Valet Parking - what to do?

[fuzy24]

So I got the M4 as the ultimate daily driver, that I can still have fun in. It's my work commuter, 15,000+ miles per year. I'm fine parking it at the office, I'm fine putting excessive mileage on it, whatever. Once a week however, I drive from LA to San Diego, and often spend the night. I'm starting to have some heart palpitations over valet parking it at the hotel I stay at downtown. It's a nice hotel, but unfortunately I know someone in the valet industry... and the stories I've heard confirm our fears.

Any thoughts? Should I start seeking out self parking? Or just suck it up and cross my fingers...

[mtecnic]

Don't some of the tunes offer valet mode? Might be worth the investment alone.

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by fuzy24

So I got the M4 as the ultimate daily driver, that I can still have fun in. It's my work commuter, 15,000+ miles per year. I'm fine parking it at the office, I'm fine putting excessive mileage on it, whatever. Once a week however, I drive from LA to San Diego, and often spend the night. I'm starting to have some heart palpitations over valet parking it at the hotel I stay at downtown. It's a nice hotel, but unfortunately I know someone in the valet industry... and the stories I've heard confirm our fears.

Any thoughts? Should I start seeking out self parking? Or just suck it up and cross my fingers...

Pull in like a boss, park the car in front, slap a 20 in the hand of the valet dude and tell him "Just leave it in the front, i'm taking the keys with me"

[rr006rbc]

Most places will charge you a little extra to park in the lobby/valet front area. That way they just need to drive it like 30 ft and you can watch them. I do that whenever it's available. I even ask the valet sometimes if I could park it myself lol.

[herenow]

I bought a dash cam because I am a weirdo and have OCD.... The car is a lease too lol

[paddy335]

Originally Posted by fuzy24

So I got the M4 as the ultimate daily driver, that I can still have fun in. It's my work commuter, 15,000+ miles per year. I'm fine parking it at the office, I'm fine putting excessive mileage on it, whatever. Once a week however, I drive from LA to San Diego, and often spend the night. I'm starting to have some heart palpitations over valet parking it at the hotel I stay at downtown. It's a nice hotel, but unfortunately I know someone in the valet industry... and the stories I've heard confirm our fears.

Any thoughts? Should I start seeking out self parking? Or just suck it up and cross my fingers...

can't you just park it yourself in the hotel?!

[TeKiZeRo]

Whenever I valet in downtown San Diego, I just park it myself and give the dude a nice tip.

[BK9731]

I had to valet park once during my ownership, and I paid the guy 20$ to park it up front. I stayed to watch the guy park too. The thing that concerns me is that many people don't know how to use DCT gear lever.

[TTG]

I would find a different hotel and if that is not an option, I will try to make arrangements with the hotel since you go there often. I am sure they will accommodate a frequent customer.

[Vigilant]

Self park initially...as the "newness" of the vehicle fades, so too will your resistance to the valet. Having said that, I have 6000 miles on my vehicle and still avoid the valet like the plague. As others have suggested, tip the valet and park the car in a desirable location on the top floor of the garage flanked by red cones at each corner with a K-9 sticker on your bumper.

[M3 Esq]

I never valet. Too ocd.

[sandwi54]

I never valet park either, but the last time I went to SF downtown for Valentine's Day dinner with my wife, I had to valet park because it was so crowded that day and even all of the self park spaces were filled. The good thing is that the traffic was insane that day so even if the valet boy was not conscientious, he couldn't do anything bad to my car either.

[F87_LCI]

Those of you that think you have OCD...when it comes to this topic...you don't. Just remember what happened to Ferris...

[u2b]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4DMs262vr4[/u2b]

[JoeFromPA]

A week ago I stayed at a 5-star in Philly and valet'd the car. I took a photo of the odometer when I dropped it off, and this valet place drove it into a garage.

When the young guy valet drove it back out, he and I spent 5 minutes talking about the car and how much he loved it. Some of the most enjoyment I've gotten related to my car (and not driving it) in a few weeks - haven't gotten to any cars and coffees recently.

If you have to valet, and you are freaked out, then don't.

[lpphreakx06]

I pay for valet but request that I park the car myself. They will almost always let you.

[damnitBobby]

Originally Posted by lpphreakx06

I pay for valet but request that I park the car myself. They will almost always let you.

This! Never valet. You have been warned.

