miles pa mainly motorway is not practical. The reason I got my ///M was for the 3k pa I can dump the motorway cruiser and have some fun
I think I fall (hopefully) into both camps. I've bought the car to be driven for what it was designed but putting 3-5k pa on the clock means it is also a keeper for me. Its got 48k on it now so hopefully will be with me until I hang up my driving shoes (I'm not giving my age away!)
But..... if I ever changed jobs to allow me to do much less mileage then .......
I wish I could use my ///M as a daily driver but 30k+ miles pa mainly motorway is not practical. The reason I got my ///M was for the 3k pa I can dump the motorway cruiser and have some fun
I think I fall (hopefully) into both camps. I've bought the car to be driven for what it was designed but putting 3-5k pa on the clock means it is also a keeper for me. Its got 48k on it now so hopefully will be with me until I hang up my driving shoes (I'm not giving my age away!)
But..... if I ever changed jobs to allow me to do much less mileage then .......
ps and thanks for making my decision re fitting the hardtop even harderJonttt wrote:Mike
I wish I could use my ///M as a daily driver but 30k+ miles pa mainly motorway is not practical. The reason I got my ///M was for the 3k pa I can dump the motorway cruiser and have some fun
I think I fall (hopefully) into both camps. I've bought the car to be driven for what it was designed but putting 3-5k pa on the clock means it is also a keeper for me. Its got 48k on it now so hopefully will be with me until I hang up my driving shoes (I'm not giving my age away!)
But..... if I ever changed jobs to allow me to do much less mileage then .......
All Year Round Z3M
I can see why people would want hard tops and traction control, but they're not for me.
I love the fact that driving the car is an experience every day, and I really don't want to change any of it.
I love the fact that driving the car is an experience every day, and I really don't want to change any of it.
I have driven my old Zed's throughout the winter with no real problem; even had my 911 out last year in the snow! But this year have decided to garage it for the winter; tax and insurance expired end of sept so have bought a rover 420 diesel and garaged the BM for 6 months!!
I think i did it this year as doing more miles with work; and now have my own garage and want to change a few things on the Zed so thought it would give me time to work on it and save for the bits i want. Also of the 4 zm's ive had this one is the quickest and twitchyist by far for some reason and dont fancy it in the ice!!
I think i did it this year as doing more miles with work; and now have my own garage and want to change a few things on the Zed so thought it would give me time to work on it and save for the bits i want. Also of the 4 zm's ive had this one is the quickest and twitchyist by far for some reason and dont fancy it in the ice!!
This will be my first winter with the mc. I wash it once a week generally and wax once a month. Re: mention of looking after the underneath is it advisable to get it treated with one of those waxoil type treatments or will the car survive without and just use the jetwash to clear behind the wheels etc?
Modern cars shouldn't really need any underbody treatment, the important thing is wash it thoroughly etc, having said that I have done all the underside of the Zed with Dinitrol which is like a thick brown metallic wax and used Dinitrol cavity wax hehind the wheel arch liners. Waxoil is OK but will wear off quite easily.'Yadi wrote:This will be my first winter with the mc. I wash it once a week generally and wax once a month. Re: mention of looking after the underneath is it advisable to get it treated with one of those waxoil type treatments or will the car survive without and just use the jetwash to clear behind the wheels etc?
This is my 1985 Mazda 323 that used Dinitrol on in 1986 and still going strong.
Not exactly a collectable classic but you don't see many on the road these days.
Tim.
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- Joined: Wed 12 Aug, 2009 09:59
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Some mixed replies but just as i expected!
Im planning on using it everyday as im doing now so i shall see how i get on compared to my 4x4 audi s3 last year.... lol.
My dads just bought a hardtop for his motor (2.8 z3) so might rob that off him hehe
Im planning on using it everyday as im doing now so i shall see how i get on compared to my 4x4 audi s3 last year.... lol.
My dads just bought a hardtop for his motor (2.8 z3) so might rob that off him hehe
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Hi Yadi,'Yadi wrote:Hi Tim,
Was the Dinitrol a DIY job (with access to a ramp?) or did you get a third party to treat it for you?
Cheers
I applied the Dinitrol my self. Its sold in large aerosol cans with extension tubes. 5 or 6 cans is usually enough to cover the underside. Its a messy job but is only a half a day job and once done will keep the salt off the bodywork.
Tim.
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