Mine is facing its first winter with me at least, as an outside car. I always tend to think that a car that is used - ie in the airflow, will fair better than one which is rarely used. I have already replaced my rear lights - easy to do and it has had one of the bolt holes sealed by me in the process. There are no signs of leakage in my 7 months of ownership even when the local guys have cleaned it with a pressure wash - not something I generally would allow to happen. I also replaced the rubber strips that seal the boot shutline - this is cheap to do, and may have helped.
Keeping E89 Outside
- Thread starter RAYK47
- Start date
The first year I had mine it got caught in a sudden heavy snowstorm, managed to get it back up the road and had it unceremoniously pushed up the street by the neighbours back onto the drive. It sat there a couple of days, the drivers door glass welded shut with ice, never again. So it now sits in the garage attached to its trickle charger where it can hibernate til the spring, luckily I have two other cars to use which are more suitable for the Scottish winter.
I'm in the "it's a car, it's supposed to be outside" camp.
Kept both of my E89s outside with no cover and no issues at all. Same with the E85 and half a dozen other ragtops too.
If they're designed for storm-battered California, I reckon they'll be fine in mild UK.
If you're nervous about leaving it stationary outside, how scary must it be to actually drive the thing in the treacherous outdoors?
Kept both of my E89s outside with no cover and no issues at all. Same with the E85 and half a dozen other ragtops too.
If they're designed for storm-battered California, I reckon they'll be fine in mild UK.
If you're nervous about leaving it stationary outside, how scary must it be to actually drive the thing in the treacherous outdoors?
deltasierra
Member
Any convertible will be better if you can keep the worst of the weather off it, a garage ideally, I have a car port, if you don’t intend to use it regularly it will get damp inside and the electronics won’t like that, you won’t like mould on the interior.
Just my experience with previous convertibles that were not protected.
Just my experience with previous convertibles that were not protected.
cheers all. I am not scared of leaving it outside, just wondered what people thoughts were. I have never owned a convertible before so wasn't sure how weather proof they were.
unless there is snow on the ground it will get used when i am going out on my own or with just one passenger, obviously shopping and family trips will be done in the family car.
unless there is snow on the ground it will get used when i am going out on my own or with just one passenger, obviously shopping and family trips will be done in the family car.
Mine is on the drive uncovered, seems fine, it’s washed and waxed fairly regularly. Our other car a Ford Focus cc is also outside. My MGs I owned in the 70s with plastic soft tops also okay, never had mould inside the car. Cars are made for the outdoors, none of them has complained about it to me. 
