[Vivek.]

I've been struggling to find a car cover worth owning. I have seen ones in person that are heat-reflective and waterproof but I can't seem to find anything like that online.

One requirement is that it MUST have a soft, thick microfiber lining. Heat reflective, waterproof are nice to have but secondary to a soft lining. I have one for $35 from a local auto store, fits nice and snug but still manages to blow off in the wind and has no lining. The BMW one looks good but I'm unsure about the lining.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

I have a weather shield hp...it’s awesome. I bought a cheaper one for my GTI and I wish I’d just gotten another weathershield. It’s not lined but it’s incredibly gentle on the paint. I leave it on for weeks at a time outside in southeast Louisiana and it keeps the car looking freshly washed...

FWIW, the one for the GTI has a nice micro fleece lining and I’d still rather have a weathershield...

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

I have a weather shield hp...it’s awesome. I bought a cheaper one for my GTI and I wish I’d just gotten another weathershield. It’s not lined but it’s incredibly gentle on the paint. I leave it on for weeks at a time outside in southeast Louisiana and it keeps the car looking freshly washed...

FWIW, the one for the GTI has a nice micro fleece lining and I’d still rather have a weathershield...

Could you post a pic of the inside? The car would be clean every time it's covered, I'm getting a little fed up with the fact that my car is dirty from sitting outside for two weeks every time I go to drive it. Put the cheap cover on two days ago and it just blew off this afternoon, even tho it was nice and snug on both bumpers (frankly, it barely fits which is nice to reduce wind friction but bad because I can't get the ends under both of the bumpers).

I wonder how the weathershield compares to weathertech, similar price range but the WT has a lifetime warranty vs 4 years on the other one.

[3PedalJake]

I have this one I got from Amazon, it's been on my 325i since Oct. while it waits for it's turn on the lift. It's never blown off or come loose, seems to be holding up well. I like the side zipper so you get in to start it now and again without undoing the cover.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._title_o01_s00

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

I have this one I got from Amazon, it's been on my 325i since Oct. while it waits for it's turn on the lift. It's never blown off or come loose, seems to be holding up well. I like the side zipper so you get in to start it now and again without undoing the cover.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._title_o01_s00

I've seen this one and I'm not a fan of the inner lining. Great price, even if it lasts for a year honestly. It looks identical to the lining that marred the hell out of my friend's Miata under a cover. Car (especially hardtop) was covered in small, 1-2 sq-in, spots that looked like it'd been hit with 3000 grit sandpaper...

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

Could you post a pic of the inside? The car would be clean every time it's covered, I'm getting a little fed up with the fact that my car is dirty from sitting outside for two weeks every time I go to drive it. Put the cheap cover on two days ago and it just blew off this afternoon, even tho it was nice and snug on both bumpers (frankly, it barely fits which is nice to reduce wind friction but bad because I can't get the ends under both of the bumpers).

I wonder how the weathershield compares to weathertech, similar price range but the WT has a lifetime warranty vs 4 years on the other one.

Will try and get a pic tomorrow but the inside looks very similar to the outside. I’m sure it has layers but it feels very light. Which makes it easy to put on. It is totally water proof and I’ve had it on in up to 30 mph winds...I take it off higher than that but it has gussets so you can secure it with a cable if you want to. I’m unsure about the warranties...I bought mine used from someone on this board. Another plus is it’s machine washable...

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

I've seen this one and I'm not a fan of the inner lining. Great price, even if it lasts for a year honestly. It looks identical to the lining that marred the hell out of my friend's Miata under a cover. Car (especially hardtop) was covered in small, 1-2 sq-in, spots that looked like it'd been hit with 3000 grit sandpaper...

Hmm, I haven't really inspected it TBH, the liner is like soft cotton doesn't seem scratchy but IDK. The snow that had kept it trapped there all winter is melting finally and I have a 3SI on the way for it so I'll find out soon enough, I'll post my findings.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Here’s some pics of the weathershield...

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

Here’s some pics of the weathershield...

