Car is the meticulously cared for 91 300D. 118k miles, transmission fluid and filter religiously changed.

Interestingly, I NEVER use valet parking...just have never like the idea of it. Call me weird.

Kids and spouses in town...wife and I decide to watch the grandkids and send them to our favorite restaurant. Van and daughter's Prius loaded with car seats....so they take the 91. And they took advantage of the free valet parking....sounds ominous.

Son-in-law drove it there...performed flawlessly, as always. But when he got it back from valet, it would not shift out of the first forward gear (which, if I remember correctly, is second on the 722.4). Reverse works fine.

Yes, I know on a 25 year old car things can happen at very random times. Thus far, I have no proof that the valet did anything. But, what are some possibilities as to what might have happened? What sort of ill treatment, if any, would account for the new symptoms? Or what sort of random failure. It literally went from a perfectly performing 722.4 to horrible in an instant.

I checked the fluid, and it actually seems high. And I'm usually pretty careful about fluid level. Coolant level seems normal.

Restaurant owner is being very responsive....seems eager for their insurance to resolve the matter to my satisfaction.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife