Car covers

[cnm]

I am looking for a car cover that can help against sun damage (rust protection would be bonus). Does anyone have any suggestions? I was considering these:

Superior Guard

EmpireCovers.com

Thanks,
Craig

[Shortsguy1]

If you search on this site, you will find a lot of recommendations. Generally, these websites are mentioned:
California Car Cover
Covercraft
JC Whitney Auto Parts & Auto Accessories - Car, Truck, Jeep, Motorcycle, VW, RV & ATV - Aftermarket Parts & Accessories

I guess OEM covers were a NOAH fabric, some sort of Kimberly Clark product. I am in the market right now but am having trouble with the following issue. None of the NOAH aftermarket covers I have found have mirror pockets or a pocket for the mercedes hood ornament. It is annoying that a supposedly "custom" cover for my car wouldn't have either of these. Not sure what the next step is for me.

[w123love]

I have had great success with two covers we purchased at Costco. Can’t remember the brand. They were only $30, and fit a W123 Wagon and Sedan perfectly. They cars are covered everyday in sunny SoCal, so they get MAXIMUM sun exposure. They have been going strong for two years.

For a basis of comparison, the cover we gone through two much more expensive covers on a W211 E320 the past two years. They just didn’t hold up to the sun.

In my opinion, if the car is sitting, the Costco covers are great. If the car is used frequently, than the only downside of the cover is it does not fold up very compact. That is a plus with the more expensive cover, it becomes very small, thus taking up less trunk space.

[Palolo]

Originally Posted by Shortsguy1

...None of the NOAH aftermarket covers I have found have mirror pockets or a pocket for the mercedes hood ornament. It is annoying that a supposedly "custom" cover for my car wouldn't have either of these...

I ended up with a Cover King "custom" and there was no way to get mirror pockets or hood star allowance on it (same when I tried to order a CoverCraft). The side mirrors are relatively small (compared to today's cars) but the tightness across the front annoys me, as the star gets bent over backwards a little bit, requiring straightening before driving, and perhaps weakening the spring.

I got something that Car Cover, Seat Covers, Dash Cover, Floormats, Sunshields - Manufactured by Coverking calls "Mosom Plus" and is described as: Coverking Coverbond5™/ Mosom Plus™ is the king of all non wovens sold on the market. It is the only non woven material with FIVE layers of protection built in . We start with the top layer of polyester spun bond (all other manufacturers use polypropylene which has little or no resistance to UV degradation). We add two layers of polyethylene micro porous film and a meltblown layer (most competitors use one or the other). The fourth layer is spunbond and the fifth layer – (a Coverking exclusive) is polyester felt to protect you vehicle’s finish. Each layer is fortified with the finest UV retarding agents in the manufacturing process. But they all say something like that, I suppose.

Been happy with it so far. I don't roll it up when I drive my 108 (I cover my other car with it, even if it is a bit loose on the 535i and tends to blow off--something it has never done on the 108).

[cnm]

Originally Posted by Shortsguy1

If you search on this site, you will find a lot of recommendations. Generally, these websites are mentioned:
California Car Cover
Covercraft
JC Whitney Auto Parts & Auto Accessories - Car, Truck, Jeep, Motorcycle, VW, RV & ATV - Aftermarket Parts & Accessories

I guess OEM covers were a NOAH fabric, some sort of Kimberly Clark product. I am in the market right now but am having trouble with the following issue. None of the NOAH aftermarket covers I have found have mirror pockets or a pocket for the mercedes hood ornament. It is annoying that a supposedly "custom" cover for my car wouldn't have either of these. Not sure what the next step is for me.

Thanks for the help. I tried a quick search but didnt find much (probably could have searched deeper). I am also looking for a cover that will at least not bend the hood ornament.

Originally Posted by Palolo

I got something that Car Cover, Seat Covers, Dash Cover, Floormats, Sunshields - Manufactured by Coverking calls "Mosom Plus"

Been happy with it so far. I don't roll it up when I drive my 108 (I cover my other car with it, even if it is a bit loose on the 535i and tends to blow off--something it has never done on the 108).

