Outdoor cover - yes or no?

R

ruddybloodygood

Member
Hi folks. This is my first post. I searched to find some info about this topic but there was no significant discussion other than a few opinions here and there.

A few months ago I purchased my first BMW - a lovely Z4M.

I don't have a garage. I only really drive at the weekends as I'm a commuter. There aren't major problems with bird droppings or leaves where Eric is parked, but of course there is a lot of rain and potentially some snow.

What are people's thoughts / experience on outdoor covers? I know the Z4 has some pointy bits and I'm wary of the paintwork being rubbed.

I don't mind paying for a custom cover (for example: http://www.classicadditions.com/car-covers/outdoor-car-covers/custom-ultimate-cover.html) - but I don't want to start using it if it's going to damage the car.

Is it as simple as: If the car is spotless when you put the cover on, it's no problem?

eric.jpg


Thanks :)
 
Hi and welcome, very similar to mine except the wheels.

If it's rain and snow your worried about I would'nt have the cover. I would be more worried about it damaging the paint flapping around etc.
 
Personally I wouldn't bother. They just damage the paintwork regardless of how luxurious they are, constant movement with the wind etc just rubs on the paint too much.
I'd sooner wash my car when it gets filthy
 
Welcome to the Forum :thumbsup:

Agree with the above - outdoor covers can damage paintwork. Use a good quality wax to protect your paintwork :)
 
That big door behind your car looks like it might be hiding a garage.
Throw all your crap thats in there out and put the car where it should be.
 
Machine monkey said:
Nictrix said:
That big door behind your car looks like it might be hiding a garage.
Throw all your crap thats in there out and put the car where it should be.
Click to expand...

:rofl: :rofl: :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

The previous owners of the house converted the garage into a proper additional room (read: gym / man cave). The garage only goes back about 5 feet. I could fold up the car... :P

Thanks all for the answers. No "yes" votes at all yet! I'm probably just being paranoid about snow (etc) damaging the paintwork. I will just take good care and polish him regularly.
 
Unfortunately you have the work colour , black

I use the BMW outdoor cover and yes it does rub.

The problem is I only use the car 2 or 3 times a month.
I hated washing the car and when I drove it a few days later it was dirty before I even drove it.

I would rather cover it and give the paintwork a slight cutting polish every now and then to remove the rubbing marks.
The added benefit is I know the roof drains aren't going to get blocked and destroy the roof motor.

And the cabrioshield left worse rubbing marks than the full BMW cover.
 
I may not be the best example garaging mine and putting a hardtop on over the Winter, but the soft-top is more than capable of living outside for years. Some have lived outside for way over a decade now...

Just take some basic precautions like ensure the drains are cleared so you don't flood the roof motor and also clean and treat the roof.
Come spring ensure you remove any algae that may have grown between the fabric & rubber seals to the panels and you'll be just fine.
 
cj10jeeper said:
Just take some basic precautions like ensure the drains are cleared so you don't flood the roof motor and also clean and treat the roof.
Come spring ensure you remove any algae that may have grown between the fabric & rubber seals to the panels and you'll be just fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this - good advice.

Now to find what/where the drains are on my car...
 
ruddybloodygood said:
cj10jeeper said:
Just take some basic precautions like ensure the drains are cleared so you don't flood the roof motor and also clean and treat the roof.
Come spring ensure you remove any algae that may have grown between the fabric & rubber seals to the panels and you'll be just fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this - good advice.

Now to find what/where the drains are on my car...
Click to expand...
 
ruddybloodygood said:
cj10jeeper said:
Just take some basic precautions like ensure the drains are cleared so you don't flood the roof motor and also clean and treat the roof.
Come spring ensure you remove any algae that may have grown between the fabric & rubber seals to the panels and you'll be just fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this - good advice.

Now to find what/where the drains are on my car...
Click to expand...
Wack it in on google or the search function on here, there have been loads of threads on here with great instructions and photos that you should be able to follow easily.
 
-Tom- said:
ruddybloodygood said:
cj10jeeper said:
Just take some basic precautions like ensure the drains are cleared so you don't flood the roof motor and also clean and treat the roof.
Come spring ensure you remove any algae that may have grown between the fabric & rubber seals to the panels and you'll be just fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this - good advice.

Now to find what/where the drains are on my car...
Click to expand...
Wack it in on google or the search function on here, there have been loads of threads on here with great instructions and photos that you should be able to follow easily.
Click to expand...

Cool. Guide found / stolen / re-uploaded :D
For reference: http://ruddybloodygoodactually.co.uk/E-85-drain.pdf
 
As a guy who had a cover on his P&J for four years I can comment with some experience.

My MKIV Supra was covered with a breathable Stormforce 4 cover from Coverzone. For the first couple of years I would argue that the cover was doing a decent job and protecting the car. As time went on it became more and more difficult to keep up with the demands of having a cover. If you used the car, you had to clean it afterwards on your couldn't protect it with the cover.

Also windy nights were a nightmare and I regularly found myself out on the drive at 3am trying to tie the thing down or just remove it all together as the movement of the cover and straps was doing more harm than good. Last year I didn't bother with the cover at all and after winter in noticed a number of strange scratches in the paint. This turned out to be moisture that had got beneath the lacquer and cracked it... :o

I have just had the bonnet and roof resprayed and substantial cost. To summarise, the cover was good in summer, kept the car clean and free of bird kack. In winter, it was a nightmare, held in moisture against the paint and ultimately led to damage on the surface and also deep within the paint.

Hope this helps.

H.
 
I use a cover whilst the garage is being built. The car has a good wax on it and still scrubs up well. The car is not used so much in the winter so the cover is strapped onto the car. As for damage, I have not seen any yet.
 
I have the classic additions half-cover, which is the one that secures around each bumper with elastic straps. I use it every night, primarily because it serves to keep the roof protected and keeps the drains free.

I'm not really fussed if it rubs, I have a 10 year old car that isn't in concours condition. I don't however expect it to mark the paintwork in any way, there are no sharp edges or anything that I would say could damage the paint even if it move across the paintwork.

So, a YES from me.

NB I think the magnetic covers are more prone to rubbing and marking the paintwork because of their harder edges.
 
I've been using a half cover for a couple of years - two types - for one year one with straps and for one year one with magnetic edges. Both call for polishing out marks.

The straps on the first cover rubbed on the clear coat and had to be polished out - fairly easy but the magnetic edges of the most recent cover has left slight crazing part way along both doors and needs more effort to polish out than the marks from the other cover. Against this is the reassurance that I am keeping water from the roof motor and bird poo and other muck off the fabric of the roof.

:driving: :thumbsup:
 
I used to own an MX-5 (in fact two!) that stood on the driveway and one year over the winter the discs seized up. This was principally because its very windy around us and the wind and rain always made sure the discs were wet. Not good. I, like you, thought about a cover. It does help this problem but as has been said already some of the paintwork suffers as the cover moves around (especially if its windy which it was for me!!). By the way you can get mildew on the soft top if you are not careful about ventilation too. I ended up buying a shed and emptying out the contents of the garage into it. Perfect, a garage for my pride and joy. Now full of the Zed. Have you considered an inflatable car pod? They are cheap to run, maintain an air flow and cause a great discussion point with the neighbours! Just a thought. :)
 
rbg, a link to the pod I made ref to in my post - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Car-pod-com-CP2-Car-pod/dp/B008SOYQXW

Hope that might help.
 
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