Outdoor car covers...bear with me

[TitanTim]

Think I would always go for a decent outside cover and risk the odd bit of condensation. As mentioned stuff like UV light, bird crap, dust, pollen and alsorts landing on the car will be far worse, I would say UV is the most detrimental for any car left outside for long periods without normal washing, adding protection etc.

Also consider if leaving the car for extended periods, battery, tyres, brakes, fuel stabiliser etc and often overlooked rodents.

I'm lucky that I can store my 140i over winter in a garage but I'll still check it every other week for rodents especially in winter. I have plenty of traps/pellets around the car as rodent damage can be a real problem

Tim.

[pvr]

The Z I bought had been under a cover for a year. It absolutely stinks inside and we spent ages cleaning the mould of the back of the seats and the plastics. Even did the airco bomb to try to get rid of it, it we still have some work to do as when parked in the sun with the roof closed it still doesn’t smell right.

Never a cover for me

[TitanTim]

The Z I bought had been under a cover for a year. It absolutely stinks inside and we spent ages cleaning the mould of the back of the seats and the plastics. Even did the airco bomb to try to get rid of it, it we still have some work to do as when parked in the sun with the roof closed it still doesn’t smell right.

Never a cover for me

That did cross my mind but if under a wateroroof car cover can't the window be down slightly to air the interior?

Always have the windows closed when storing and never suffered mould or bad smells but then it is in a dry environment. I have thought of leaving a window down slightly but thought it would allow any damp air into the car and make things worse

Tim.

[inkey$]

The Z I bought had been under a cover for a year. It absolutely stinks inside and we spent ages cleaning the mould of the back of the seats and the plastics. Even did the airco bomb to try to get rid of it, it we still have some work to do as when parked in the sun with the roof closed it still doesn’t smell right.

Never a cover for me

Our Zed stars are still aligned, as pretty much exactly the same with mine (no mould though). I sprayed the interior carpets with Autoglym Odour Eliminator a few weeks back though and seems to have solved the smell of undercover roadster inactivity.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AUTOSTYLE-AG-6 ... eddba1bf6a

[Chris_D]

The Z I bought had been under a cover for a year. It absolutely stinks inside and we spent ages cleaning the mould of the back of the seats and the plastics. Even did the airco bomb to try to get rid of it, it we still have some work to do as when parked in the sun with the roof closed it still doesn’t smell right.

Never a cover for me

Any car will eventually go mouldy inside with or without a cover installed, if not parked in a dry garage.

[pvr]

I am sure it will, but the cover will provide a nice breeding condition for mould though. Damp and warm

[B21]

I am sure it will, but the cover will provide a nice breeding condition for mould though. Damp and warm

Not if you have a good breathable cover..

I had two cars side by side here in the borders over winter..one under a cover the other not..guess which one had more mold..yup the one without a cover..

[Pondrew]

I am sure it will, but the cover will provide a nice breeding condition for mould though. Damp and warm

You forgot DARK!
Mould loves the dark. It is also quite a fan of anaerobic conditions. All found in abundance in a car under cover.