[evanescent03]

i'm sure it's hit or miss. i recently stayed at the W in dallas .. pretty nice place with lots of nice cars from G wagon AMGs, 911 turbos, Maseratis and the like rolling through with me. i was terrified of using valet but when i got there and drove by $100k++ cars i was a little less concerned. i inspected the car really well after getting it back. i think since so many cars have cameras/tracking devices etc... valets are probably less incline to do the really stupid stuff... but let's face it... unless they wreck it, do you really think them accelerating hard a few times would even cause any damage? they'd have to do something pretty awful.

i think it's okay to take precautions but worrying too much takes years off your life too

[captainaudio]

If I have to valet I leave the Bimmer home and drive my old beater.

[04RC51]

We are only driving M cars folks. They will be fine and I'm sure we're all insured. I know we all think they are Bugatti's but they are just M3/4's. Most valet guys park alot nicer cars than ours all day long. I'm amazed that any of you can get through a single day with all the worry in your lives about your precious cars. Give the guy a $20 and tell him to leave it up front. They almost always will! Oh no, but then someone might walk buy smoking a cigarette and the smoke may get on the paint. Or worse yet, steal your spare tire! You guys are funny, thanks for the laughs!

[fuzy24]

Originally Posted by 04RC51

We are only driving M cars folks. They will be fine and I'm sure we're all insured. I know we all think they are Bugatti's but they are just M3/4's. Most valet guys park alot nicer cars than ours all day long. I'm amazed that any of you can get through a single day with all the worry in your lives about your precious cars. Give the guy a $20 and tell him to leave it up front. They almost always will! Oh no, but then someone might walk buy smoking a cigarette and the smoke may get on the paint. Or worse yet, steal your spare tire! You guys are funny, thanks for the laughs!

Meh I disagree. I have a 6mt, there's room for serious damage to be done in a short period of time. I won't know what they've done until my clutch burns up prematurely. That lingers on my mind.

And I'm not sure if you've had an insurance claim before (good for you if you haven't ) - it's a huge pain in the ass, and not something I have time for.

And finally, M cars are actually the ideal sweet spot for a valet to go wild with. It's not an intimidating car like a Lamborghini or Ferrari, where a valet is likely going to tip toe in and out if it. Instead it's just a bmw, and mine is filthy bc it's my daily, so why not rag it out?

[04RC51]

Originally Posted by fuzy24

Meh I disagree. I have a 6mt, there's room for serious damage to be done in a short period of time. I won't know what they've done until my clutch burns up prematurely. That lingers on my mind.

Your paranoia is only matched by your imagination. In the off chance I run into that 1% of valet drivers who hoon cars and won't park mine up front, I can assure you that they won't do anything I haven't already done or will do to my own car. Believe it!

[Blksnowflake]

Originally Posted by 04RC51

We are only driving M cars folks. They will be fine and I'm sure we're all insured. I know we all think they are Bugatti's but they are just M3/4's. Most valet guys park alot nicer cars than ours all day long. I'm amazed that any of you can get through a single day with all the worry in your lives about your precious cars. Give the guy a $20 and tell him to leave it up front. They almost always will! Oh no, but then someone might walk buy smoking a cigarette and the smoke may get on the paint. Or worse yet, steal your spare tire! You guys are funny, thanks for the laughs!

Laugh it up but eff that. To me, it is a Bugatti. Not worrying is letting my daughter take the car to the movies with friends, but a busy valet rushing and jumping in and out of cars at a busy restaurant isn't my idea of an "accident". It's my property and who are you to say how I should feel about it. If you don't care about your car that's your business, and sure I have insurance but who wants the hassle of filing claims.

It's not an issue of worry, but more of proactive care, I had a valet who had difficulty using the DCT in my Evo and that's much simpler than the BMW's. What am I to do conduct interviews on valet car knowledge, not "care or worry" and discover an issue later and just file a claim.

When it comes down to it, everything except human or animal life can be seen as property or an asset. Why "worry" about my money in the bank or walking in a bad neighbourhood with valuable jewellery....I mean you have insurance right, it's only a watch, only a ring....I mean why even buy an M4, it's a just another "car"....well because for many, there is a passion and emotion in their cars. They are enthusiast who are motivated to keep their cars clean, they use a PPF on the front, buy nice wheels, add personal modifications or only hand wash. This isn't necessarily about only worrying.

In my case I worked very hard for my car and though to you it's just a Honda, you should respect the views of others with their property. I wouldn't be surprised if you're one of those people that leave carts in the middle of parking lots or don't take it serious if you bump someone's car while parking, "they have insurance right".

I refuse to valet anywhere and if they won't let me self park in the front with a high tip, then I'm gone. Fortunately for me, my lifestyle doesn't revolve around places restricted to this, I will always go elsewhere and self park for my own piece of mind, no valet for me.