Is Driving My BMW M3 Once a Month Enough for Its Health?

Dominic-Toretto

Dominic-Toretto

Dominic-Toretto

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I own a 2014 BMW F80 M3, and while I love the car, I only drive it about 10–15 times a year, usually taking it out a maximum of twice a month for a 30 minute to 1 hour drive. The rest of the time, it stays in my indoors in my garage, hooked up to a trickle charger, to keep the lithium ion battery in good shape. I don't actually leave the house that often so I don't get many opportunities to drive it, if I am making a quick trip to the supermarket which is down the road I take my Tesla Model 3 Performance.

Lately, I’ve been wondering if driving the M3 only once or twice a month might not be enough to keep everything in good shape. I’ve read about seals drying out or mechanical parts failing from lack of use, and I want to avoid those types of issues that are caused by simply not driving enough.

For those who also don’t daily drive their cars:
  • Is driving it every two weeks enough to keep the engine, seals, and turbos and the rest of the car healthy?
  • Should I be doing anything else to ensure it stays in top condition long-term?
I’d love to hear any tips or advice from fellow enthusiasts who’ve been in the same situation. Thanks in advance!

Picture Of My M3 In Its Habitat

1.jpg
 
I've had mostly old Japanese cars as toys for many years. They averaged about 1000 miles a year unless doing Ring trips. They would often sit for 2 - 4 months during winter without use.

Didn't seem to do them any harm. Having said that, I do think leaving cars for months/years won't do them any good long term. When you see folk buying very low mileage cars that are say 30 years old, those cars are highly likely to have issues relating to lack of use - perished boots, siezed linkages etc.

I have a 22 Cayman now and as it's a bit newer, I'm more inclined to use it on days where the weather isn't perfect. Still avoiding winter driving as much as possible when the grit is down though.
 
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Not in my experience, I started getting power delivery problems when I stopped driving my car much. It improved with use but I dont think my car has ever been right since I left it idle most of the time.
My car is an old heap though, maybe your car would be even more fussy and awkward I would imagine.
 
A spirited hour drive every two weeks or so sounds perfect tbh. Give it enough time to warm up, stretch it's legs properly and have a good blast. Just what's needed.
I'd avoid days when the roads are gritted though, having salty water covering everything is a killer.
 
Fact its in a garage is probably enough to be honest. Might be worth having a battery conditioner to keep it topped up. My M3 sat outside over last winter, first drive the front spring snapped. The heat from a drive then parked up will dry anything out anyway.
 
Dominic-Toretto said:
I own a 2014 BMW F80 M3, and while I love the car, I only drive it about 10–15 times a year, usually taking it out a maximum of twice a month for a 30 minute to 1 hour drive. The rest of the time, it stays in my indoors in my garage, hooked up to a trickle charger, to keep the lithium ion battery in good shape. I don't actually leave the house that often so I don't get many opportunities to drive it, if I am making a quick trip to the supermarket which is down the road I take my Tesla Model 3 Performance.

Lately, I’ve been wondering if driving the M3 only once or twice a month might not be enough to keep everything in good shape. I’ve read about seals drying out or mechanical parts failing from lack of use, and I want to avoid those types of issues that are caused by simply not driving enough.

For those who also don’t daily drive their cars:
  • Is driving it every two weeks enough to keep the engine, seals, and turbos and the rest of the car healthy?
  • Should I be doing anything else to ensure it stays in top condition long-term?
I’d love to hear any tips or advice from fellow enthusiasts who’ve been in the same situation. Thanks in advance!

Picture Of My M3 In Its Habitat

1.jpg
Click to expand...
some new tyres needed
 
stale fuel ? - but you probably turn it over reasonably fast - have never understood if that is sepraration, or genuine degradation. .. simon ?
 
I appreciate that it's a far simpler beast but I'll happily leave my MX5 parked up for 5 months or more and it's first trip out in the wild being a 200 mile run to a show (after the quick spin around the block a day or so before). Tempting fate here but I've never had an issue.

My pre hibernation prep used to be throwing a couple of dehumidifiers inside and removing the battery. Now it lives in the garage I connect up the CTEK and that's it.
 
I think once a month is fine and being in a nice environment will help..

I was looking at AMV8's that where 14 years old an had done <10K Miles, I didn't notice any real issues, bodywork tended to be better, as did suspension consdition, but things like dashboard issues (leather peeling) was more common, probably as moisture is the enemy of the adhesive and left in a damp garage of years would mean it rarely dried out..
 
Having it on a trickle charge is your best bet and you are already doing that. It’s not an old car, it won’t start rotting away sitting in a nice warm garage. Only thing I would be cautious of is driving it for short periods constantly. I would aim for at least an hour when you go out in it even if that’s once a month. It needs to get up to temperature and remain there for a bit.

I wouldn’t worry about anything else. If it were remaining stationary for many months on end, then it may start impacting tyres with flat spots and inviting the odd gremlin.

I’ve had older cars parked up for much longer and rarely had an issue.
 
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Although you can store a car in this way - and I have done so in the past - I firmly believe the car will develop more issues than if it was used regularly. I have no real factual basis other than my own personal experience borne out of owning and running/storing several performance cars in the last 15+ years.

I guess the other question is, is it really worth owning a non classic car and using it so little? I did 800 miles in 12 months in my C63S and paid around £3,000 for the privilege (tax, insurance, servicing, warranty). I decided I wasn’t really getting the benefit (it also made no financial sense) and so moved it on. Coincidentally it threw a coil pack for the new owner within the first month.
 
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