Car Cover Owners Chime In! - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

boostmg · 10-09-2012, 02:23 PM

I am thinking of getting a car cover. My car gets minimal use on monday-thursday.

Is it a pain in the ass taking the cover on and off?

I was always under the assumption that you use the cover when the car is unattended for long times, but I use the car weekly.

Anyone else do this? How is it?

CJ421 · 10-09-2012, 02:28 PM

I have the OEM car cover and only put it on when the car will be unused 3+ days AND I won't be around. It takes me less than 10 minutes to get it out of the cellar, put it on my car and secure it but you're not going to want to take it off and put it on every day or even every other day. Just not worth it. Put a good coat of sealant or wax on the car and it will be sufficiently protected from the elements - rain, sun, etc. My detail process:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667117

BMWTF? · 10-09-2012, 02:37 PM

I have to park outside and I use the OEM outdoor cover. Put it on / take off almost daily. Takes me about a minute. Love it.

DASHOCKER · 10-09-2012, 02:51 PM

Bavauto.com. There covers are custom fit & comes embroidered with the words "Bavarian Autosport" on the cover front & rear. Weather resistant cover for the outdoors.

Here is mine.

derrick603 · 10-09-2012, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ421

Put a good coat of sealant or wax on the car and it will be sufficiently protected from the elements - rain, sun, etc.

+1

The problem with a car cover is that if there's any dirt on the car, putting on or taking off a car cover will rub that dirt against your paint, possibly causing swirls and/or scratches.

VNeBLOB42 · 10-09-2012, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrick603

+1

The problem with a car cover is that if there's any dirt on the car, putting on or taking off a car cover will rub that dirt against your paint, possibly causing swirls and/or scratches.

+1,

i can only get away with it for about the day of and the next day after wash. then it gets too dirty for a car cover.

I must say it's a good idea. Most people have garages, but most of the time (for daily drivers) your car is parked at work (outside for most).

Also, car cover people..... Yee be warned!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...+scratch+fever

E92 M Sport · 10-09-2012, 04:33 PM

I had one for the Stang before I was able to keep it in the garage. It's worth it IMO. The only problem I experienced was winds blowing the cover off. I had to tie it together under the car with bungees and then it worked pretty well. It's nice to remove the cover and have a clean car to drive around.

bwsteg · 10-09-2012, 04:39 PM

I usually use the oem car cover during the winter months and takes me an average of 3-4 minutes to put on...

messi · 10-09-2012, 08:48 PM

It's so hard to put on sometimes. Ad yes I have scratched my car with it

fun2drive · 10-09-2012, 09:26 PM

I have the Bav-Auto version as well and Evolution 4. Both work well and I have not experienced the scratching mentioned above and done this for 12 years same cover same car.
I have a garage so don't use the cover much but without a garage I would most certainly would cover it. I do wash the cover too but just 1/10 of what any usual laundry load would be and air dry only...

DetectiveLoki · 10-09-2012, 09:50 PM

i bought my car cover for $80 off eBay. it does it's job of keeping it clean but if you want to protect from rain or such then you have to buy a decent one.

EYE4SPEED · 10-11-2012, 06:29 PM

Are the OEM ones or the BavAuto lined to help with scratching? I need one for indoor winter storage.

wrickem · 10-12-2012, 07:18 AM

I keep all of my other cars covered and I can put a cover on or take one off in about 35 seconds.

It's all in the way you fold it when taking it off. If you don't do it right, then it will take a few minutes until you get it figured out.

eclipsisNA · 10-12-2012, 10:01 AM

Don't use car covers. It's as simple as that, unless you don't care about scratching your car w/ contaminates.

driverman · 10-12-2012, 10:53 PM

OP: What color is your car?

If it's a dark color and you don't like swirls, I wouldn't use a cover. Dirt on the car or on the inside of the cover will cause swirls.

If it's a light color, you keep your car clean, you regularly wash the car cover and you use good techniques, you might have a workable solution.

10-09-2012, 02:23 PM	#1
boostmg Private Drives: civic Join Date: May 2012 Location: pa Posts: 72 iTrader: (0)	Car Cover Owners Chime In! I am thinking of getting a car cover. My car gets minimal use on monday-thursday. Is it a pain in the ass taking the cover on and off? I was always under the assumption that you use the cover when the car is unattended for long times, but I use the car weekly. Anyone else do this? How is it?
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10-09-2012, 02:28 PM	#2
CJ421 Colonel Drives: '11 E92 335i 6MT M Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA Posts: 2,943 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i [4.63]	I have the OEM car cover and only put it on when the car will be unused 3+ days AND I won't be around. It takes me less than 10 minutes to get it out of the cellar, put it on my car and secure it but you're not going to want to take it off and put it on every day or even every other day. Just not worth it. Put a good coat of sealant or wax on the car and it will be sufficiently protected from the elements - rain, sun, etc. My detail process: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667117 __________________ Quaife LSD by VAC, JRZ RS Pro, full M3 susp, TCK monoball kit, Mich. PSS, brake ducts, SS brake lines, UUC SSK, BMW Perf. Exhaust/steering wheel/CF spoiler/Style 269 19s, ETS FMIC, ER CP, VAC RSIK, Sparcos

