The skies just opened up and dime to golfball sized hail is falling...all I can do is stand here and watch it beat my poor baby By the time I knew what was happening it was too late to drive to the parking deck where I usually park for this kind of thing. I just want to cry

Bryan

 

yeah time to get a car cover
and wax up ur car hopefully that's some protection

 

About a year ago someone posted a pic of a red S that was caught in a hail storm. It looked as if it were hit by a few hundred golf balls.

 

I had this happen to my much beloved '73 BMW 2002tii when I lived in Chicago. Your insurance will cover it. The aluminum hood?

 

Looks like I got really damn lucky...no damage that I can see. I can't believe I don't have a million dents and chips. I had just done a very thorough wax last weekend so maybe that did indeed help. So...anyone have recommendations for a car cover that will keep me from having a stroke next time this happens?

Thanks,
Bryan

 

Get a car cover and tape some egg crate foam inside. Obviously only put it on when the hail is coming, but it shoudl prevent those really nasty dings for all but the hardest hitting hail.

 

I got hit by pretty hard hail too but I had no visual damage after either. I was surprised since I thought the car was made up of all light weight stuff.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by aargh
[B]Looks like I got really damn lucky...no damage that I can see.

 

There are car covers like the one I have that are very thin and take little room when folded up. I suppose you want the exact opposite: the kind that is like thin foam rubber and takes up much of the trunk when folded. (People buy these to minimize dings in parking lots.)

For the record, my BMW looked like a maniac took a ball peen hammer to its horizontal surfaces. Everything was dented: hood, roof, sunroof, and trunk--over 30 pock marks. This was baseball (hardball) sized hail. Also, this car was very well waxed.

This experience, the summers and the winters, and the don't-give-a- attitude of the Chicago police made one year in the windy city enough for me, although the people are great; the Greek food teriffic; and the Jazz clubs, art museums, and culture in general just about the best around.

 

Car covers are NOT designed to protect the surface from hail. Neither is wax. It's ludicrous to think that a molecule thick layer will protect against the shock of high speed frozen water pounding your car. Did NASA try a layer of wax on the reinforced-carbon-carbon leading edge of the Columbia to protect against flying foam?

During hail season keep the car under a roof or carry good hail insurance.