I was wondering how many mini owners use car covers? I ordered the cover before I picked up my mini and I use it religiously. Do you guys think I can harm my paint when I use the car cover if the car is dirty?

Thanks

 

bamamini,
I just got my MINI 1 month ago and use an outdoor car cover that I got from the Moss MINI catalog. I really like it, and don't think it will harm the paint, primarily because it fits so tightly. The loose covers may rub against the paint in heavy winds, however the paint jobs on these newer cars I believe are much better than what was used years ago. Although I don't know for sure whether it will hurt the paint, I feel confident that it won't, or if it does it is minimal. Remember, it does a lot of good by protecting the paint from bird droppings, tree sap, dust, etc., so you need to balance that out with any potential harm. As well as keeping the car clean, it keeps the car cool on hot days, and keeps the fog off the windscreen in the mornings or on foggy days, which are both big things to me. It can provide protection sunshine rays, against hail too, and perhaps keep the car from being so frozen in snow storms. I haven't been through a snow storm yet with the MINI, but this year I will find out how it works for that. I believe the benefits far out weigh any potential harm.

 

Thanks for the response. I use the cover when I 'tuck' my mini in at night. I don't use it when I park it at work. I guess I should start.

thanks

 

What about covering a wet car? Say I've been driving in the rain, I come home at night and want to slap on a cover. Is there any harm in covering a wet car? How often do the covers need to be washed? Do you stick them in a washing machine?

I'd really like to cover my MINI this winter, at least, (particularly since my mummy decided to be nice and brushed 9 inches of snow off my car yesterday... with a snow brush... I can't wait to see all the little scratches... ) but I was hesitant about buying one as I don't know how much care the covers themselves need. Are tehy a huge pain in the butt?

 

>>What about covering a wet car? Say I've been driving in the rain, I come home at night and want to slap on a cover. Is there any harm in covering a wet car? How often do the covers need to be washed? Do you stick them in a washing machine?
>>
>>I'd really like to cover my MINI this winter, at least, (particularly since my mummy decided to be nice and brushed 9 inches of snow off my car yesterday... with a snow brush... I can't wait to see all the little scratches... ) but I was hesitant about buying one as I don't know how much care the covers themselves need. Are tehy a huge pain in the butt?


I'll try to help, since I've tried to keep my 69 Chevelle covered most of the time for 4 years now. I got my cover through JC Whitney. It's made by Covercraft of a fabric called Evolution 4. Taking the cover off and on is pretty easy, although I do remove my antenna each time.

Most car covers are purposely not waterproof. They allow water to come through when it's raining and conversely, they allow the car to dry when it's not raining. If you use a cover that's completely waterproof condensation will occur under the cover and remain, causing possible corrosion and even preventing the car from starting due to wet wiring and electronics. Covering a wet car with a, "breathable", covers isn't likely to cause a problem because the car will dry when it stops raining.

The cover will get dirty pretty quick and you'll find that your car, which was clean when you covered it is, after a rain, filthy. I have to take my cover to a commercial washing maching to wash it because of it's size. Never put it in a dryer, (learned this the hard way).

All things considered, I think my Chevelle is in better shape than it would have been had I not used the cover.

In short, it's a pain, but not a real bad pain.



R.E.

 

I've been using my car cover for just over a month now. The way to put it on is as follows: The new car cover comes rolled up. Stand at the hatchback and put the cover on top of the car over the hatch back and give it a push, i.e., roll it towards the front of the car, so that it unravels by rolling down the car toward the bonnet. Go to each side and pull down the cover over each side mirror. That is the first thing to remember: to first place the cover over the outside mirrors, as the cover has protrusions for that. Then, go to the front and back and pull the cover down the front end and back end. It doesn't matter whether you do front or back next. Doing that will sort of pull it over the two sides.

To sum it up for putting it on: At hatchback, put it on roof and unroll it towards the front. Go to sides and put it over the two outside mirrors. Go to both front and back (order is not important) and finish by pulling it down the front and back. Then straighten out the sides, but probably won't need much straightening out , as they generally will be done too.

To take it off, just reverse this process: Start by pulling up the cover in the front or back. Order is not important, just that both the front and back be pulled up, not completely, just pull the cover up. For example, at the bonnet, just pull it off the front end and onto the bonnet. At the hatchback, just pull it up to where the roof spoiler is. Then go to the sides and take it off the mirrors. (Note: you cannot take it off the side mirrors since the tension is too great, until you first take the cover off the front and back -- that's why you lift up the front and back first.) After you remove the cover from each mirror, pull the cover up to the roof by folding it over itself in two foot folds leaving it several feet wide and running down the length of the car, bonnet to hatchback (so it can be rolled back up later). Do this at each side. For example, you will probably have two folds on each side, and with one final fold you will have it about two feet or so wide and running down the length of the car fron to back. Then, go to the front of the car and roll up the cover into a two foot wide ball, by pulling it towards you. I store it in the boot.

I'm not too worried about rain. If I know it will rain, I won't usually put the cover on as rain washes the car. But, it has rained with the cover on the car, and when I have taken off the cover the car is 95% dry and still clean with no streak marks or anything so the cover kept it mostly dry, with no fog on the windshields in the morning. The cover was wet on the outside but not on the inside. I think the cover breaths but still keeps the rain out.

A problem is the aftermarket exhaust I have (it's a little bigger and sticking out the back) has burned a hole in the cover, so now I don't put the cover over the exhaust, but just touching it on top of it. Oh well you can't have everything. I bought two covers, and will start using the other when this one gets too tatered. I haven't cleaned it yet, and it is getting a little dirty on the bottom where it rubs against the tires, wheels, and bottom of the car. The cover only cost me $100 at Moss MINI for an all weather outdoor cover. They have a better one for $190 or so, that is thinner and takes up half the space in the boot.

 

I use my cover just about every day and wash it in a regular washing machine on the permanent press setting. The one thing you might want to keep in mind when putting it on a dirty car is the possibility of scratching caused by the cover rubbing the dirt particles against the paint. That said, I've put mine on and taken it off hundreds of times now even when the car's been dirty and there haven't been any scratches yet. Just be reasonably careful.

 

Great info, guys! Thanks!

 

For more info on car covers check these web sites and compare the different fabric features:

http://www.calcarcover.com and http://www.mossmini.com. For a car that has just been out in the rain,I would recommend using a good squegee, like the California Water Blade (silicone squegee) to remove excess water before covering it. A decent version of this can be found at your local Target store outlet. I swear by this squegee.

 

here's my OEM cover....this thing works very well!

 

car covers are a good way to keep your car looking new and also keeping people from looking in your car and wanting your stuff. you might want a lite cover for on the street and a heavy cover for at home. the one at home can be flannel and this cover will help for the door dings or bicycle's that might fall on it in the garage. the one in the garage does not have to go out so it could also be less breathable. i cover many cars and have for 30+ years and many people think the paint is new. so you can save alot of money by taking care of your car. another thing if you leave your car in the garage leave the windows down alittle and the interior breathes also. not to mention when you have the car outside the cooler that the car stays. california car cover is a good company and i have heard the jc whitney is also. good luck.