W221 - No use for 5 weeks

[mbenz1]

Hi Guys

I am after some advice here regarding the below.

My dad has a W221 2008 320 CDI SWB with genuine MB 18" wheels (245's at the front and 275's at the rear, if I remember correctly) and due to going abroad, the car will remain in a garage for 5 weeks and will not be started (since I have read here that starting a V6 CDI and leaving it to idle for a few mins is of no use to the engine).

So, could anyone suggest any preventative maintenance action that can be taken in order to keep the engine and the AirMatic system happy, over those 5 weeks of no use?

I have heard that a maintenance charger can be used to keep the battery fresh and awake but is this really needed for only 5 weeks of inactivity?

Also, I have read here that putting the car on tripod jacks will keep the Airmatic system happy since it will have no pressure induced on the system, due to the tripods taking the car weight, but again, can putting the car on tripod jacks be avoided since its only a matter of 5 weeks?

Please advise on the above.

As always, all help is appreciated.

 

[E270 Owner]

Just leave it as it is for the short period of time its not in use.

 

[mbenz1]

Just leave it as it is for the short period of time its not in use.

Thanks for your comments.

Anyone have any different views to the above quote?

 

[moonloops]

Thanks for your comments.

Anyone have any different views to the above quote?

Nope, I regularly leave cars unused for say 8 weeks at a time.

Left an MR2 for 6 months, just disconnected the battery and it fired up first time when reconnected and drove faultlessly.

 

[mbenz1]

Nope, I regularly leave cars unused for say 8 weeks at a time.

Left an MR2 for 6 months, just disconnected the battery and it fired up first time when reconnected and drove faultlessly.

Ok thanks for your comments.

My main concern is the Airmatic system....this is the first time we have ever had a car with air suspension so was just wondering how the vessels or cylinders that cobtain the air would be affected after holding the pressure for a period of 5 weeks without any movement.

 

[mbenz1]

I was browsing the internet regarding some general advice for leaving a car unused and one website stated the following:

- Fill fuel tank to maximum level - this prevents moisture buildup in tank and keeps upper seals and parts lubricated or wet

- Fill air in tyres slightly above the.maximum air pressures

- Change oil before using the car (after coming back) since.moisture builds up in the engine. - Correct me if I'm wrong... surely you can't change the oil unless stated by the Service ASSIST, in a W221?


Do you disagree with any of the above points?

Thanks

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

You can change the oil at any time. ASYsST simply let's you know when it's due.

If there's a way you can give it a spin half way through then that would be ideal, but otherwise I wouldn't worry if the car is in good order and well maintained.

I would suggest taking it for a good run in daylight (or charging the battery) before parking, and park so that you can get to the jump start terminals just in case the battery goes flat.

 

[renault12ts]

Just leave it as others have advised.

What relevance has the wheel and tyre size to your question?

 

[219]

None of the measures suggested will do any harm .

I would suggest inflating the tyres to maximum allowable pressure is a good idea as it prevents flat spots from developing and only takes 10 mins/20p down at the garage . Let them back down to normal pressures when the car is to be used again .

Again , axle stands , if you have them , would do away for the need to blow the tyres up and might help the suspension , but I wouldn't worry too much .

As above , oil changes can be done any time , but might not be needed .

Maintenance chargers can be had from ALDI or LIDL periodically for only £15 or so and are very similar to the more expensive CTEK ones - again , if you can pick one up there's no harm in connecting it .

Best of all , would be if there was a trusted friend or relative who could call round midway and take the car for a run of 10 or more miles . If it's your dad's car , and you're not going away , could you take it for a spin every couple of weeks ?

 

[stumpy1]

Just leave it on trickle charge but the suspension will be fine. It will settle over time but should pump up immediately on restart.

 

[prprandall51]

I have an airmatic car and it frequently spends weeks on end unused. Although five weeks is longer than I have probably ever left it, four weeks is not unusual. The worst that ever happens is that I get the "Convenience features temporarily disabled" message when I go to start it. I have never seen any suspension sag from the airmatic.

 

[bionoc]

I leave my car for 5 weeks regularly. I work abroad, 5 weeks away, 4 weeks at home.
I would leave it in Park and don't apply the handbrake.
I don't do anything other than that and haven't had an issue for the 4 years I have had the car.

 

[GP801]

As above no problem for 5 weeks. The 124 regularly spends 8-10 weeks unused and so far has been fine. Perhaps use a battery conditioner charger as there will be more drain on the battery than on our old 124but otherwise should be no issues.

 

[bpsorrel]

My cars spend every summer unused for 2 months. I just attach a little solar powered trickle charger to the batteries to ensure starting when I return.

 

[mbenz1]

You can change the oil at any time. ASYsST simply let's you know when it's due.

If there's a way you can give it a spin half way through then that would be ideal, but otherwise I wouldn't worry if the car is in good order and well maintained.

I would suggest taking it for a good run in daylight (or charging the battery) before parking, and park so that you can get to the jump start terminals just in case the battery goes flat.

