Car Cover

[aquazi]

Anyone tried these ebay apparent "fitted" car covers:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-Z4-02-08-Outdoor-Fitted-Car-Cover-/380337921707?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item588de81eab

Or am i better off paying the £150 odd for the proper BMW one?

As i work abroad during the week my car has become somewhat of a weekend toy! However as its black and its left on my drive come Sat morning when i want to drive it looks more like sterling grey! - OR looking at it last weekend Phenoix yellow after it was coated with yellow dust.

Also what peoples opinon on using a car cover - will increase the probability of vandalism to it if left covered on my ungated drive?

 

[skillick]

I've been looking at these exact same covers, but not yet made a decision on buying one or not. So I would also be interested to hear peoples opinions on it.

 

[sully]

Understand exactly what you mean....mine gets very little to no use during the week and come the weekend it needs washing due to being coated in dust and this time of year, pollen.

My only concern with car covers is the marring it can cause to the paint work. On my TVR I didn't have a full cover but did have a hood cover due to the usual TVR factory standard spec of roof leakage! And it did lead to marring on the paintwork round the bonnet, top of doors and boot lid where it was strapped down and rubbed when putting the cover on.
On a clean, freshly washed car that's then covered there would be no problem but after a weekends use and then putting the cover on, obviously some dirt will get rubbed whilst covering the car and also collect on the cover potentially damaging the paint in the future..... I too have considered this option but marring as I got on the TVR is so far putting me off....

 

[blackredz4]

get a garage , best option all round

 

[aquazi]

Didnt think about the dust marring the paint... so ideally i should wash it before covering it.

Tempted to order the eBay one and see how well it works.... can get them for as cheap as £20... but at that price there is no doubt it will cause some sort or damage.

get a garage , best option all round

I parked it in my parents garage once for a month... and after a wash it still got dusty :x

So even if i garaged it i would need an indoor car cover to keep it clean.

 

[Bandit007]

I had to use an outdoor fitted cover for a while on my previous car. Despite the cover being described as 'fully fitted' it just wasn't quite perfect which allowed it flap slightly when it was windy which in a very short time caused some paint damge.
I would suggest the cover needs to be make and model specific so it fits the car like a glove, waterproof, breathable, the outer cover and inner lining made from synthetic not natural material, as natural materials such as cotton will wick moisture, the inner lining should be soft, padded and paint friendly and it should also have some means of securing it on the car.
And very important, always ensure the car in spotlessly clean before fitting the cover.

 

[aquazi]

A little update... i bought the ebay cover in the link... i thought for £70 its worth a try... and have to say i was pleasantly suprised... it fits well... no flapping with the front elasticated and the sideds are cliped under the car... and its soft inside and the clips are covered with silicone to prevent damage to the car.

Covered the car for 2 weeks and removed it last friday to see it perfectly clean (but had a few spiders which crawled inside :x ) despite how windy its apparently been in the UK recently

Covered:

Clips:

uncovered after 2 weeks:

And a reflection shot - shiny shiny!!!