Long-Term Storage for Your Mercedes-Benz

Perhaps you’ll be traveling around Europe for the next several months, leaving your beloved G-Class here in the States. Or maybe you know you won’t be driving your SL convertible through Charleston’s winter months. If you’re going to store your Mercedes-Benz for an extended amount of time, there are several precautions you should take before you tuck it away in your garage. Follow these simple steps to make sure your car doesn’t deteriorate while it’s stowed.

1. It’s ideal to store your car indoors. A climate-controlled storage facility is best, followed by a typical garage setting. Keeping humidity at bay is the key to preserving your car, and in Charleston, that’s no easy task. Heating and air-conditioning systems help to drive humidity out of the storage space.
2. Exercise your car every so often. To keep the engine running smoothly, take your car for a short spin around the city every few months to make sure it remains in tip-top shape.
3. Store it clean. Before you store your car for an extended period, wash it and make sure the entire vehicle is completely dry to prevent mold or mildew buildup. Clean the interior to perfection as well; you don’t want to find a three-month-old french fry next time you want to drive your car.
4. Fill up the tank. It’s best to store a car with a full tank of gas, which will remain fresh for about a year. You can couple it with a fuel stabilizer (brands include Sta-Bil or Pri-G) to prolong the life of the gasoline.
5. An oil change is pertinent. Your car’s oil and filter should be changed shortly before storing. Also make sure that the vehicle has plenty of anti-freeze, power-steering fluid, transmission fluid, and brake fluid.
6. Charge the battery. According to Baker Motor Company’s Service Manager Victor Salgado, “One of the most common side effects of extended vehicle storage is battery deterioration. Without regular use, a vehicle’s battery and starting system will slowly lose charge.” To prevent this from happening, fully charge your battery before you store your automobile. This can be done with a battery charger or by driving for an extended period of time. Plus, a battery tender (sometimes called a maintainer) can be used to keep the battery charged during inactivity.
7. Be mindful of your tires. Tires can be covered with plastic to avoid moisture damage. Furthermore, you may want to consider placing your car on blocks to prevent flat spotting.
8. Change your insurance. If you will be storing your car for months, you could save money on your car insurance by reporting to the agency that the car is not in use.

These few steps will ensure that your Mercedes-Benz comes out of storage looking as fantastic as the day you stowed it away. To make sure you’ve covered every base, it’s best to consult an experienced service technician. Whether you have a Mercedes-Benz or any other make, the service teams at Baker Motor Company in West Ashley and Mercedes-Benz of Mount Pleasant are always ready to help prepare your car for days of dormancy.