# 1996 325 bmw

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-325-bmw/9751>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 23, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-325-bmw/9751 "2008-01-23T18:53:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sandy3270](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@sandy3270](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sandy3270)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-325-bmw/9751/1 "2008-01-23T18:53:11Z")

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My car has been stored in California for the past 7 months. I will be flying out to California in 2 days and will be driving it home on Sunday. Do I need to do anything before starting the car? What procedures should do you recommend I do?

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**Author:** ![jimmythemechanic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jimmythemechanic/32/632_2.png) [@jimmythemechanic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jimmythemechanic)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-325-bmw/9751/2 "2008-01-23T18:56:36Z")

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Hi Sandy, First you may need a batt., then you need an oild change and check up for a trip by a gastation mechanic. I drove round trip cali to NY few times. BMW not so good with the coolant system, so have it check by an BMW specialist is better.  
Jim

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-325-bmw/9751/3 "2008-01-23T21:20:40Z")

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Be sure to bring a cell phone. Funny things can crop up after 7 months and you may not see them before Sunday. You may just be able to crank it up and drive it back without a problem. After 7 months however I would not be surprised if it needed at least a good charge on the battery and if the battery shows signs of problems I would replace it.

Good Luck and avoid those snow prone mountain roads on the way back.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-325-bmw/9751/4 "2008-01-23T21:28:10Z")

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What did you do to the car before you stored it? That will have an effect on what you need to do now.

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**Author:** ![sandy3270](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@sandy3270](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sandy3270)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-325-bmw/9751/5 "2008-01-23T22:59:17Z")

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I have battery cables and will get a mechanic to do a check of the battery, coolant system and the car in general before I start my drive home on Sunday. Oil change is a good idea.

Thanks, Jim.