[D CHOI]

"IF" you had to valet your car what can you really do to make sure your car is not being potentially abused? I don't think there are any settings you can set to prevent people from high reving it especially during a cold start. (Maybe the computer doesn't allow it when cold? ) I thought about installing a dash cam but that seems to be a hassle and don't want cameras hanging around in the car.

Also for self parking do you guys tend to worry about random people doing something to the car?

[rouxeny]

Nothing you can do about valets other than not use them.

[ddk632]

Hand them a $20, self park, keep the key.

For self parking I park away from other cars. Back of lot when possible, in a corner spot as close to curb as possible, so only one car can park alongside mine. Beyond that worrying about anything happening is a waste or time.

[D CHOI]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Hand them a $20, self park, keep the key.

For self parking I park away from other cars. Back of lot when possible, in a corner spot as close to curb as possible, so only one car can park alongside mine. Beyond that worrying about anything happening is a waste or time.

I don't think they allow you to self park let alone keep your key. Casino do offer to park up front but that's a $40 charge before tip now. However you get alot of walking traffic around the car.

As for the parking far away and corner spot is definitely the way to go. But it can look wierd having your car alone in a corner but who cares gotta do what you gotta do.

[ddk632]

I have never had a problem to self-park and keep my key in places where they don't allow it, after a tip. Usually just park it up front to do that. As long as you can park where they tell you, or up front, in a spot that doesn't block other cars, it's not an issue.

Yes, it costs money but worth it if you don't want valet to go joyriding your BMW.

Anyone who has ever worked valet, or who has close friends who have worked valet, will all tell you to never valet your car!

[Deutsches Blut]

Originally Posted by D CHOI

"IF" you had to valet your car what can you really do to make sure your car is not being potentially abused? I don't think there are any settings you can set to prevent people from high reving it especially during a cold start. (Maybe the computer doesn't allow it when cold? ) I thought about installing a dash cam but that seems to be a hassle and don't want cameras hanging around in the car.

Also for self parking do you guys tend to worry about random people doing something to the car?

The P3 Gauge (vent gauge) has Valet mode. Not sure what it does, rev. limiter, etc.???

[D CHOI]

Originally Posted by ddk632

I have never had a problem to self-park and keep my key in places where they don't allow it, after a tip. Usually just park it up front to do that. As long as you can park where they tell you, or up front, in a spot that doesn't block other cars, it's not an issue.

Yes, it costs money but worth it if you don't want valet to go joyriding your BMW.

Anyone who has ever worked valet, or who has close friends who have worked valet, will all tell you to never valet your car!

I understand but having to do that everyday will be very expensive. If occasionally then I won't mind but not in my case unfortunately.

[ddk632]

Yeah you didn't mention the every day part in the OP.

Can you park elsewhere and walk or Uber?

If not, then a dash cam will help if you need to handle any claims of damage.

There are tunes with valet mode also:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=788899

Not sure if any for the M2, but you might contact the company in that thread and find out.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Deutsches Blut

The P3 Gauge (vent gauge) has Valet mode. Not sure what it does, rev. limiter, etc.???

Remember that the P3 gauge is just a reading instrument showing info sourced through the OBD2 port of the car. It's a provider of information registered by the car - it cannot/doesn't interfere with anything.

"Valet mode" is merely switching off the P3 gauge (a way to avoid that the P3 gauge information would be 'invitational' for a driver to abuse the car, or allows the driver to switch off the P3 gauge whenever he prefers doing so [driving at night - you can toggle brightness though: bright or dimmed]). Sometimes users activate "valet mode" by mistake and think that their P3 gauge malfunctions:

• d.On = display on, normal operation of the P3 gauge;
• Off = Lockout / Valet, P3 gauge display off;
• to re-enable from valet: enter config with car OFF.

[Deutsches Blut]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Remember that the P3 gauge is just a reading instrument showing info sourced through the OBD2 port of the car. It's a provider of information registered by the car - it cannot/doesn't interfere with anything.

