Outdoor Cover - Yes or No?

[kimmc]

Now that it's finally fall here in NYC, I'm considering getting an outdoor car cover for my mini. I park in a gated lot, but it's outside and not under any sort of cover. I don't plan on driving it much, but will take it out for the occasional shopping trip or drive up the Hudson.

So, should I get an outdoor car cover or not? I Epic'd it in September, and Hydro'd twice since then, but wasn't really planning on washing it over the winter unless it got really dirty, then I would take it to the local handwash place. But is it bad to put on and remove a car cover if your car isn't totally clean each time you do it? Will it scratch the paint? Is it better just to leave it out without a cover?

And if I do get a cover, any suggestions on brands? I have an '07 and it seems it's a bit harder to find covers for this model year than the older models.

Thanks for any feedback or suggestions.

[lotsie]

If you don't drive it much, I would get a GOOD cover, and user a QD on it when you do uncover it. QD will clean, dust things off, even if it is cold out.



Mark

[BlimeyCabrio]

+1. GOOD high quality outdoor cover (CoverKing makes nice custom fit ones) and QD... before you cover it each time also (so there's no dust on there to scratch/swirl when you put on / take off the cover).

[Mach V Dan]

I have had a couple of covers for my R56, and I have a hard time with them. The biggest problem is that I seem to always get stuff on the cover from the rear tires (which the cover actually touches since there's almost zero rear overhang). Then the tire grit ends up on the paint, and I'm getting scracthes from it.

So I can't win. Cover it and get scratches from the cover, or leave it uncovered and let the exterior degrade in the various extreme weathers we have here.

--Dan
Mach V

[Mishka]

I've got an outdoor cover and it helps a LOT with the dust and stuff that gets on the car when it's parked. When I take it off the car, I fold each side in on itself so the outside parts of the cover are against each other. Not perfect, but better than nothing.

The problem I'm having is cleaning off the stuff that gets on the cover like brake dust and tire grit.

[lotsie]

Get some tire bags from your local tire shop to cover the wheels with before you put the car cover on.

Mark

[Mach V Dan]

Originally Posted by lotsie

Get some tire bags from your local tire shop to cover the wheels with before you put the car cover on.

That's just one step further towards insanity, to me. Next I'll be laying down a tarp for the parking space...

--Dan
Mach V Motorsports

[lotsie]

Originally Posted by lotsie

Get some tire bags from your local tire shop to cover the wheels with before you put the car cover on.

Mark

Originally Posted by Mach V Dan

That's just one step further towards insanity, to me. Next I'll be laying down a tarp for the parking space...

--Dan
Mach V Motorsports

You just need to spend more time here in this forum, then you will see insanity

Mark

[AndyOfLinux]

Thinking about getting an outdoor cover for my Clubman. Dealer version is about $200. Messages in this thread mention using cover and "QD". Guess I'm more of a noobie than I thought but what's "QD" in this context? Does anyone know of a good cover for the Clubman?

Thanks!

Andy

[thulchatt]

Originally Posted by AndyOfLinux

Thinking about getting an outdoor cover for my Clubman. Dealer version is about $200. Messages in this thread mention using cover and "QD". Guess I'm more of a noobie than I thought but what's "QD" in this context? Does anyone know of a good cover for the Clubman?

Thanks!

Andy

Get something better than the dealer cover. Get a Stormguard or NOHA cover if it is going to be outside. You can get either of these fabrics from many sellers on the web.

[MiniMaybee]

I use a cover. It gets me going faster in the morning since I don't have to scrape the windshield. I too fold and roll and have not had any swirls or scratches.
BTW, my homeowners association wants me to stop using it, says its against the covenants. I still use it but now besides keeping my MINI clean I have the added benefit of knowing it is torquing the HOA off.

[OctaneGuy]

One of the frustrating problems I had with my cover was unfolding it and discovering I had it going the wrong direction. Even though I would start at a side mirror, or at the antennae mount, I would always end up sliding the cover too much on the paint. So I just put little arrows on the cover with a Sharpie that points to where the front is--so now as I put it on, I get the cover unfolded and over my MINI the first time.

