Half Cover or No Cover

[Smudgemanuk]

I am lucky enough to own a 1999 2.8 z3

I have just bought a full Renovo kit to clean, reproof and colour the soft top
I plan to apply this over the weekend

I will not be driving my car for 6 months and it will be stored outside, with no wind protection

Is it a good idea to get a half cover or do you think Renovo will do enough on its own?

If you do recommend a half cover, the names of any quality brands under £100 would be brilliant

Thanks Chris

 

[t-tony]

If the cars is to live outdoors a cover (at least a half) is a very good option. Most water ingress comes through the rubber door and/or window seals not the roof. IF funds allow a full cover is the better choice. Water in the boot causes, are the centre brake light seal, aerial seal and rear light units seals. Check the wells in the boot rear corners and dry them out if they're holding water. Also
check the carpet underlay, the top is often dry but lower down it can hold several litres of water.

Tony.

 

[Jam03]

In my opinion, leaving a Z3 outdoors without some protection from water ingress is madness. Like Tony says, the water can get, even if your roof is in good condition. If it is covered and not being used, I would still check on it regularly to make sure the water has not been getting in and to make sure that it’s not damp inside.
I have written about two half covers I’ve used somewhere on here. I used them because I use the car too frequently to be able to mess around with a full cover, but bear in mind that the Custom Covers half cover only last about a year and is not fully waterproof and as it ages, it shrinks and lets in a bit of moisture around the edges. Basically you have to keep an eye on it, but I would rather do that than leave the car exposed.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

I was considering a full cover, but the risk of paint damage in the high winds we can get around here steered me off it

Let me know if you have had a different experience with them but many people seem to say it can and will scratch the paint

 

[ChrisD]

I was considering a full cover, but the risk of paint damage in the high winds we can get around here steered me off it

Let me know if you have had a different experience with them but many people seem to say it can and will scratch the paint

I have had a tight fitting full cover on my car for over 3 years. Not a single scratch on the paint from the cover. Whenever I hear remarks about covers scratching paint I just think it's either BS, a poorly fitting cover, or carelessness. The paint on my car has been damaged more by birds from when it was left uncovered.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

@ChrisD
Which cover did you use?

 

[Smudgemanuk]

I think it also depends on how often I am going to uncover the car, which could be once a week meaning that having to wash the whole car each time to put a full cover on could be annoying.
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong though?

 

[ChrisD]

@ChrisD
Which cover did you use?

I use this one: https://www.classicadditions.com/en-GB/outdoor-car-covers/ultimate-outdoor-car-cover/prod_10077
Its a bit expensive - but cheaper than a garage (that I don't have).
I went for a smaller size than they recommend as I wanted it to be really tight for the reasons you mention. If doing it again I'd just get the regular size for a Z3. I also have a cheap Amazon indoor soft cover that I put on first.
For me the hassle of using it is totally mitigated by the protection it offers. Once my car is washed and waxed, detailing spray keeps it clean throughout the summer and I don't feel the need to keep washing it. The car gets uncovered and used at least once a week throughout the summer and lives under the cover from Nov-Mar.

 

[ChrisD]

This is what it looks like after 3 years:

You see at the front, its slightly too small.
This is what's underneath:

And this is what goes on most weekends:

 

[Smudgemanuk]

I really like the idea of two covers but have a few questions:
Is your amazon soft cover z3 specific?
What do/would you do if the car is wet (from driving) and you would like to cover it but it is still raining?
What are the best ways that under cover moisture build up, can be mitigated or does this not occur with your setup?
Thanks for your insight, sorry for all the questions

 

[ChrisD]

The amazon cover is not z3 specific. Their small size is stretchy and fits well - I think 390x139x115 (not 100% on that - I couldn't just find the exact one that I have)
I don't cover/uncover the car in the rain. If I get caught in the rain I wait until its dry/dry the car before covering. Obviously, mine's a second car and it only gets used for mostly top-down pleasure drives.
Condensation on the car happens. I try to uncover the car as often as possible so that this doesn't sit under the cover for long periods.

 

[Nodzed]

There are those that say you shouldn't proof your soft top and it certainly wont stop water getting into your Zed, water will get in through seals., I'm one of those that says reproofing is wrong and a waste of time, water wont get through your roof unless the imperable layer is compramised. But let's not start that debate. A hard top for the winter out doors is a good option but costly but seals can still let water in. A good quality full cover is the the best option, next is a good quality half cover.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Interesting take on the reproofing. However, my roof absorbs all the water and although it doesn't leak into the car it make the air in the car really moist so all the windows are covered in condensation within minutes

Thank you for all your contributions guys

 

[t-tony]

It’s not the roof causing condensation, more likely the carpet underlay is sodden. A very common problem.

Tony.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Ok thanks for correcting me, I will take a look later

 

[Duncodin]

Yes. Z3 carpet is about 3 inches thick in places and can absorb a dozen litres of water before the surface of the carpet even feels wet. Windows will mist up and the underside of the roof feels wet from the moist air in the car - but it's all in the carpets.

There's threads on the forum explaining all the likely places where water is getting in.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Ok interesting
So is there any way of determining whether the carpets are getting soggy?
or is the windows steaming up the only indication?

 

[t-tony]

Takes the plastic trim of along the top of the sills. Then lift the edge of the carpets and get your hand right down into the gap and feel the underlay. If it ain't soaking it'll be the only Z3 ever.

Tony.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Ok thank you

 

[David62]

Like you my Z3 has to live outside, I went with a Richbrook multilayer cover and am happy so far...