[boostmg]

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]

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

[E91 Hoarder]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Bimmer100_]

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

[messi]

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

[fun2drive]

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]

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]

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

[wrickem]

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]

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

[driverman]

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.

[SHEEDI]

so putting tight cover will put scratches and swirls in the paint, so why not buying little bit loose car cover???

[driverman]

Scratches are caused by abrasive particles that are pushed against the paint. Here are some sample scenarios:

1. You wash your car and have a brand new (perfectly clean) car cover that has a soft surface. You should be fine the first night you use it. Even if you drag the car cover over the car, you will be fine because there's no dirt or rough surfaces involved. But wait until the next day...

2. You drive your car to work and back and leave it on the street all day. Now when you put the car cover on, if you drag it, you might rub the dirt that's sitting on the paint surface into the paint and cause small scratches. And now the car cover is a bit dirty. Over time, the car cover will pick up more and more grit from your car, so if you put it on a perfectly clean car and drag it or put any pressure on it, it will probably cause small scratches.

If you have a dark colored car, there doesn't seem to be a way to prevent minor scratches because it's impossible to use perfect technique every time you put the car cover on and take it off and you can't wash your car and car cover every day. So grit will build up on the car cover and car.

If you have a light colored car AND you use good technique AND you wash your car regularly AND you wash your car cover regularly AND you get your car detailed regularly AND you don't mind minor imperfections in your paint, you'll probably be fine.

[Crusader]

I have the Bav auto sport cover. Seems to be more durable than the OEM (2 of which succumbed to sun rot on my E39), and it's warrantied. Takes but a minute or two to put on or take off. No, you don't want to put it on a dirty car. Yes, it protects the car from the elements and coworkers.

[PascalsWager]

Originally Posted by driverman

If you have a light colored car AND you use good technique AND you wash your car regularly AND you wash your car cover regularly AND you get your car detailed regularly AND you don't mind minor imperfections in your paint, you'll probably be fine.

I do this. TiAg helps.

The car is parked outside and nearby trees, so I like the extra protection of the cover. Typically I only cover when the wind forecast is over 20 or there is a storm nearby, so a maybe once a week? I usually can plan to wash beforehand.

It takes me +/- 2 minutes to install and remove. Folds right into the bag and the trunk. OEM outdoor cover - kinda snug fitment, so the corners will pull and scratch if there is crud under them.

In the end, it's a 7-yo daily driver and not a showcar....a super fun, surprisingly efficient, understated and classy one to be sure....but a couple fine scratches to touch up later on wont burn my biscuits.

If you want it to stay perfect-nice, garage it

[PTek Will]

Originally Posted by eclipsisNA

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

+1. Car covers are only safe for the paint the first time you use it on a freshly washed car. Every time after that, there WILL be contaminants crawling around inside the cover. Car covers actually do the exact thing owners use them to try to prevent, and that is damage the paint. Get a coating own your car and wheels. Washing has never been easier.