I believe Griots covers actually have tabs or indicators that do the same thing.

[thulchatt]

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

besides keeping my MINI clean I have the added benefit of knowing it is torquing the HOA off.

Love it!

[kenchan]

^^ that's a good idea on the marker.

imho, a MINI parked outdoors, rarely driven is hardest on the car.

1. pita each time you cover the car, the boot will scratch from grit unless completely clean.

2. battery will prematurely die unless you put a charger on it..which might
be hard in a parking garage.

[kimmc]

Thanks all for your input and ideas. I love the idea of the tire covers to keep the tire dirt off the cover.

The plan is to drive it at least once a week, and take the occasional longer trip, but it won't be like this summer when I wasn't working and the weather was conducive to trips to the mountains and the beach. And getting an indoor spot is out of the question - at least $250 - 300 a month is the cheapest you can get indoor parking here. I'm lucky to have reasonable parking in a lot ($85/mo), rather than having to park it on the street.

[kenchan]

QD means quick detailer.

ie: Griot's SpeedShine, Prima Slick. these are my favorite QD's.

[El_Jefe]

mini's die from accidents, door dings and parking lots.

dirt is fine.

Car covers are sand paper. they will give you massive swirls. Dirt just sitting there then properly had washed off with high quality soap = no swirls or very few.

You cover a car after you remove all the dirt and grime after a wash. drive and then cover = sandpaper.

[Some Guy]

Originally Posted by El_Jefe

mini's die from accidents, door dings and parking lots.

dirt is fine.

Car covers are sand paper. they will give you massive swirls. Dirt just sitting there then properly had washed off with high quality soap = no swirls or very few.

You cover a car after you remove all the dirt and grime after a wash. drive and then cover = sandpaper.

True, but what about stuff that does cause damage just sitting there, like bird poo and hard water?

[kenchan]

yah, my dd's are parked outdoors 24/7 and i don't QD, use cal duster, or
use a car cover.

i try washing them at least once a week.

[El_Jefe]

water eh i dont see it just being ugly is all. bird poo messes the car up yeah true.

kinda a bad place to put a car you like. i would get a garage in brooklyn, rent one from someone and keep it that way.

[BlimeyCabrio]

Hard water is definitely an issue if you park in an area where you may get hit with a sprinkler system (happens to me sometimes at hotels... hard water spots everywhere the next day )

[kenchan]

yah, water spots are a mess to clean at times... but if you have ample
wax on there it should wash off with shampoo, no?

for glass put a coat of rain-x on there at all times..

[El_Jefe]

If I lived in NYC, I would use Klasse Twins and use 2 coats of Sealant Glaze.

that stuff is iron. WHen I move, I am not going to use Det. Paradise stuff. I will go for hardness and layers. Even though Epic is beautiful and durable, no one has a clue about how terrible the **** that falls on your car. One or two trips through tunnels and bridges makes my mini needing a claybar, and that is on off hours with no construction and no traffic.

[MiniNova]

I got the dealers outdoors cover and I'm covering the car every single day, at night and when I get to work, the reason is the parking lot has a lot of trees, it really gets nasty with the glue and all, plus bird poo!
I haven't clean the clover for a month now (My MINI is 1 month old) and it's amazing how many glue and poo spots the cover has. I have a Pepper White with black roof and I'm doing fine with swirls, I do QD almost every day.

Now my question is, what about when it rains? I don't have a garage, so rain will hit my covered MINI, I don't know if I should cover it on the rainy season or just leave it uncover until it stops raining, wash the car and then start covering it, I probably need to take out the cover and leave it to dry after it stops raining?..
I do use the car almost every day, but I'm thinking about using my Sentra in the rainy season so the MINI doesn't get all muddy and stuff, and just leave it covered until stops raining. what do you guys think?