[rosh]

Hi Guys,

Yeah.. the topic says it all. My BMW is parked outside 24/7 in the apartment complex parking spot (Parking spot at work is also uncovered unless I reach like 6AM). I dont have a garage yet. How much is it going to effect the leather /exterior paint. Got the dark color.

I was not much concerned about this before owning a BMW. I confess.

[Kitz]

Originally Posted by rosh

Hi Guys,

Yeah.. the topic says it all. My BMW is parked outside 24/7 in the apartment complex parking spot. I dont have a garage yet. How much is it going to effect the leather /exterior paint. Got the dark color.

I was not much concerned about this before owning a BMW. I confess.

get a car cover..that would solve your problem..my car is also parked outside the apt..

[lkn]

Any car and doesn't have to be necessarily a BMW should be parked in a shade area without direct sunlight beaming on the car throughout the day. Have you ever seen a car's rooftop with its paint pealing? Enough said.

[cooldude]

my car is parked outside too, the problem is the office parking which is open and it sucks

[F32Fleet]

I bought a BMW sunshade and works great. IMO..the rest is simply more frequent cleanings. clean my leather seats every 3 mo's, reapply vinyl dressing every 2 mo's.

[thegeneral101]

sun exposure is bad either way. if you are very worried about the paint (or anything else on the car) go get a car cover

[BMWKLR]

Use a vinyl protectant with sun block, keep a good coat of wax on the car and put a dark tint on the windows. I also have a clear ceramic tint on the front that blocks heat very well.

[FirstClass]

Well, if it's sunny then your whole interior and leather are baking at 140+, whereas in a garage it'll be more like 80 max (Worst case scenario with doors open all day, it should never get this hot). What do you think?

P.S. Don't forget about the UV both your paint and interior are soaking up. (And fading because of.)

[Revlis]

Keep it waxed and clean and after 10-12 years you might... MIGHT notice a little tiny bit of fading. Though modern water based paints are far less "tough" than the lead based goodness, they are making up for it in other ways and for the most part fading is a minor issue...

Bird crap is the killer though.

[e92phreak]

Condition your leather. If you don't, it will eventually crack.

An FYI with the leather... you should also be careful getting into the car. Most of us just slide our bodies on the seat when we get it. Eventually, the side of your seat will wear, and your leather will crack/tear/rip...

Sucks, but that's the reality of these BMW seats. I had the same happen on the E46, so I force myself to get into the car carefully without sliding into the side of the seat. I just want to protect my leather.

[E90330iS]

maybe your sun wants a tan?

[garyhgaryh]

Every car I have had that's been in the sun 24/7 for years is now in a need of a repaint. Clear coat goes first. Your best bet is to garage it. Car cover is ok, but if it flaps in the wind, it will "sand" down your paint. I can show you pictures if you want..

[arabbmw]

for the interior, tint will be a really easy and good looking solution. Any tint shade u get will give 99% uv protection.

[kpcoupe]

I would garage it if you can, but if not its not a problem; you'll just avoid the minor things is all. Thats my 0.000126646403 Euros

[baron]

I used to have a black MB C43 and I lived in Phoenix for 3 years (not garaged at work, garaged at home) then moved to upstate New York (not garaged at all) exposed to all that snow/salt and the paint was still like new after 6 years. I did have the touch of class treatment and I think that helped.

[foxman]

Originally Posted by rosh

Hi Guys,

Yeah.. the topic says it all. My BMW is parked outside 24/7 in the apartment complex parking spot (Parking spot at work is also uncovered unless I reach like 6AM). I dont have a garage yet. How much is it going to effect the leather /exterior paint. Got the dark color.

I was not much concerned about this before owning a BMW. I confess.

find a way to protect it, it will make a BIG difference, my last car was garaged day and nigh, HUGE difference in the paint wear

[Island Snow]

Originally Posted by e92phreak

Condition your leather. If you don't, it will eventually crack.

An FYI with the leather... you should also be careful getting into the car. Most of us just slide our bodies on the seat when we get it. Eventually, the side of your seat will wear, and your leather will crack/tear/rip...

Sucks, but that's the reality of these BMW seats. I had the same happen on the E46, so I force myself to get into the car carefully without sliding into the side of the seat. I just want to protect my leather.

^ i use a pillowcase on the driver seat on long trips (ie to Vegas or San Fran)...denim jeans will eat though your nice soft leather seats

[Atombyte]

If you're like most people, you drive your car to work in the morning where it sits in the sun all day. I believe that's where most of the sun damage occurs. Sitting outside at night obviously doesn't do much to harm the car. Although mine is parked in my garage at night, it's the daytime at work I worry most about. I just use a sunshade inside the windshield, with a small towel over the steering wheel and a sock (of all things) on the shifter to help keep them cool. I try to keep the car clean and waxed, and the leather treated. Despite that, everything will eventually fade. It sucks, but that's life. Just do what you can and enjoy the car without worrying so much.

[sillygoat]

hopefully my huper optik does what its meant to do!

[rosh]

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

Every car I have had that's been in the sun 24/7 for years is now in a need of a repaint. Clear coat goes first. Your best bet is to garage it. Car cover is ok, but if it flaps in the wind, it will "sand" down your paint. I can show you pictures if you want..

Ah.. Good point.. I got the idea.. Damn!

[Craigito]

I certainly wouldn't buy a car cover for a 3 series. Let's be serious.
I'd just get a good tint (dark as legal), window shade you can put up in the front window when parked during the day and keep the interior/leather conditioned every 3 months or so.

[weez]

I bought a car cover. Since the brits like to take the piss by building garages that dont fit cars Its the most useless, logic-defying, crap you could build. Pisses me off.
I take that back. My car could fit maybe with about a half inch to spare, but Id have to climb out of the sunroof to ingress/egress. Thats if I dont scrape my doors off.
My worry isnt sun damage (this is England after all) its the rain, bird shit, dirt, etc. The worse thing in the world is having your beautifully waxed car get rained on minutes later or during waxing.