Unfortunately there is nobody who can drive the car and I will also be going (I can't drive that car anyway ... dad's insurance company doesn't cover my age for that car... plus its a massive car to drive! But the car is in very good working order and well mantained - FMBSH although not for long since the car will be now serviced from our local MB Specialist. Yes that sounds a good idea of taking the car for a spin before leaving it.

Just leave it as others have advised.

What relevance has the wheel and tyre size to your question?

The reason I mentioned the wheel and tyre size is due to the AirMatic system - I'm curious as to whether bigger size wheels (therefore bigger size tyres) will induce more strain on the air cylinders or other components, compared to the standard 16" wheels.

None of the measures suggested will do any harm .

I would suggest inflating the tyres to maximum allowable pressure is a good idea as it prevents flat spots from developing and only takes 10 mins/20p down at the garage . Let them back down to normal pressures when the car is to be used again .

Again , axle stands , if you have them , would do away for the need to blow the tyres up and might help the suspension , but I wouldn't worry too much .

As above , oil changes can be done any time , but might not be needed .

Maintenance chargers can be had from ALDI or LIDL periodically for only £15 or so and are very similar to the more expensive CTEK ones - again , if you can pick one up there's no harm in connecting it .

Best of all , would be if there was a trusted friend or relative who could call round midway and take the car for a run of 10 or more miles . If it's your dad's car , and you're not going away , could you take it for a spin every couple of weeks ?

Are the pressure values, that are written on the fuel tank flap, the maximum allowable pressures or the normal pressures? Where do I find the maximum allowable pressure? Yes, it will be good to avoid flat spots in the tyres by doing this...

Unfortunately we have no axle stands and even if we did, it will be a pain to put the car on the stands in a tight garage... especially with those arches on the side body of the W221

I presume that the maintenance charger connects to the batteries? Would this mean the bonnet will be needed to be left open (for the wires)?

Just leave it on trickle charge but the suspension will be fine. It will settle over time but should pump up immediately on restart.

Yes I'm hoping the suspension system should pump up after coming back and starting it...fingers crossed.

I leave my car for 5 weeks regularly. I work abroad, 5 weeks away, 4 weeks at home.
I would leave it in Park and don't apply the handbrake.
I don't do anything other than that and haven't had an issue for the 4 years I have had the car.

This car has an electronic brake system - I will have to see if the key can be removed and the alarm can be activated with the electronic brake not applied...

What is the benefit of not applying the hand brake? Also, does the Park mode in the transmission have any feature that prevents the car from moving if hand brake is not applied?

As above no problem for 5 weeks. The 124 regularly spends 8-10 weeks unused and so far has been fine. Perhaps use a battery conditioner charger as there will be more drain on the battery than on our old 124but otherwise should be no issues.

The 124s are a different ball game - solid cars that are happy however you leave them ...

My cars spend every summer unused for 2 months. I just attach a little solar powered trickle charger to the batteries to ensure starting when I return.

That's a really good idea of using a solar-powered charger but the car will be in a garage so it will be dark...It could have been good if there were dark-powered chargers...

 

[bionoc]

You can leave the electronic brake off. Well, you can in an Audi or Jaguar. If you leave the handbrake on for a long period, the brakes will stick. Makes a horrible noise when they release.
When you select 'Park', a pin engages, in the gearbox I think. The car won't roll away.

 

[TomJones]

I would also turn off aircon compressor a few minutes before parking to dry the evaporator

 

[Troon]

The reason I mentioned the wheel and tyre size is due to the AirMatic system - I'm curious as to whether bigger size wheels (therefore bigger size tyres) will induce more strain on the air cylinders or other components, compared to the standard 16" wheels.

The air suspension is nothing to do with the air in the tyres. The sprung weight of the vehicle (the bits supported by the suspension) does not vary with wheel size.

 

[219]

Re the max pressures - those indicated in the fuel flap are the recommended pressures for different operating conditions , the highest ones being for fully laden with luggage & passengers and for a long run - these should be fine for this purpose . Depending on your car and tyre combo , I'd guess you could be looking at high 30's front to low/mid 40's rear . You can drive the short distance back from the filling station with this but prolonged use might see uneven tyre wear ( wear in the centre of the tread width ) .

The maximum permissible inflation pressures are normally printed on the sidewall of the tyre - this is higher than you'd ever want to run the car at , but is good for longer term storage , say several months . This could be pressures as high as 50 or 60 psi and will prevent flat spots during longer storage , but you would not want to drive more than a short distance , exercising caution , like this as the handling could be compromised . Inflation to these pressures is best done at home , unless there is a petrol station very close by .

 

[Conquistador]

As mentioned above, the Airmatic might sink down after not being used for a few weeks but it shouldn't give you any problems.

Same happens in my Audi - over time the car's systems will gradually shut down one by one if not used and after 10 days or so the air suspension sinks right down over the arches, almost to the floor. So I imagine it will be similar in the W221.

I'd leave the parking brake off if the ground is flat. Or just chock the wheels if on a slight slope.

If it was me then I'd take no measures and just leave it how it is and not worry