BMW 750i not driven for 15 years...what could go wrong?

First of all, it's well known that not driving a car doesn't mean that the car remains in good condition. Sitting around collecting dust is bad for a car.

Add to that the fact that BMW is the most expensive brand of car to keep on the road and you have a reciepe for disaster.

COULD be a ton of problems....or none at all - all depends on how well the car was prepared for storage, how well it was looked after in storage, how well it was prepared to come out of storage, what the storage environment was like (heated garage, humid climate, etc)

purchasing a used BMW at anytime is an issue considering very high cost of service repair and replacement (top of the scale, about 1.5 to 2X cost of american or japanese product).

if you decide to purchase this car have it fully ck`d by a pro shop and based on its history, that would include compression test, possibly leak test, on hoist review of driveline and possibly dropping the pan for 1st hand look at bottom end, brakes., suspension (struts, shocks, springs), wheel bearings and ball joints.

FOR example many exotics and performance cars are not driven in the winter. Here is a cut & paste of rather complete list of winter storage techniques (for periods of 2 to 4 mos storage)....likely complete cut & paste is longer than yahoo permits

**********************************************************************************

if you are going to store your car for a period of more than two months, the following are recommendations to follow.

* Fill the tank with gas and add a gas stabilizer to keep your gas from becoming stale.

* Change the oil and filter.

* Thorough wash the exterior of the car, wheels, and tires. If possible, remove each wheel and thoroughly clean them. Especially the back side

where dirt and road debris accumulates. Polish the wheels and reinstall. Polish/wax the exterior. Clean/detail the engine bay. When the car

is sufficiently cleaned and the paint treated to a good coating of carnauba wax or polish, consider covering it with a quality car cover from

California Car Cover or Big Sky Car Covers, or another high quality cover.

* To prevent tire flat spots, use jack stands to raise the car off the floor. Set the stands under the control arms so that the weight of the car is

still on the suspension, and just high enough to keep the weight off of the tires. Putting the jack stands under the spring perches is

recommended by many. If jack stands are not available you can use wood blocks. Just remember that the suspension likes to be loaded. It's

heavy. Many recommend that you just inflate the tires to the max and put carpet squares under each tire.

* Check the tire air pressure and be sure all four tires are the same correct pressure. Note that regular air can leak during storage due to faulty

valve stems, wheel irregularities, etc. Costco warehouse stores use nitrogen to fill tires. It is the only place that I know of that has nitrogen

due to the expense of the equipment I guess. However, nitrogen is preferred for a number of reasons. The most important IMO is that it is

heavier than air and is less likely to leak out (larger molecules). So if you have a Costco in your area consider replacing the air with nitrogen.

You'll have more consistent air pressures without leaking.

* Disconnect the negative battery cable. When you're ready to take it out of storage hook it back up. Some prefer to use a battery tender.

* Place a few moisture absorber packs (desiccants) in the interior to absorb any moisture. Large packs are usually available at most do-it-yourself

building supply or hardware chains. A couple of bags on the front and rear floors, as well as a few more in the trunk, and you'll have dampness

protection for the entire winter season. As an alternative, kitty litter can be used in small containers.

* Get some Arm & Hammer baking soda to put in the cabin. Open the tabs and place the entire box on the floor. I'll put one box on the rear

floor and one on the front floor. This will prevent any musty smell.

* Cover the car with a high quality car cover. The cover will keep the paint surface clean and protect it from scratches if you (or others) will be

working around the car.

* Inflatable bubble covers are also available. You basically drive your car into the bubble and inflate it. Users state that air is continually kept

flowing through the bubble and this totally keeps out all moisture. So rusting of the brake rotors, for example, is not an issue. I don't know

anything more about this method so you should research it before using it.

* Change your oil again when the car comes out of storage.

* When starting the car after long term storage, hold the accelerator to the floor (which will turn off the fuel injectors) while starting. Turn the car

over for about 10 seconds to get the oil flowing to the top of the engine. Then start the car normally. It is also recommended to pull all the

plugs first so the starter isn't working against compression. It is my understanding, though, that if you have a BAP it can render this trick

useless, reportedly due to the upgraded wiring coming directly from the battery.

The best way to keep mice out of your car is to keep them out of the storage area, usually a garage. Keep doors and windows sealed as tightly as possible.

Keep food out of your building and cars. If there’s nothing for mice to eat, they won’t usually hang around. Pay close attention not to leave scraps or crumbs inside the vehicle. Vacuum the carpets, seats, under-seat area, console and glove box. Use probe tools to get at the petrified French fries on the side of the seat. LOL! Then shampoo the carpets so they are nice & clean and smell fresh.

Traps