Frequent short trips in 128i

claasmi · 07-09-2015, 05:51 PM

My daily drive for work is very short (~1 km to train station) and I tend to make a lot of short trips in general. Is there anything special I should do maintenance wise to help keep my car in good shape?

Gray_Panther · 07-09-2015, 06:28 PM

Ride a bike? Go for a walk? There is a new exercise I do with Veronica, it's called jogging with a soft J. Apparently you run for extended periods of time.

Change the oil once a year, take it for long drives on the weekend or make up a route that takes the extra long way. Otherwise get a Nissan Leaf?

Lucky1 · 07-09-2015, 07:06 PM

Years 2-5 I was in the exact same situation daily commute wise. Car sat a lot at a train station. I now commute 60 miles a day. Car's great, wasn't worried then and not worried now. Maintained it then the same way I do now. Would add my oil change intervals I opted for were more like 2.5 times a year though though I have no evidence to suggest that is necessary. I will add that my indy advised me that the engine burns oil so I would definitely add oil once and a while especially if you change less frequently than I do.

Iron Man · 07-09-2015, 08:41 PM

Definitely change your oil at least once a year. Cold weather and short trips are not good on your oil. Like suggested already, try going for at least a 20 minute drive on the weekends

bmw1racer · 07-09-2015, 10:38 PM

Get a trickle charger.

I'd recommend the CTEK 0.8.

Olgeezer1 · 07-09-2015, 10:53 PM

The battery charger's not a bad idea. Not expensive from the dealer. Other than that those short drives are a killer. Condensation throughout the system, engine, oil, exhaust has no time to burn off. Short drives I either use my winter beater or walk/bike.

Andrewcoja · 07-09-2015, 11:05 PM

If it's only a kilometer, I'd just get a bike. My commute used to be 2.5 miles and I felt terrible doing even that. My car wouldn't even be warmed up when I parked and I got terrible gas mileage. I moved and my commute is now 13-14 miles and my gas lasts just as long as before because it's all highway miles.

Horigan · 07-11-2015, 05:12 PM

You'll need a new exhaust eventually. All those short trips just fill it with water that never evaporates with the heat of longer trips.

MightyMouseTech · 07-11-2015, 05:53 PM

1km? Walk man!

07-09-2015, 05:51 PM	#1
claasmi Private 37 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 2011 128i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 128i [0.00]	Frequent short trips in 128i My daily drive for work is very short (~1 km to train station) and I tend to make a lot of short trips in general. Is there anything special I should do maintenance wise to help keep my car in good shape?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-09-2015, 06:28 PM	#2
Gray_Panther Brigadier General 1700 Rep 3,282 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	Ride a bike? Go for a walk? There is a new exercise I do with Veronica, it's called jogging with a soft J. Apparently you run for extended periods of time. Change the oil once a year, take it for long drives on the weekend or make up a route that takes the extra long way. Otherwise get a Nissan Leaf? __________________ 2012 BMW 128i 6MT Deep Sea Blue Metallic
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-09-2015, 07:06 PM	#3
Lucky1 Colonel 669 Rep 2,083 Posts Drives: '08 128i Coupe SGM 6MT Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Porsche 911 Ca ... [0.00] 2006 Z4 M Roadster [0.00]	Years 2-5 I was in the exact same situation daily commute wise. Car sat a lot at a train station. I now commute 60 miles a day. Car's great, wasn't worried then and not worried now. Maintained it then the same way I do now. Would add my oil change intervals I opted for were more like 2.5 times a year though though I have no evidence to suggest that is necessary. I will add that my indy advised me that the engine burns oil so I would definitely add oil once and a while especially if you change less frequently than I do.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-09-2015, 08:41 PM	#4
Iron Man Major 190 Rep 1,026 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Definitely change your oil at least once a year. Cold weather and short trips are not good on your oil. Like suggested already, try going for at least a 20 minute drive on the weekends
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-09-2015, 10:38 PM	#5
bmw1racer bimmerphile, technogeek 1005 Rep 3,792 Posts Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 128i Coupe [0.00]	Get a trickle charger. I'd recommend the CTEK 0.8. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-09-2015, 10:53 PM	#6
Olgeezer1 Lieutenant 194 Rep 509 Posts Drives: 2010 128i 6MT Sport Pkg. 18" Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 E82 128i N52 [0.00]	The battery charger's not a bad idea. Not expensive from the dealer. Other than that those short drives are a killer. Condensation throughout the system, engine, oil, exhaust has no time to burn off. Short drives I either use my winter beater or walk/bike.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-09-2015, 11:05 PM	#7
Andrewcoja First Lieutenant 9 Rep 385 Posts Drives: 2011 135i MSport Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	If it's only a kilometer, I'd just get a bike. My commute used to be 2.5 miles and I felt terrible doing even that. My car wouldn't even be warmed up when I parked and I got terrible gas mileage. I moved and my commute is now 13-14 miles and my gas lasts just as long as before because it's all highway miles.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-11-2015, 05:12 PM	#8
Horigan Private First Class 23 Rep 110 Posts Drives: 2011 135i M-Sport Join Date: May 2013 Location: Seattle WA, USA iTrader: (0)	You'll need a new exhaust eventually. All those short trips just fill it with water that never evaporates with the heat of longer trips.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-11-2015, 05:53 PM	#9
MightyMouseTech Major General 4342 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	1km? Walk man!
	Appreciate 0 Quote