Thanks so much for sharing! That looks and fits quite nicely, now the dilemma is 'does it fit $600-nicely', while seemingly forgoing any soft lining to prevent the cover from scratching the car. Have you ever noticed any marring from it? It would be concentrated smaller areas rather than the typical long, sweeping swirls from regular washing/drying.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

I’ve never noticed any damage to my finish from this cover. I leave it on for weeks at a time the past year. Idk if I’d pay $600 for it but I know that I have a “nice” $200 lines cover for my GTI and I’d pick the weathershield over that one all day long...

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

I’ve never noticed any damage to my finish from this cover. I leave it on for weeks at a time the past year. Idk if I’d pay $600 for it but I know that I have a “nice” $200 lines cover for my GTI and I’d pick the weathershield over that one all day long...

Thanks. I did a bit more research and it's actually just a hair over 400, not 600 like I originally thought. Not bad. According to a video I saw on it they have some proprietary encapsulated thread that it's woven from that is very smooth and non-abrasive

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

Thanks. I did a bit more research and it's actually just a hair over 400, not 600 like I originally thought. Not bad. According to a video I saw on it they have some proprietary encapsulated thread that it's woven from that is very smooth and non-abrasive

Well you know more about it than me. I only got this one because it was it was a good deal used. I can tell I’ve had it for about 2 years and the past year I’ve left it on the car outside for weeks at a time. The car is always clean and dry when I take it off and I’ve not noticed any damage to the paint. I’m pretty anal too so I think I’d see it if it were there...

[S4NoMore]

For what it's worth, I've been using a Covercraft custom cover on my E30 for 5 winters now and it's still in good shape, and it's one of the less-expensive variants that they offer - in my use case, the cover goes on early winter and comes off late winter, the car is garaged in the spring/summer/fall. They have several variants to suit your needs. A thick lining might seem like a good idea but really it's a dirt and moisture trap. A car cover needs to breathe and dry quickly, and any dirt that doesn't wash out is what will cause marring - not the cover material itself, assuming it hugs the shape of the panels and doesn't flap in the breeze.

[ny325]

I use the BMW OEM, outdoor cover on my E90. I’ve had it since 2008. Completely satisfied with it. I definitely recommend it.

I wash it every couple of months in a front load commercial washer. It’s holding up really well.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by ny325

I use the BMW OEM, outdoor cover on my E90. I’ve had it since 2008. Completely satisfied with it. I definitely recommend it.

I wash it every couple of months in a front load commercial washer. It’s holding up really well.

This is another one I was considering! It seems to be about half the price of the Covercraft, and nice that it says BMW on the front. Yours has held up since 2008; how often do you use it? Reviews say covercraft lasts about 4 years before the sun damage does it in, so 3x that for the BMW branded one is impressive. I have the BMW sun shade and it's great, fits almost perfectly.

[ny325]

I use it often, especially in the summer months. I would say once or twice a week. I usually wash and wax my car once a week in the summer. When I hear rain in the forecast! I put the cover on. It does a excellent job keeping the rain spots off the body paint. And with warmer temperatures, the cover dries pretty fast. When the weather is humid, the cover will sweat sometimes. Leaving a very light film on the paint. I wet a microfiber towel, and wipe down the car, and the car looks clean again.

I also use it during pollen season. When I remove the cover, I give it a few good shakes to get the pollen off the cover.

I have used it during major snow storms as well. It did a good job. However, I usually park in a indoor lot near my house when a major snow storm is heading my way. I see your in California, so you don’t have to worry about snow.

Overall, I would definitely consider this cover.

[Dx11]

Does anybody have a part number for the BMW OEM cover?

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by dx11

does anybody have a part number for the bmw oem cover?

82110399144

[Dx11]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

82110399144

Thanks, it's correct, but the dealer says they can't order it anymore

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Dx11

Thanks, it's correct, but the dealer says they can't order it anymore

ECS claims to have it in stock: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/82110399144/

[Dx11]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

ECS claims to have it in stock: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/82110399144/

Sorry should have probably mentioned I live in the Netherlands, and shipping from outside the EU to NL adds like 40% of different types of importing costs, so we don't really do that.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Dx11

Sorry should have probably mentioned I live in the Netherlands, and shipping from outside the EU to NL adds like 40% of different types of importing costs, so we don't really do that.

Ah, that makes sense. Beautiful country and place to live (I've been twice) but taxes in northern europe can be a killer like that. I'm assuming, for the same reason, the Covercraft one suggested above is cost-prohibitive as well?