Garage I park in downtown for work leaves car windows open,interior damage thoughts?!

the1andonly · 11-12-2014, 02:48 PM

Garage I park in downtown for work leaves car windows open. They do this because they leave the keys in the ignition to shuffle cars around and they don't get locked out of cars. That ok because there are some REALLY nice cars in the garage and its watched very closely. My issue is having the interior bits exposed to a damp, cold, garage filled with exhaust fumes day after day after day for months/years in winter and summer. I have to park in this garage because there isn't much other room downtown to park.

what do you guys think? Is it unreasonable I be concerned?….

Nemco · 11-12-2014, 03:05 PM

Tips them a few bucks when you drop it off and ask them to leave the windows closed. Worth a shot.

the1andonly · 11-12-2014, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemco

Tips them a few bucks when you drop it off and ask them to leave the windows closed. Worth a shot.

I actually like that suggestion! But it would get too expensive everyday...

ptack · 11-12-2014, 03:28 PM

Not sure why the windows are open at all. It's not like you don't have to open the door to move the cars. The only reason I can think of is because whoever is moving the cars is worried about leaving a bad smell in the car if the windows are up. That's not great endorsement for the garage so I would just ask them.

the1andonly · 11-12-2014, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptack

Not sure why the windows are open at all. It's not like you don't have to open the door to move the cars. The only reason I can think of is because whoever is moving the cars is worried about leaving a bad smell in the car if the windows are up. That's not great endorsement for the garage so I would just ask them.

They said it prevents them from locking the keys in the car.

darkrom · 11-13-2014, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the1andonly

They said it prevents them from locking the keys in the car.

Couldn't careful well trained employees do the same thing?

Also, how exactly would you accidentally lock your BMW key in the car? I don't think you can lock it with comfort access with the key inside. So are they locking the car and then climbing out the roof or something?

I don't think its possible to lock yourself out of a modern BMW lol.

Nemco · 11-13-2014, 08:44 AM

I think this is a common garage practice, I see it in my town frequently. I suppose they could lock another cars' keys in your car, etc. Probably gets quite hectic and confusing with comfort access in so many cars.

In any event, if you are a monthly tenant you are a preferred customer - Even without a daily tip, I bet they would keep your windows sealed if you request it.

MightyMouseTech · 11-13-2014, 09:35 AM

Very common garage practice. We do that here in the shop. If the keys are in the car, ALWAYS leave a window open.

IEDEI · 11-13-2014, 09:37 AM

most of the manhattan garages do this as well......i have even asked them a few times NOT to do it....but they insist. If you are worried, you could try to find a 'self park' parking lot.

the1andonly · 11-13-2014, 10:04 AM

Thanks for all the great responses. Its good to know this happens elsewhere too. I guess it goes back to my original question. Could having the windows open all day every day in a cold/warm often damp exhaust filled garage do anything to the interior of a car. I know the outside is made to protect against the elements, but is the inside? It has carpet, electronics, materials that can absorb moisture, odors etc and wear prematurely age. Not to mention some dude jumping in and out of the car, using a manual shifter, and starting and stoping the engine cold all day. Or am I being overly concerned?

If it was just a day or week or even month thats fine, but this is my only parking option for work for the next year or two at least. There are a lot of much nicer cars parked there and they don't seem to mind, but that still doesn't change the fact that it isn't good for the interior of the car.

Nemco · 11-13-2014, 02:29 PM

Without any particular expertise, I would say the impact on your interior will be minimal. I might make a habit of wiping the interior surfaces off a little more often, but otherwise, as long as the car is in daily use and not sitting with the windows open continuously for extended periods, no permanent damage will occur - the plastics are industrial strength and the leather ain't that soft in our 1ers! And I wouldn't think garage odors would leave a permanent residue during 8-hour stretches.

On the other hand, your bumpers will inevitably get beat to hell with little nicks and scrapes without guards of some kind.

Overpar56 · 11-14-2014, 09:32 AM

You might get a little more dust in the car. Concrete sheds dust all the time. Park your car at the airport garage for a day and look at the exterior.

If you look at it another way, having the window open probably vents it a little. Moisture gets trapped in cars if they just sit there closed up. Might help prevent the plastic gassing fogging up the inside of the windows too.

Yeineken · 11-14-2014, 10:18 AM

This is interesting. Garage I go to you give the attendants the key and lock the car and they keep all the keys in the office. Unless you park in a spot where you are not blocking someone you can lock it and keep your key since they wont need to move your car.

But then again I park on the top floor with no attendants so I don't have to worry about this.