Does this fit your w108 without bending the star (or mirrors)? If you had to roll it up, do you know approximately how much space it takes up (mine would go from car to trunk)? Thanks!

[Shortsguy1]

I decided to go ahead and make the plunge. I bought a covercraft NOAH cover from JC Whitney, which ended up coming to $250 with tax. That is a lot of money for me, but I don't have a a garage, so this is the best I can do right now. It supposedly will have one mirror pocket, but I don't quite believe them just yet. The cover I bought is probably overkill if you don't plan to have your car out in the rain. But I need to leave town for 4 months and leave my car parked outside for that time. I was given the advice of slicing open a tennis ball and putting that on the hood ornament before putting the cover on. This will supposedly protect both the ornament and the cover. That strikes me as something last done in 1980, but I will probably follow the advice.

[bwostosh]

Get a few of those 3/4" square magnets to hold the skirt to the body sides down low near front and rear wheels..

I've been getting the "Budge" #3 (W108) an #4's (W109) as in budget from w-mart oil is cheaper there too. These will disintegrate in the So Cal sun. two years max.

[Tomguy]

Originally Posted by Shortsguy1

I was given the advice of slicing open a tennis ball and putting that on the hood ornament before putting the cover on. This will supposedly protect both the ornament and the cover. That strikes me as something last done in 1980, but I will probably follow the advice.

Better advice: Remove the ornament & store it in the glovebox or house. There's a simple slide clip on the underside of the grille that the base mounts to. Slide it out to remove the assembly.

[Palolo]

Originally Posted by Tomguy

Better advice: Remove the ornament & store it in the glovebox or house. There's a simple slide clip on the underside of the grille that the base mounts to. Slide it out to remove the assembly.

That's what I do if I won't be driving the car frequently.

After cleaning up the spring/clip and slots, it slides on and off quite easily. The first time removing it, 40 years of time made it a bit hesitant to move; a little PB and a quick hit of lube makes it a quick in and out now.

Added Rolling up Info:

For rolling up the cover, it can be a bit bulky depending on how windy it is when I'm rolling it up. If it is windy, once I get the front or back slipped off from under the bumper, the cover wants to fill with air and lift off the car on to the ground, so I just do a loose roll and it is quite bulky.

If it isn't windy, then I have the luxury of slowly slipping off the front and back elastic areas, then folding up the cover, one side at a time, so it ends up being in thirds, over the length of the car. I fold up the entire passenger side, then the entire drivers side over on top of the previously folded side, so the cover is 1/3 as wide as it is open. I then roll it up from the back, tightly, and end up with a snug roll that's about 3' wide and 18" in diameter. it fits up against the back of the rear seat, between the rear shock towers, leaving a ton of space to use in the massive trunk.

Loosely rolled, between shock towers... (if snugly rolled, it is about half that size)

[Palolo]

Ok, I went out and took a few pics of my covered 108.

1. Cover over mirror/star
2. Front with star
3. Front without star
4. Side with mirror
5. Overall shape, tucked in at the ends well

[Palolo]

A few recent developments...

Lately, when I remove the cover after a few days of being on, my car is covered in a fine white talc. Lots of white dust. Not sure if it is the cover disintegrating (I suspect it is) or if the cover is rubbing off into powder...

When looking closely at the chrome when polishing it up, I have noticed that the cover is wearing away at the chrome where the cover is pulled taut (driver mirror, top of the star, top of one headlight door, top corner of the rear window trim)

I am likely going to switch cover types, and probably just get a loose-fit cover vs a custom-fit one.

[Calspeed]

Oh...that's not good. I hope you have better luck on the next one.

Miguel

[Palolo]

Yeah, live and learn. Could be worse...

I might get a cover made for an SEL instead.

The cover does keep the sun out of the interior and shed the rain, but I have to figure out an anti-chafe solution for the tight points.