I am looking to learn about car covers for my 07 MINI, S. Can someone give me directions to find a car cover that not only protects against sun and rain, but 'breaths' letting hot air escape and not damaging the paint? Of couse, cost and availability are important. Since I live in the Pacific Northwest, sap drops from Doug fir trees are always a problem. Any ideas?

 

I highly recommend this company for car covers:

http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp

We've had one of their covers for about six months and it's GREAT. Doesn't let water through, and yes, it does breathe. The car does not get hot under that cover.

On the other hand, we bought another cover from here:

http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NM.../InvDetail.cfm

And it SUCKS. When it rains, there might as well be no cover on the car. Water goes right through it. I'm returning it and buying another from Bavarian Autosport.

 

I am also looking for a good cover. Which cover of theirs do you recomend: the eveloution 4, the ultimate, or the noah?

 

i think the noah is the one you want, it describes in the details about "breathing", as well as sun,water, and sap protection.

 

http://www.calcarcover.com/cover_find.aspx

I have four of my cars covered with covers from these guys.

 

Careful in ordering a cover from CarCoversDirect.com. I ordered a custom one for my JCW equipped one and it's way too tight. Since it's custom, there are no returns and the manufacturer says it's supposed to fit. They told me it's because I don't have the JCW spoiler. It's a size 7 shoe for a size 9 foot. It's a bad pattern I told them, but now I'm stuck.

Attached is a shot of how tight it is, plus it collects water underneath even though they advertise it as water-proof.

 

I bought a car cover for my '04 MCS when it was new and covered the car whenever it was parked outside overnight. The cover does do a good job in keeping dirt off of your car, however, the car needs to be clean before you cover it, otherwise you are just transfering dirt to the inside of the cover and possibly scratching the paint. Likewise, covering a clean car with a dirty cover is self defeating. Taking the cover off in the middle of a rain storm is no fun. Likewise, you need to exercise caution if you are pulling a frozen cover off the car as there is a possibility of damaging the finish.

After a short while, I realized that the cover was an unnecessary expense. Mine now sits folded up into its travel bag on a shelf in the basement. If you cover a clean car and then don't drive it for awhile, then it makes sense. For a daily driver, a car cover becomes a royal PITA.

Just wash and wax regularly.

 

Wow, it's like spandex for your car.
The OEM cover fits pretty tight as well, FWIW.