Outside Car Covers???

[Triang]

Hi,
having lost my garage to a house extension I was thinking of buying an outside cover for my Z3.

I have heard that even the best quality ones. a) move slightly about in the wind thus having a rubbing/sandpapering effect on the paint over time. b) Still trap moisture in areas (even the most vented ones) causing, at best, mould and worst rust patches! and finally c) micro blistering...

Any thoughts?

 

[Jack Ratt]

My car is always garaged when I'm home but when we go away it has to stay outside. Last weekend we were in West Midlands and after the downpour on Sunday night I found my car interior drenched. The water got in through the little gaps in the weather strip and not through the roof material.
I'm currently debating buying one of those "soft top" covers to add a bit of protection. I've looked on Ebay and they vary in quality and price.
I'm favouring the type from Prestige Covers at £80 plus postage. These are custom made and wont blow around in a gale and are secured by tucking behind locked doors and boot.
The problem with condensation can be sorted by just lowering the windows an inch or so.

 

[GazHyde]

I think any car cover irrespective of how good it is stands a chance of rubbing dirt over the paintwork and causing light scratching.

I'm pretty sure the @EnthuZiaZT's bought and then returned one of the magnetic top covers for this very reason.

 

[Si]

I contacted these guys last year and sent a few emails back and forth; nearly bought one of their covers as they seem good quality and have different levels of protection but didn't buy. www.stormcarcovers.co.uk. I may have another look this year.

 

[oldcarman]

I dislike this method as water will be transferred to your interior as it runs down the cover and into the tucked in portions of the door and boot. I tried this method out with a tarp cover and actually ended up with more water infiltration than if the cover had been left completely out of the doors and trunk, which never leaked as far as I know. So I wouldn't recommend that type unless others on here prove me wrong. JMHO. JIM

 

[MartinN]

I have a Buzztops cover, I think that's the name, & use it through winter. Does the job for me but the mag strips can mark the paint a bit. No probs with condensation & the car is on the drive in all weathers. It's pretty heavy duty & the joins are sound, I have used it for 3 years or so.

 

[M666BMG]

I would never use an external car cover at all!

Too much risk to the paintwork imho.

There are some internal ones that protect from dust which aren't too bad.

Mark

 

[M666BMG]

My car is always garaged when I'm home but when we go away it has to stay outside. Last weekend we were in West Midlands and after the downpour on Sunday night I found my car interior drenched. The water got in through the little gaps in the weather strip and not through the roof material.
I'm currently debating buying one of those "soft top" covers to add a bit of protection. I've looked on Ebay and they vary in quality and price.
I'm favouring the type from Prestige Covers at £80 plus postage. These are custom made and wont blow around in a gale and are secured by tucking behind locked doors and boot.
The problem with condensation can be sorted by just lowering the windows an inch or so.

I would try and sort the leak out and not bother with a cover.

 

[Tracy Dee]

Yes just done a 3rd brake light gasket because of boot water ingress so hopefully all dry now only seemed to leak on the hardest of rain.
Only ever use a cover if snow is on the cards. Always used and left out in the element's all weathers
A good coat of wax and roof proofed does the trick.
But those roof covers look OK for keeping the frost off the windows and that plastic back window
Might have to look into one see how the weather goes later in the year.

 

[M666BMG]

Keep the paintwork protected with a good carnauba

 

[Grumps]

Mines under a carport but gets covered in dust. Used to use a cover but noticed scratch marks on the tips of the mirror casings and edge of the boot lid so stopped using it. IMHO don't bother.

 

[Grumps]

Mines under a carport but gets covered in dust. Used to use a cover but noticed scratch marks on the tips of the mirror casings and edge of the boot lid so stopped using it. IMHO don't bother.

 

[M666BMG]

So good grumps you told us twice!

 

[Bozzy]

As i don't have a garage that can house my zed i have 2 outdoor covers.
One is a full cover called a Monsoon,bought new from Ebay.
And a 'half' cover that just protects the roof and windows,from Prestige allso from Ebay,i think it's excellent as it has rubber lugs that trap inside the doors on the hinge side and on the opening side,allso traps into the boot.This keeps it from moving around and gives a level of security as you can't remove it unless the doors and boot are opened....yes i know if some determined low life came along with a stanley knife......
Had no marks or scratches left from the magnetic strips or the fabric but i do make sure i don't fit either cover unless the car's clean first.
Had no water ingress/leaks/mold etc.
I also use the half cover when we're away from home in the zed,i just give the windows and paintwork where the cover comes into contact with it a wipe over with some Auto Glym 'fast glass' using a CLEAN micro fibre cloth,and it stops prying eyes as you can't see the interior once it's fitted.

 

[Grumps]

Mines under a carport but gets covered in dust. Used to use a cover but noticed scratch marks on the tips of the mirror casings and edge of the boot lid so stopped using it. IMHO don't bother.

 

[Grumps]

Cock! That's 3 times now! f***ing phone lol!

 

[Bozzy]

Cock! That's 3 times now! f***ing phone lol!

Calm down dear it's only a commercial

 

[M666BMG]

Cock! That's 3 times now! f***ing phone lol!

It's the operator not the phone. Are you the same with a camera?