Hmmm.....DILEMMA!

Okay, so I've booked a room at the Swissotel in Chicago for next weekend....

$33/day to keep the car there, fine.

PROBLEM: I don't trust ANY valet with my diesel!! And I'm really trying to avoid driving the 420 or the ML up there and spending $$$$$$ on premium unleaded. They said their hotel garage is only valet and that I can't handle the car myself, only the valets are allowed into the garage or something to that extent. I guess I could "escort" the valet down to the car when we need to leave somewhere but who knows if they'll let me do that even. I'm leaning towards just driving the 420SEL and not worrying about it. I dunno, any ideas guys?

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Regards,
Aaron

Valet with a diesel? I'd like to see that. I escorted a valet in Manhatten once with a gas job and never again - was kind of like a cab garage - dark and spooky. Tearing a $50 in half as a ding bounty has worked well, especially when I tell them I'll be needing either their services or somebody elses once a month for a while. Ask for and write the valet's name on your half just before he drives away.

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daBenz - 1970 220D

I like that $50 idea. Leaving a 50 foot pistol target with all the shots in the x-ring on the passenger's seat might make a difference in his driving too.

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83 M-B 300D- daily driver
83 240D gray market
2002 VW Jetta TDI- beater

Aaron,
If it really means a lot to you to avoid valet parking, try finding a Municipal/public parking lot somewhere in Chicago. I live in NYC more than half my time and have a dedicated park-it-yourself spot for my apartment, but before I lived in New York and had to drive in for events and evenings, I'd either find a good un-metered street spot OR park in lots that were self-park like at Lincoln Center, or, before 9/11, in Police headquarters. Somewhere in Chicago is a self-park, and you seem determined enough to find it.

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Years ago I was a hotel valet in downtown Philly. We saw diesel Mercedes all the time. Unless you get someone on their first day on the job, or are parking in a bad section of town, they know what they are doing.

Now-a-days, I leave my car with a valet all the time, recently twice in Manhatten. I have had an issue only once - lights left on -hotel's (Hotel Hershey) portable jump start kit did the trick. I simply let the attendant know that it is a diesel and they know what to do.

If they ever nick, scratch, or ding it - the Hotel's insurance coverage is more than adaquate.

Save the gas!

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1996 (W210) E300D 86K - Traded in for a Lexus
1992 (W124) 300D 2.5 Turbo 202K - Sold
1983 (W123) 300D, 146K - Sold
1970 280S, 263K - Sold - Beginning of addiction

I had to leave my 240D with a valet in Chicago (further north than Swisshotels, at a Westin) in December. I'm fairly certain someone swiped my good torque wrench out of the trunk, but they claimed no responsiblity and refused to replace. (I don't have the valet key for that car.) I'm still fighting with the hotel about it.

In Chicago, there are quite a few self-park garages downtown--look for the green PARK signs. They're still expensive ($28/24hours), but you can park it yourself. They're generally pretty secure--look for one where access to the parking levels is locked. The attendant will demand that you leave a key, but I've never heard of any problems.

When we stay south of the river, we usually self-park in the Grant Park underground, and have never had any problems. I think that's a little far from the Swisshotel place though.

Our practice, by the way, is always to park the car for the duration--then take cabs or trains anywhere we want to go. Driving in Chicago isn't great fun, plus you'll get hit for additional parking anywhere you go downtown.

The only person I allow to drive my 240 is the guy that does the state inspection.. because that is required by LAW...Too many horror stories about the parking garages whether valet or not.... how about taking the bus to and cabs in town ? They have some specials running now...

Returning from the East Coast after Christmas traveling, I was impressed with the valets at the Read House Hotel in Chattanooga. Upon my exit from the vehicle (it was still running), the valet asked me, "How long is normal for your glow plugs to heat up, sir?" The next morning ( it was cold) he ran upstairs and waited a respectful time after closing the door before starting the engine.

Of course, I still locked him out of the trunk, as it had a load of gifts in it, but I appreciated his education regarding diesels and rewarded him accordingly.