11-12-2014, 02:48 PM	#1
the1andonly Lieutenant 82 Rep 539 Posts Drives: black on black 128i manual Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: midwest iTrader: (0)	Garage I park in downtown for work leaves car windows open,interior damage thoughts?! Garage I park in downtown for work leaves car windows open. They do this because they leave the keys in the ignition to shuffle cars around and they don't get locked out of cars. That ok because there are some REALLY nice cars in the garage and its watched very closely. My issue is having the interior bits exposed to a damp, cold, garage filled with exhaust fumes day after day after day for months/years in winter and summer. I have to park in this garage because there isn't much other room downtown to park. what do you guys think? Is it unreasonable I be concerned?…. __________________
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11-12-2014, 03:05 PM	#2
Nemco Private 11 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 135is #361/586 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Tips them a few bucks when you drop it off and ask them to leave the windows closed. Worth a shot.
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11-12-2014, 03:28 PM	#4
ptack Brigadier General 269 Rep 4,470 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 135i [6.50]	Not sure why the windows are open at all. It's not like you don't have to open the door to move the cars. The only reason I can think of is because whoever is moving the cars is worried about leaving a bad smell in the car if the windows are up. That's not great endorsement for the garage so I would just ask them. __________________ 135i, SGM, Coral, Sport Package, Auto, Premium Hifi, USB/ipod, Apex EC-7s, PPK Stage II
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11-13-2014, 08:44 AM	#7
Nemco Private 11 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 135is #361/586 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	I think this is a common garage practice, I see it in my town frequently. I suppose they could lock another cars' keys in your car, etc. Probably gets quite hectic and confusing with comfort access in so many cars. In any event, if you are a monthly tenant you are a preferred customer - Even without a daily tip, I bet they would keep your windows sealed if you request it.
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11-13-2014, 09:35 AM	#8
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Very common garage practice. We do that here in the shop. If the keys are in the car, ALWAYS leave a window open.
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11-13-2014, 09:37 AM	#9
IEDEI Banned 1130 Rep 4,686 Posts Drives: L'Orange Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Brooklyn, NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 1M [8.40]	most of the manhattan garages do this as well......i have even asked them a few times NOT to do it....but they insist. If you are worried, you could try to find a 'self park' parking lot.
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11-13-2014, 10:04 AM	#10
the1andonly Lieutenant 82 Rep 539 Posts Drives: black on black 128i manual Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: midwest iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the great responses. Its good to know this happens elsewhere too. I guess it goes back to my original question. Could having the windows open all day every day in a cold/warm often damp exhaust filled garage do anything to the interior of a car. I know the outside is made to protect against the elements, but is the inside? It has carpet, electronics, materials that can absorb moisture, odors etc and wear prematurely age. Not to mention some dude jumping in and out of the car, using a manual shifter, and starting and stoping the engine cold all day. Or am I being overly concerned? If it was just a day or week or even month thats fine, but this is my only parking option for work for the next year or two at least. There are a lot of much nicer cars parked there and they don't seem to mind, but that still doesn't change the fact that it isn't good for the interior of the car. __________________
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11-13-2014, 02:29 PM	#11
Nemco Private 11 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 135is #361/586 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Without any particular expertise, I would say the impact on your interior will be minimal. I might make a habit of wiping the interior surfaces off a little more often, but otherwise, as long as the car is in daily use and not sitting with the windows open continuously for extended periods, no permanent damage will occur - the plastics are industrial strength and the leather ain't that soft in our 1ers! And I wouldn't think garage odors would leave a permanent residue during 8-hour stretches. On the other hand, your bumpers will inevitably get beat to hell with little nicks and scrapes without guards of some kind.
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11-14-2014, 09:32 AM	#12
Overpar56 Proud AARP member in good standing 28 Rep 635 Posts Drives: Me nuts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Skyline, Chile iTrader: (0)	You might get a little more dust in the car. Concrete sheds dust all the time. Park your car at the airport garage for a day and look at the exterior. If you look at it another way, having the window open probably vents it a little. Moisture gets trapped in cars if they just sit there closed up. Might help prevent the plastic gassing fogging up the inside of the windows too. __________________ 2012 135i DCT, Lemans Blue/black leather, PPK1, PE, Stoptech Sport rotors and Sport pads, unhealthy crackles and burbles and an aging demonic driver.
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11-14-2014, 10:18 AM	#13
Yeineken Colonel 1301 Rep 2,093 Posts Drives: '11 135i M Sport Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Delmarva Peninsula iTrader: (3) Garage List '11 135i [8.20] '16 Ford Hatchback [0.00] '15 X5 [10.00]	This is interesting. Garage I go to you give the attendants the key and lock the car and they keep all the keys in the office. Unless you park in a spot where you are not blocking someone you can lock it and keep your key since they wont need to move your car. But then again I park on the top floor with no attendants so I don't have to worry about this.
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