Don't ASSume a Valet Knows - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Zakato · 2nd March 2008, 20:39

Living in the Los Angeles area, valet parking is a fact of life most of us have to deal with. In fact, I made a living parking cars when I was a college student at UCLA. Couple the valet parking prevalence in Los Angeles, with one of the highest concentrations of high performance, luxury cars in the world, and problems are bound to happen.

I have been driving the M5 for a couple of months, and was nervous about leaving the car with the Valet, not because I am afraid they will drive it in a "spirited manner" (I used to

), but rather that they wouldn't understand the SMG. After the first few times, I stopped explaining it, and let it go. I figured that they have dealt with other M5s, F cars with paddles, and so forth.

Last night, the valet pulls up the car, opens the door, gets out and waits for me to get in. I'm saying my farewells to friends, and as I walk towards the car, I realize it is rolling forward and I jump in and pull the brake handle. The M was about to get to know a Toyota Prius in front of it really well. 2 inches to spare.

So, do you explain the SMG to the Valet person, bail on the valet and self-park, or ASSume they know?

T Bone · 2nd March 2008, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zakato

Living in the Los Angeles area, valet parking is a fact of life most of us have to deal with. In fact, I made a living parking cars when I was a college student at UCLA. Couple the valet parking prevalence in Los Angeles, with one of the highest concentrations of high performance, luxury cars in the world, and problems are bound to happen.

I have been driving the M5 for a couple of months, and was nervous about leaving the car with the Valet, not because I am afraid they will drive it in a "spirited manner" (I used to

), but rather that they wouldn't understand the SMG. After the first few times, I stopped explaining it, and let it go. I figured that they have dealt with other M5s, F cars with paddles, and so forth.

Last night, the valet pulls up the car, opens the door, gets out and waits for me to get in. I'm saying my farewells to friends, and as I walk towards the car, I realize it is rolling forward and I jump in and pull the brake handle. The M was about to get to know a Toyota Prius in front of it really well. 2 inches to spare.

So, do you explain the SMG to the Valet person, bail on the valet and self-park, or ASSume they know?

Wow between this story and your confessions as a former valet, I REALLY want to leave my car with these people.

blkfast6 · 2nd March 2008, 20:53

wow thank god you got in the car in time to stop the car....

avlnch · 2nd March 2008, 21:00

nice save i bet the valet felt real smart after that one.

why would the valet have any reason to be careful with your car, the rims, or anything else? it says on the back of the ticket that the car is not their responsibility.

ThisFlyGuy · 2nd March 2008, 21:58

self-park in all situations if possible

Socal M5 · 2nd March 2008, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisFlyGuy

self-park in all situations if possible

+1

NobleM400 · 2nd March 2008, 22:32

Valet? What's that?

sechsgang · 2nd March 2008, 23:54

those tickets are USUALLY not enough to actually dismiss the valet company from damages...there have definitely been accidents that have been compensated for..but that said, I only valet if my car can sit in the front...otherwise, I like parking and walking...

M5Froth · 3rd March 2008, 00:56

If theres a valet, my first question is can I pay the valet fee and just park it myself (or take care of them on top of the fee). If they say no, I ask them if they know how to drive the car. If they say yes, I stand there as they drive it away to make sure they don't do something idiotic. Its a little nerve-wracking but sometimes theres no other way.

avlnch · 3rd March 2008, 01:19

^^ what he said.

Usually I pay the valet $20, and don't pay the fee. Then I park it, lock it, and keep the key. No valet ticket.. just go to my car and leave.

agentZERO · 3rd March 2008, 01:30

There is a really good thread on the subject; search for it and check it out. I usually just say non-nonchalantly that I've had bad experiences with valets in the past, ask them to take care of my "baby". At that point, they sometimes offer to park the car upfront or let me park it. If they don't I then ask them who do I talk to if there is problem with my car related to parking (that usually gets them awake) and I tell them that I keep the keys so they usually park the car promptly and give me the keys, i tip him something extra and then I head into the restaurant or whatever.

So far so good.

CruiseDucati · 3rd March 2008, 02:26

Had to valet park Downtown LA and I asked the valet if he knew how to drive SMG..... "Oh, Yeah yeah"... I said Yeah Yeah???, he says oh yes. As I walk away he burns 2 feet of rubber backward, fiddles with the shifter and chirps forward and slams on the brakes. I said a Hail Mary and walked away shaking my head and crossing my fingers...