[Tweak48]

It's in a covered multi story parking bulding, but I don't think they have full time guards.

Car pooling would save me 30 miles a day, but I could lose the savings really easy if some asshole keys my car (I have $1000 deductable), or steals it. It does not have an alarm.

Are most of you okay with leaving your baby unattended all day while at work???

[r_liebo]

Depends on your perspective. Presonally I wouldn't worry too much about it. It is a 3 series BMW, not a Ferrari.
Plus, things are going to happen. Whenever I get a new car, I'm always worried about that first ding or scratch, but reality is they will happen, no matter what you do. Spending time fretting over this stuff on any non-exotic just isn't worth it to me.
As to specific stuff, your car can be keyed anywhere, no matter where you park. I think you are more likely to get keyed at a sporting event than in a park-and-ride lot full of commuters.
You might be at a greater risk of theft, but that's why you have insurance.

[deutschmann59]

I would think a covered garage would be safer than leaving it on the street. In fact, I would think this is probably the safest place to park (aside from your own garage).

As you can see from my other post, some old lady just bumped my bumper and I've got the factory alarm and it never went off.

Like others have said, these things just happen. It sucks, but you can't stop it. If this will save you money on gas/mileage, I'd say go for it. If your car is going to get hit or scratched while parked somewhere, it's going to happen. That's the attitude you've got to have because these things do happen.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by Tweak48

Are most of you okay with leaving your baby unattended all day while at work???

I do but I have a good situation. I park on the side of the building where my team works (I have an office in the middle of the building on the 2nd floor) and about 50 people can see my car. Since I have the "nicest car in the office", everybody looks out for it and calls me anytime they see anyobdy near it.

I park at the far end of the lot about 40-50 feet away from the nearest car so nobody should be near it.

I'm lucky and not ashamed to admit it.

[txusa03]

Take the worry out of the picture and you will enjoy your ownership more. As other have said, things going to happen to your car (especially if that is your primary car). Just go with the flow, don't drive like a maniacs and piss someone off.

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by Tweak48

Are most of you okay with leaving your baby unattended all day while at work???

what choice do most people have? maybe you should work out of the house if you worry this much about you car. i love my car a lot but you still have to live your life.

[kabhatti]

I'm sure you'll be just fine parking in a multi story covered garage. Park as far away from everyone else without taking up two parking spots and you'll be ok. I probably am the biggest worrier about getting that first ding. It does seem, that after that first ding or scratch, the car remains safe for a long time.

In my case, the dealer drilled 2 holes on my front bumper, though I hate it, nothing bad has since happened to it.

[e902cool]

Originally Posted by kabhatti

In my case, the dealer drilled 2 holes on my front bumper, though I hate it, nothing bad has since happened to it.

Are you serious about dealer drilling holes?? I have my E90 on order, should I call my sales guy to tell them NOT to drill any holes in the front bumper?

I guess my real question is, does the E90 front bumper hold a licence plate without any drilled holes on the cover itself?

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by e902cool

Are you serious about dealer drilling holes?? I have my E90 on order, should I call my sales guy to tell them NOT to drill any holes in the front bumper?

I guess my real question is, does the E90 front bumper hold a licence plate without any drilled holes on the cover itself?

does texas have a front license plate law and if they do is it enforced.
the e90 front bumper does not hold a license plate without the holes. to me the front plate looks bad and in my state we have this law but i dont care. i have never had the front plate and have never been bothered.

[silverado]

To me, there are two issues: safety from theft/vandalism and from door dings. The first depends on the area and no one can tell you what to do without that information. For the second, I personally never park in a tight spot (to me that includs "normal" parking spots) where door dings are possible. If I can't park away from all cars or paralel park, I park in corner spots and go out of my way to be on one side away from the other car so that it's impossible for the parked car's door to hit my car (unless that car leaves and another one parks there far into my spot).

It's not easy , but I manage okay and I live in a crowded city setting.

[kabhatti]

Originally Posted by e902cool

Are you serious about dealer drilling holes?? I have my E90 on order, should I call my sales guy to tell them NOT to drill any holes in the front bumper?

I guess my real question is, does the E90 front bumper hold a licence plate without any drilled holes on the cover itself?

Yup, serious about the holes. I even asked the dealer not to drill those holes, did it anyway. They said it was done before they got it. There is no apparent way to put a front license plate without drilling new self tapping holes into it.

[e902cool]

Thanks for the replies... *sorry for stealing this original thread* in the first place.

I almost never put any front plates on my previous cars...
If the dealer put on themselves rather than the preparation center, I will call the dealer and try not to have them drill holes.... but if is the prep center who drills them, there may not be much I can do about it

Also it is required in TX to put the front plate on, but like i said I saw lots of bimmers with no front plates on....

The holes are more visible on TS color rather than a darker color like ghe SG....

To reply the original question: I would feel pretty safe to put my car in a parking commuter garage. especially in a covered parking. There is only so much you can do about it with theft.

[BK]

Depends on the location of the parking lot. If it's in a crummy, crime-ridden area, then I would not be comfortable leaving any car there, new or not. Otherwise, yes, of course I would leave my new car in a parking lot.

I agree with r_liebo -- there should be plenty of flashier cars out there to attract the keys of the idiots, and you'll need to get over the fear eventually, anyway.

[Ghunger]

What area of Seattle Tweak? If it saved me 30miles a day I definitely think it would be worth it. If gas stays as high as it is now you'll have paid for that deductable in a year.

[grahamstine]

yes, Texas does have front plate laws. I haven't put one on the front yet, nor have I gotten a ticket yet. I think a front plate looks crappy. I will eat the ticket when that day comes.

[Mr. BMW]

I'm more worried about someone dinging the door than stealing or keying it, so I park at the end of a row where no one can get close to me.
It may be worth it for you to invest in the alarm. For me the alarm was a must have as it adds piece of mind. You know if someone smashes a window it will go off. Most small time thiefs will not even bother with it if they see it has an alarm.

[Traceaz]

Originally Posted by r_liebo

Depends on your perspective. Presonally I wouldn't worry too much about it. It is a 3 series BMW, not a Ferrari.
Plus, things are going to happen. Whenever I get a new car, I'm always worried about that first ding or scratch, but reality is they will happen, no matter what you do. Spending time fretting over this stuff on any non-exotic just isn't worth it to me.

This is exactly what I was going to say.

[ward]

yeah, the 3 series isn't even expensive

there are many trucks and suv's that cost WAY more

just because it says BMW doesn't mean it's exotic

[Oz]

I would because you never really know where/how your car will get scratched or damaged. I have drove my 3 series to NYC many times without a single scratch but one ride to a nearby restaurant parking lot was enough to get my first scratch.