[fzapped]

I've been notified my Z4 will be delivered late Feb Early Mar. Unfortunately I don't have a garage, live in a condo, and live in MD. Any recommendations on a car cover to protect the Z4?

[GerryC]

If you're daily driving it, a cover is a pain and may end up doing more damage than leaving it exposed. Putting a cover on a car that isn't clean can cause the cover to grind the dirt into the paint. OTOH, if you're going to park it for a week or so at a time and don't mind washing it before parking/covering it, it can help.

The key to good outdoor covers is they don't let water in, let water vapor evaporate, and are well secured to prevent flapping and rubbing.

If you are driving it regularly, a good compromise is the 'top' cover that just covers the windshield and soft top. They generally secure around the side mirrors and under the top of the trunk lid. They're easier to handle and they won't mess up the paint while protecting the top. The down side is they are harder to find.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by GerryC

If you're daily driving it, a cover is a pain and may end up doing more damage than leaving it exposed. Putting a cover on a car that isn't clean can cause the cover to grind the dirt into the paint. OTOH, if you're going to park it for a week or so at a time and don't mind washing it before parking/covering it, it can help.

The key to good outdoor covers is they don't let water in, let water vapor evaporate, and are well secured to prevent flapping and rubbing.

If you are driving it regularly, a good compromise is the 'top' cover that just covers the windshield and soft top. They generally secure around the side mirrors and under the top of the trunk lid. They're easier to handle and they won't mess up the paint while protecting the top. The down side is they are harder to find.

All that plus having to deal with how/where to store it when it's wet. It may not be too bad if you have a trunk liner such as Weathertech but you'll still need to be cautious if you store other things in your trunk.

I had a top cover (attached to wiper arms, mirrors, and under trunk lid) for my Miatas that I used many years, mostly when parked at work because they were otherwise garaged. I lived in Sandy Eggo then so didn't have to worry much about it getting wet.

Though I've seen the top covers for earlier generation Z4s, I've haven't come across a top cover for the G29. One of our forum members MacGyvered one out of a full cover.

[fzapped]

I mainly want a cover for when it snows, I'm not going to drive in the snow I have a SUV for that. I had a couple of other convertibles and friendly neighbors do me a favor and remove snow from car with whatever tools they may have. A cover not only keeps snow off the paint but brushes, brooms etc off too.