My Mini is 3 months old. It has a clear-bra and several coats of Zaino. I will be gone on business for a week and the car will be in the garage. I purchased a cheap car cover off ebay, knowing full well it would be just that, cheap.

The cover is a LeBra with no mirror cut outs. It barely goes down halfway on the doors, but it will do the job of keeping the dust off when my wife and kids get things in and out of the garage while I'm gone.

Question, it is not breathable, but fits so loosely with no mirror cut outs and with the stubby antenna that I'm wondering if I should be concerned at all about any fogging of the finish. I will invest in a much better, form fitting, breathable cover when I get back, but do I need to worry now.

Thanks, Gene

 

I don't know much about car covers...but if your worried about, why not just leave it uncovered in the garage for a week? It is just a week, and you could just give it a wash when you get back. It seems a lot more simple than having to worry about fogging your finish.


Just a suggestion though .

 

+1

 

Of course that is an option, but the question still holds true of all covers, has anybody ever had a cover used (inside) cause any paint issues?

Thanks, Gene

 

I'm also interested in hearing what the affects of using a cheap (water resistent only) cover can do to your car. Please tell.

I currently have to park outside and I live in Southern California, so we get dewey in the mornings. I have coats of Zaino on my car, but notice that it hazes up a bit on the roof because of the condensation. I don't mind wiping it down, but am I asking for trouble in the future? Will this damage my paint?

Thanks!

 

If you just wanted to keep the dust off, you could have gone even cheaper and bought some plastic drop cloths from Home Depot, they don't breathe either.

Assuming the car is clean to begin with, and the car doesn't get wet while the cover is on, it should be fine.

I've got a Duravent cover for my MINI, cost around $120 or so, plus the lock, and bag and shipping, and next thing I knew it was $170. LOL.

But as to your question, will a cover that doesn't breathe, fog the finish? Whats the humidity like up there in Northern Baltimore? That could be an issue if there's the potential for moisture to get trapped under the cover, however since it's garaged and not baking in the sun, I don't think even that would cause any issues.

Just my 2 cents.

Richard

I'm assuming that when you put your "cheap cover" on that the paint is always clean? You never want to cover a dirty car because putting the cover on and off drags across the finish, and you will end up with scratches and swirls. Also, if there is any chance for wind to blow under the cover and flap against the paint, that could also cause paint issues.

I'm all for buying a car cover that's got some thickness to it to prevent damage from impacts, that's waterproof, isn't excessively bulky. I don't think it's a wise place to be cheap if you plan on using the cover every single day.

Also, I assume you aren't ever covering the car while the car is wet right? Trapping moisture between the paint and the cover is just asking for trouble.

Richard

 

Thanks for the replys. Yes, the car is always clean and dry when it is covered. I thought the cover would be cheap, but I thought LeBra, which I had heard of, would be better then this. When I get back I'm going to order one from the California Custom Car Cover folks, they have always had good products and breathable!

Gene

 

my garage queens are uncovered in my garage during the week.
i don't drive them at all during the weekdays. you're fine. i don't
foresee getting a car cover for my cars.