"Valet mode" is merely switching off the P3 gauge (a way to avoid that the P3 gauge information would be 'invitational' for a driver to abuse the car, or allows the driver to switch off the P3 gauge whenever he prefers doing so [driving at night - you can toggle brightness though: bright or dimmed]). Sometimes users activate "valet mode" by mistake and think that their P3 gauge malfunctions:

• d.On = display on, normal operation of the P3 gauge;
• Off = Lockout / Valet, P3 gauge display off;
• to re-enable from valet: enter config with car OFF.

Thanks for the clarification. I just installed mine a couple days ago and haven't had the time to read and play.

[pruettfan]

I am careful when I park but things can always happen so I try not to stress too much about it. The only time I have valet my car was at a Ritz Carlton, they agreed to park it up front where I could see it so I didn't worry much. Not sure I would allow a valet in most situations, I have seen too many of the youtube videos of kids going nuts in the latest hot car and young guys seem to get pretty excited about the M2.

[F87LUV]

I have an automatic plugged in so I know how they drove and where they went with the car. It didn't end well for one guy:

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1335385

I've never given it to a valet. I self park at work. I park next to the nicest car possible and/or try to get a spot by a wall to leave enough room for whatever ends up next to me.

[D CHOI]

Originally Posted by F87LUV

I have an automatic plugged in so I know how they drove and where they went with the car. It didn't end well for one guy:

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1335385

I've never given it to a valet. I self park at work. I park next to the nicest car possible and/or try to get a spot by a wall to leave enough room for whatever ends up next to me.

Parking next to the nicest car possible definitely helps as you would assume they will be careful too when opening their doors or backing out of the spot. Also can slightly hide some of the attention when parked next to a nice car vs a bunch of average cars.

I'm gonna have to look into that automatic app. Is it easy to use?

[ddk632]

Corner spot regardless of car in adjacent spot > parking next to nice car not in a corner spot

Reason being, that nice car can leave 5 minutes after you park and take the being-parked-next-to-a-nice-car advantage along with it!

[D CHOI]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Corner spot regardless of car in adjacent spot > parking next to nice car not in a corner spot

Reason being, that nice car can leave 5 minutes after you park and take the being-parked-next-to-a-nice-car advantage along with it!

Yea nothing can beat a corner spot really but if that isn't available then we have our alternatives.

[chillindrdude]

i never valet with my high performance cars

[M2taz]

Download the BMW Connected app on your phone and enable the GPS locator within iDrive. It's somewhat a piece of mind knowing where it is at least and communicate to the valet that you can track everything that's done to the car. Not exactly true but it's something!

[D CHOI]

Originally Posted by M2taz

Download the BMW Connected app on your phone and enable the GPS locator within iDrive. It's somewhat a piece of mind knowing where it is at least and communicate to the valet that you can track everything that's done to the car. Not exactly true but it's something!

Yea I actually do have that app and I did notice by default the GPS is not activated through the I drive. However I didn't bother to change the setting. I'm gonna activate it and see how accurate it actually tracks it but I'm not sure if it can track it live as the car is moving.

[Aronis]

Valets drive all sorts of cars, joy ridding is a rare event, but certainly careless driving can be an issue. To them it's just a car, and just a door, and just some paint....to you it's YOUR car....etc.

I have valet parked only once in 33 years of driving. We Valet parked wife's Minivan in Washington DC. Even then I was worried since a minor issue for the Valet can mean a big hassle at getting my family home from the trip.

When I was in college we had a senior dinner dance at a downtown hotel in Boston. A friend of mine had just picked up a new Toyota Supra (86 before the model change). The Valet took his car for a joy ride and slammed the wheels into a curb. Took out the two rims, the suspension and basically made the car un-drivable and could not be repaired. The Parking company basically told him 'it was like that' and he never got the car repaired. He had to eat the entire price of the new car. If I have to go somewhere where I do not know the parking situation in advance, I rent a car. That way when the Valet "Drives It Like it's a Rental," it is a an actual rental!

Mike

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by D CHOI

Parking next to the nicest car possible definitely helps as you would assume they will be careful too when opening their doors or backing out of the spot. Also can slightly hide some of the attention when parked next to a nice car vs a bunch of average cars.

I'm gonna have to look into that automatic app. Is it easy to use?

Yup. Plug and play.

[RAM_F30_F87]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ5jchmvkFQ

[BEM-S4]

If you go Dinan they have valet mode.