Best car cover E89

[tonyg]

Hi

My 2015 E89 Mineral Grey has become my pride and joy!
Unfortunately it's stored outside all of the time. I'm looking for the best car cover to use over the worst of winter. I've looked at a couple of discussions where some people say a cover can cause scratches. Just looking to hear about different people's views on the best cover, and wondering if anyone has experience of covering this particular paint colour (are some colours better than other in terms of how easily they are to scratch?)

Thank you in advance, Tony

 

[mr.tourette]

Stormforce used here on 2 zeds over 6 years.. no issues with it marking the paint

 

[Johnny h]

Hi
Go the very same year and colour and is my pride and joy….I also leave mine outside as the garage has far to much crap in it…I bought an all weather, waterproof storm force all singing all dancing cover last year to protect it during the winter months. Unfortunately, dust and condensation still gets underneath and when you take the cover off it isn’t in the clean perfect condition when you covered it!. It’s still a lot better than if you didn’t have it covered but I thought it would be better than it was. I haven’t had (like some have said happens) the paint rub away on the edges/angles (but maybe after years of being covered it might do).

https://www.carscovers.co.uk/BMW-Z4-CAR-COVER-2009-2016-E89.html

 

[tonyg]

Thanks for the suggestions. The Stormforce one costs £210 from what I can see, but if it's good and doesn't mark then it'd be an option. I assume that you've had to remove the aerial or change to a stubby?

 

[flybobbie]

My stormfoce cover is 9 years old.
Back has torn but i would say good for the money.
Trying to justify buying another.

 

[flybobbie]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114574471134?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338343596&toolid=10001&customid=eb%3Ag%3Avms%3Aeb%3Ap%3A114574471134%3BCj0KCQjw3eeXBhD7ARIsAHjssr_I0ejsOuCjFyIjC990LFrbx2DbNs-lgNGXxdoBf3lmNPGfUis6rCYaAq0cEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3eeXBhD7ARIsAHjssr_I0ejsOuCjFyIjC990LFrbx2DbNs-lgNGXxdoBf3lmNPGfUis6rCYaAq0cEALw_wcB

 

[tonyg]

Hi Johnny, We live very nearby and have similar cars! I have tried to send you a PM but I'm new to the forum and I think the message is stuck in my outbox!?

 

[PointedMarlin]

Hi Johnny, We live very nearby and have similar cars! I have tried to send you a PM but I'm new to the forum and I think the message is stuck in my outbox!?

It remains in the senders outbox until it’s read

No problem from your side of things

 

[Johnny h]

Sorry didn’t realise it was in my inbox…doh..!

 

[tonyg]

Does the water get under the Stormforce cover like this other cover (...which I think isn't a Stormforce from the link shown) ?

Thanks in advance, Tony

 

[flybobbie]

No, car stays dry. Otherwise what is the point of the cover.
I see the latest Stormforce is 4 layer, my old one is 3 layer.

 

[Phoenixboy]

I considered a half cover for mine, mainly to protect the roof mechanisms, but not found anything that looks unlikely to scratch up the roof when it gets battered in the wind....

 

[therealmc]

My experience of this type of cover is that the material disintegrated after only a couple of years; lots of south coast sunshine to blame?

 

[B21]

I got a specialist car covers the Stormshield version

https://www.specialisedcovers.com/stormshield-plus-car-cover

Fabulous quality and only moved when we had the major storm that knocked over many forests up here....

Its fuly waterproof and breathable but you will get condensation..hence why its important that the cover breathes

 

[tonyg]

Loving the conversation here, just such a great community. Thanks all.

Most of the conversation until now has suggested that Stormforce (standard) is a great solution. However the linked website to Specialised Covers suggests that Stormforce (standard) is designed for short-term use and that Stormforce+ is better for longer-term use. In my case I'm looking probably for either a few days or maybe a month or so through the worst of winter.

What confuses me is also the linked website suggests that: "Due to the nature of the outdoor material the covers will not fit when the car is locked and the mirrors are retracted." Does this imply that the car can't be locked underneath the cover, surely not?!

Thanks in advance, Tony

 

[B21]

Loving the conversation here, just such a great community. Thanks all.

Most of the conversation until now has suggested that Stormforce (standard) is a great solution. However the linked website to Specialised Covers suggests that Stormforce (standard) is designed for short-term use and that Stormforce+ is better for longer-term use. In my case I'm looking probably for either a few days or maybe a month or so through the worst of winter.

What confuses me is also the linked website suggests that: "Due to the nature of the outdoor material the covers will not fit when the car is locked and the mirrors are retracted." Does this imply that the car can't be locked underneath the cover, surely not?!

Thanks in advance, Tony

You can lock it..but don't allow the mirrors to fold as they will struggle against the robust construction of the cover..

FWIW its got a neat flap to allow your whippy to stay errect!

Service is first class..decided after the storm to get the under body ties..they are a cost option..they sent them to me FOC..result!

Sometimes its worth paying extra..

 

[Johnny h]

Hi Tony
Nah, no problem locking the car. Obviously you’ll have to remove the aerial and if there’s an option of the lock and padlock (extra £10 if I remember correctly) then don’t bother! It’s just a wire that goes through a loop underneath the car. The straps that came with mine are adequate to secure it down. Also it has pockets for the mirrors to fit in.

 

[Pondy]

What confuses me is also the linked website suggests that: "Due to the nature of the outdoor material the covers will not fit when the car is locked and the mirrors are retracted." Does this imply that the car can't be locked underneath the cover, surely not?!

It's the mirrors, not the locking. Luckily (or unluckily) BMWs don't automatically retract the mirrors on first lock, even with comfort access.
Stormforce do fitted covers with 'ears' for the mirrors, so don't think it's a biggie TBH.

It's worth bearing in mind is that the car really need to be clean and definitely dry before the cover goes on, especially if a fitted one. I used a Stormforce for a short while but the car still 'sweats' underneath which I didn't like. You also have to think about where to store the cover when not on the car, as it needs to be kept clean inside. It will only fit in the bag once IME.

 

[Mr Tidy]

My current E86 came with a Stormforce cover which I thought might be handy as the car lived outdoors.

It was a good quality product and had ears for the mirrors, but was a pretty tight fit lengthwise.

But having read that the car needed to be clean and dry before fitting the cover put me off a bit as that wasn't always going to be practical. And I had nowhere to put it after I took it off to use the car - it is definitely a struggle to get it back in the bag!

After seeing some paint rubbing on a mate's car he kept under a cover I decided it was probably more trouble than it was worth so I sold it!

 

[mr.tourette]

Loving the conversation here, just such a great community. Thanks all.

Most of the conversation until now has suggested that Stormforce (standard) is a great solution. However the linked website to Specialised Covers suggests that Stormforce (standard) is designed for short-term use and that Stormforce+ is better for longer-term use. In my case I'm looking probably for either a few days or maybe a month or so through the worst of winter.

What confuses me is also the linked website suggests that: "Due to the nature of the outdoor material the covers will not fit when the car is locked and the mirrors are retracted." Does this imply that the car can't be locked underneath the cover, surely not?!

Thanks in advance, Tony

Tony I have just sold my car and have my stormforce cover going up for sale, was bought new last year and used just for one off season of 3 months.. drop me a pm if you are interested