To cover or not to cover

[quinnster]

Hey all, Before I get any off the cuff comments - I already know that the best place to store my car is inside a nice garage - the thing is, I just lost that space. So my question is - is it better to keep a non water proof car cover on my car during a rain or to take it off and let the car get direct rain on it? After a rain, the cover drys very quickly - so I leave it on to dry and then I take if off and take a nice soft towel to dry off any moisture that's left on the car. Just curious.

Thanks

[allbim]

Whatever you do, don't cover it with plastic. I ruined the paint on my 635 CSI that way, even though I used a cloth cover under the plastic.

I kept the car under the cloth cover for several years before and it was OK.

[bmw_jeff]

I put my 1600 in the garage when it rains or is really hot/cold, but most of the year I keep it under a Bavarian Autosport deluxe cover (lifetime warranty too). No issues and I highly recommend this cover because its a great design and all covers wear out from UV and you'll get free replacements for life.

Even more amazing, the original owner kept it in his driveway 24/7 with a multi-layer cloth cover for 36 years!!! and it still wears the original paint in good condition! Granted this is in Cali, but still - damn! So yes, a good cover will work fine if you can't garage it.

[Retrogroucher]

+1 of Jeff's experience w/ the Bav Auto cover. I little more you can do: sunshades for front and back windows, towel over dash, and tire covers.

I've saved the car several times from bad hail by running out and throwing moving blankets over it in the heat of the battle. Tissue heals, dents don't.

[Mattscott77]

if the car is under a cover, what is the purpose of the sunshades and the towel on the dash?

[TobyB]

Around here, a car cover is a mold factory-

my long- static electroproject went from a $1500- 2k project runner

to a $300 tub in about 2 winters.

So I hate covers.

Drier climates will vary.

t

[allbim]

if the car is under a cover, what is the purpose of the sunshades and the towel on the dash?

Extra protection from heat.