The last beautiful days of autumn are coming to an end. If you now want to put your convertible in the garage for the winter, you should take your time and definitely follow the following tips.
Wintering a convertible: the best tips
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Danger Seasonal license plates: Under no circumstances exceed the specified period. Outside the seasonal period, the vehicle may not be driven or parked in public spaces.
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inner space with a vacuum cleaner and a damp sponge or cloth clean. The best way to treat leather seats is with the product recommended by your vehicle manufacturer in the operating instructions. Special leather care products usually contain substances that keep the leather supple.
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All loose floor coveringsalso from the trunk, remove. If you notice damp or musty areas, be sure to find the cause: rubber profiles on the top could have come loose or shifted or the sunroof drainage system may no longer work properly, for example.
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Check antifreeze and fill up. Change oil. Used oil promotes corrosion. A special protective oil is only necessary if there is a break of several years.
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Against dust helps cotton cloth. You should not use synthetic fiber materials or even plastic films because of their poor moisture permeability.
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If your vehicle doesn’t have a plastic tank, then fill up the tank. This will prevent rust from forming inside the tank.
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Check paint. Remains of bird droppings, insects and tree resin secretions are sometimes difficult to recognize. If left to act for a longer period of time, they can eat through to the metal sheet. That’s why thorough cleaning is important.
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repair stone chip damage, so that the body does not start to rust. You can repair small areas yourself with a touch-up pen: clean and touch up. Tip for prevention: Apply hard wax every now and then.
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Especially with older models Check the underbody and wheel arches. If the protective layers show damage or signs of corrosion, repair them.
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battery regularly – about every two months – a few hours Connect to the standard charger and recharge.
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Air pressure in the tire increase to three barsso that the tires are relieved. Even better: jack up the car.
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Do not apply the handbrake. The coverings could “stick”. Open the car window slightly for ventilation.
Winterize convertibles with the top closed
Convertible drivers should now also take a closer look at the top. In any case, treating the rubber profiles with special products (e.g. “rubber conditioner”, or alternatively silicone) is good. As a rule it will only brushed dry or damp (in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, from front to back), if necessary hosed down with clear water. To remove stains, you should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. The car then spends the rest time with the hood closed.
Complete inspections before the winter break
Is an inspection due soon anyway? Then you should prefer this. On the one hand, the scope of work contains sensible decommissioning “elements”, and on the other hand, the specialist can of course better recognize what is currently or will soon be in need of repair. The test centers of the regional clubs are also a good address for this (“used car inspection”, “winter check”). After all, you don’t necessarily want to start the spring with workshop appointments because of a dripping water pump or a crumbly muffler.
Seasonal license plates save time and money
Anyone who uses the same shutdown period every year, for example from October 1st to April 30th, should have a seasonal license plate issued by the road traffic office or registration office. You save yourself the fees for registering and deregistering and going to the authorities. After the last day has passed of the month once selected and printed on the license plate (for “03-10” i.e. 1.3. to 31.10) the vehicle may no longer stand or drive on public property from November 1st.
A regular license plate offers more flexibility. With a “temporary shutdown”. The period can be redesigned every year. So if November is mild and sunny, you can simply continue to use the classic car or convertible or bring the car out of hibernation in March. The pro-rata motor vehicle tax will be refunded, converted on a daily basis. Disadvantage: Fees are charged for each registration and deregistration and going to the authorities takes time.
By the way: If you have your car shut down for more than seven years If you want to do this, the “operating license” expires and the vehicle documents become invalid. Re-registration then requires a “full report” (§21 StVZO).
It is better to bring forward the main inspection and AU
If the main inspection and/or the AU falls during the rest period, you should do this immediately after recommissioning. HU and AU advise this particularly for vehicles with “temporary decommissioning”. even before mothballing to do. When the vehicle is re-registered, the authorities will only hand over the vehicle documents once the test evidence that still needs to be provided is available.
Insurance: An interruption of up to six months counts (positively) on the way to a cheaper no-claims class; from seven months onwards, the SF class that existed at the start of the shutdown is retained – at least that is the case with a large number of companies. The partially comprehensive insurance contract normally continues without any contributions during the rest period. Specifically, you should clarify this, as well as the proportional refund of premiums already paid, directly with your insurer.
Convertibles love it airy and dry
An air-conditioned room is ideal, in which the temperature (approx. 15 degrees) and humidity (relative humidity of approx. 40 percent, measurable with the hygrometer) are maintained constantly – this largely prevents the formation of condensation. Textiles, rubber and leather also feel quite comfortable in this environment. Poorly ventilated and damp rooms should be avoided.
Some companies (advertisements in vintage car magazines) offer various solutions for improving the air. This includes electric dehumidifiers (230 volts) as well as inflatable plastic covers, which are either blown through by fans or placed in containers with special dry granules from which the absorbed moisture can be removed in the household oven.
