Always a little anxious letting anyone else drive the car, especially BMW techs. BTW what is it with Michelin, and Pirelli for that matter, and delays in getting tyres? Last delay resulted in me making the bad mistake of putting Continentals on. Very interested in opinions on other makes.
Just got the car back after two weeks. No more valet!!
Went to a well known hotel in the south Miami area. Been there many time before. Check in at 3 pm, valet the car. Attend fund raiser at night, breakfast early the next morning and go to check out and pick up car around 10 am. Seems to take forever, a couple of trips to the manager. After 30 minutes, wife, who is outside, advises car arrives. As I approach I can see heat shimmers. Hmmm. As I get closer I smell what is either burnt clutch or burnt brakes. Since I have BBK, not a good sign. I go check my gauges, and oil temp around 200, water at 12 o'clock. IMMEDIATELY call over supervisor and tell them to get manager. Explain no way car can be this hot in the 50 yards from the parking lot. After about 15 minutes, I decide to move car. Won't go into gear!. Now we know for sure.
Cost to hotel> $2500 for new clutch and flywheel at stealer pricing (not my problem, and no, I didn't let them use my BMW CCA discount) as well as two weeks of loaner car (Hyundai Sonata really not a bad car, LOL).
Bright side is they destroyed the clutch, if just ruined/slipping, would have been tough to prove they were on a joy ride or they caused it. Hotel staff was pretty professional, they decided pretty quickly something was not right. Only time I almost lost it was early on when they said the only problem was that the "couldn't find the keys". I explained they couldn't find them, because one of their employees had taken my car without my permission (we call that theft around these parts, pardner) and that it was done while in their care custody and control and clearly with their lack of proper supervision!
The other amusing part was when the valet company (technically a separate entity) tried to negotiate and pay half. I advised them and the hotel manager not acceptable, and if we had to file suit to get it squared away, we would be holding a press conference with "Name of hotel" ruins customers exotic car". 30 minutes later, they agreed to pay full amount!!
So, to celebrate return, put on new shoes, Goodyears GSD3's thanks to Luke,(PS2's on intergalactic backorder). Only downside is breaking in the clutch for the next 1000 miles or so....
Valet? Nay!!!
Regards,
Jerry
congrats on the new clutch and making the most of your situation. btw they gave hyundai for a rental? south bay bmw always gives me a bmw 3'ser for a loaner but sometimes opted for a mini cooper, dont laugh around were i live parking is such a luxury...
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" Despite its supercar attributes, the M5 still doubles as a soberly practical, spacious saloon - only with the ability to scare four passengers in comfort all the way to the local coronary unit". Top Gear
Just got the car back after two weeks. No more valet!!
Went to a well known hotel in the south Miami area. Been there many time before. Check in at 3 pm, valet the car. Attend fund raiser at night, breakfast early the next morning and go to check out and pick up car around 10 am. Seems to take forever, a couple of trips to the manager. After 30 minutes, wife, who is outside, advises car arrives. As I approach I can see heat shimmers. Hmmm. As I get closer I smell what is either burnt clutch or burnt brakes. Since I have BBK, not a good sign. I go check my gauges, and oil temp around 200, water at 12 o'clock. IMMEDIATELY call over supervisor and tell them to get manager. Explain no way car can be this hot in the 50 yards from the parking lot. After about 15 minutes, I decide to move car. Won't go into gear!. Now we know for sure.
Cost to hotel> $2500 for new clutch and flywheel at stealer pricing (not my problem, and no, I didn't let them use my BMW CCA discount) as well as two weeks of loaner car (Hyundai Sonata really not a bad car, LOL).
Bright side is they destroyed the clutch, if just ruined/slipping, would have been tough to prove they were on a joy ride or they caused it. Hotel staff was pretty professional, they decided pretty quickly something was not right. Only time I almost lost it was early on when they said the only problem was that the "couldn't find the keys". I explained they couldn't find them, because one of their employees had taken my car without my permission (we call that theft around these parts, pardner) and that it was done while in their care custody and control and clearly with their lack of proper supervision!
The other amusing part was when the valet company (technically a separate entity) tried to negotiate and pay half. I advised them and the hotel manager not acceptable, and if we had to file suit to get it squared away, we would be holding a press conference with "Name of hotel" ruins customers exotic car". 30 minutes later, they agreed to pay full amount!!
So, to celebrate return, put on new shoes, Goodyears GSD3's thanks to Luke,(PS2's on intergalactic backorder). Only downside is breaking in the clutch for the next 1000 miles or so....
Valet? Nay!!!
Regards,
Jerry
Exactly why I NEVER EVER EVER EVER let another soul touch my car, let alone a pimply faced valet.
Glad to hear it all worked out Ok for you, but the inconvenience is always a pain. On a lighter note and kind of similar to the age thread that is currently running it reminds me of the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Chris
Jerry, nice story. Good to have a reminder why I never valet my car.
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'01 M5/UUC SSK + Rogue WSR/RE Tranny Mounts+Royal Purple Synchromax/Axxis ULT Pads/StopTech SS Lines/TC Design from BeastPower Anti-roll Bar Brackets/Dinan LtWtFlywheel and Stage 3 suspension/Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics/Vines thrust arms/IATS relocation/10w-60 oil/hardwired Escort 9500i/Euro Armrest/TEC Cupholder/IceLink/PowerChip 91 Gold/TUBIs!/Strong Strut/BSW Stage 1/BT/Angel iBrights 3.0
'05 M3 Imola Cabrio 6MT, Nav, HK
"Is it the sounds that make a BMW a BMW? A BMW is designed to be heard, felt, experienced. So our engines sing. Our steering talks back. And we insist on offering manual transmissions in nearly all our models for drivers who crave them. The result is an almost telepathic oneness with the car. Just as surely as you can hear a BMW, a BMW hears you."
So what does one say when pulling up and the valet in the little red vest comes to the driver's door to greet you?
"Why don't you let me park it myself and keep the keys. I'll still pay you."
Sounds awkward and pretentious. Though I agree - I wouldn't valet my car ever. No no no. I've heard too many stories like Jerry's that, incidentally, often don't get settled as well as his.
-Matthew
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'02 M5 -- Carbon Black/Imola
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I am in the Miami area, care to mention the hotel name?
I have always avoided valets for that same reason!
ANY valet in the miami area. Trust me, skip it if you can. Think of it this way, back when you were their age, and someone tossed you the keys to their (insert car of appropriate vintage). You'd be hard pressed NOT to beat the living hell out of it.
Nay!!!
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