10-09-2012, 02:51 PM	#4
DASHOCKER The power of V! Drives: 2007 335i coupe steptronic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 1,564 iTrader: (0) Garage List 1998 Lexus Gs400 [0.00] 2010 ebony & ivory [0.00] 2006 BMW X3 [0.00] 2009 pics [0.00] 2009 e92 335 xdrive [0.00]	Bavauto.com. There covers are custom fit & comes embroidered with the words "Bavarian Autosport" on the cover front & rear. Weather resistant cover for the outdoors. Here is mine. __________________ 2007 335 coupe Alpine white, steptronic, sportpack, etc. (gone) 2006 X3 3.0 steptronic Titanium Silver, 2009 E92 335xdrive, next.... Caddy CTS_V!

10-09-2012, 04:33 PM	#7
E92 M Sport E92 FTW Drives: 2010 335i E92 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 67 iTrader: (0)	I had one for the Stang before I was able to keep it in the garage. It's worth it IMO. The only problem I experienced was winds blowing the cover off. I had to tie it together under the car with bungees and then it worked pretty well. It's nice to remove the cover and have a clean car to drive around. __________________ 2010 335i Coupe 2000 Mustang GT - Sold

10-09-2012, 04:39 PM	#8
bwsteg Lieutenant Drives: AM e92 335i 6MT Join Date: May 2011 Location: Queens NY Posts: 595 iTrader: (11) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe 6MT [4.17] 2002 IBP IS300 5MT LSD [5.00]	I usually use the oem car cover during the winter months and takes me an average of 3-4 minutes to put on... __________________ Acura RSX-S K24a2 JRSC Swap - SOLD CPO BMW 335i 6MT - SOLD LOOKING TO BUY: 2011 BMW 135i - PM ME

10-09-2012, 02:37 PM	#3
BMWTF? First Lieutenant Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 393 iTrader: (6)	I have to park outside and I use the OEM outdoor cover. Put it on / take off almost daily. Takes me about a minute. Love it.

10-09-2012, 08:48 PM	#9
messi First Lieutenant Drives: 2009 E92 335i MSport Coupe 6AT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Trinidad Posts: 371 iTrader: (1)	It's so hard to put on sometimes. Ad yes I have scratched my car with it __________________ Procede rev2.5se;Er Fmic; BMW PE

10-09-2012, 09:26 PM	#10
fun2drive BMWCCA 149159 Drives: E93 335 Vert E36 M3/4 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Panhandle Posts: 395 iTrader: (1)	I have the Bav-Auto version as well and Evolution 4. Both work well and I have not experienced the scratching mentioned above and done this for 12 years same cover same car. I have a garage so don't use the cover much but without a garage I would most certainly would cover it. I do wash the cover too but just 1/10 of what any usual laundry load would be and air dry only...

10-09-2012, 09:50 PM	#11
DetectiveLoki Second Lieutenant Drives: 2008 BMW 335i Convertible Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Orange County - SOCAL Posts: 220 iTrader: (4)	i bought my car cover for $80 off eBay. it does it's job of keeping it clean but if you want to protect from rain or such then you have to buy a decent one.

10-11-2012, 06:29 PM	#12
EYE4SPEED Ex-Quattro Driver Drives: E90 335d M-Sport LCI Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Coast... of Michigan Posts: 1,984 iTrader: (21)	Are the OEM ones or the BavAuto lined to help with scratching? I need one for indoor winter storage. __________________ FS: HRE Center Caps http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...post13972317l] FS: OEM Kidneys http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=783447

10-12-2012, 07:18 AM	#13
wrickem doesn't really care Drives: what he wants to Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: lambertville nj Posts: 2,159 iTrader: (0)	I keep all of my other cars covered and I can put a cover on or take one off in about 35 seconds. It's all in the way you fold it when taking it off. If you don't do it right, then it will take a few minutes until you get it figured out. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ '11 e92 335-xi m-sport - daily driver/winter beater, '06 Boxster - for fun, '07 M6- for even more fun.

10-12-2012, 10:01 AM	#14
eclipsisNA Precision Detailing Boutique Drives: 2013 Estoril 328i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,892 iTrader: (6) Garage List 2011.5 BMW M3 [3.88]	Don't use car covers. It's as simple as that, unless you don't care about scratching your car w/ contaminates. __________________

10-12-2012, 10:53 PM	#15
driverman Lieutenant Drives: 2008 E90 328i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 526 iTrader: (0)	OP: What color is your car? If it's a dark color and you don't like swirls, I wouldn't use a cover. Dirt on the car or on the inside of the cover will cause swirls. If it's a light color, you keep your car clean, you regularly wash the car cover and you use good techniques, you might have a workable solution.

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