BMW keyless thefts - warning

Nilrem

colino wrote: »

The data port is the access point for all of the functions of the beemer, with the proper equipment you can even switch on functions that the car, by price sold at, shouldn't have!
My sole dig at all of this is the presumption that they can easily be got into in the first place.

I suspect some highly paid designer, or manager probably thought it a spiffing idea to save having to put in another connection specifically for that sort of thing and to make it easier for factory floor to customise an almost ready car, and for service techs in garages.....and probably got a nice bonus for saving them some money on materials with nary a thought about the security implications.

jimpix12

I don't understand the conspiracy theories surrounding this, why would an apparently unrelated group of people all collude together to make up stories and CCTV footage of their cars being stolen? It seems unlikely. If I was living in Reading/B'ham/London/Nottingham right now, which is where these thefts seem to have occurred, I'd be very worried.

colino

Hmm, let me think. We're in a double dip recession and there is a domino effect of high value cars mysteriously being stolen that range considerably in model, type and year.
I'd be more worried if the insurance companies approached BMW if they ever did find a real link to ease of theft.
I'm pretty sure all BMWs for the past 10 years or so are fitted with Cat 1 Thatcham security approved devices.

AlexMac

The commentator above " ...I'm still one of the cynics. You have to get into the car ..I really don't know how this can be done the way owners say, i.e., keys not present" adds little to the debate beyond cynicism.

My BMW was stolen twice from the driveway; immediately after purchase, 4 years ago, then last December, just before I traded it in (from a newer address but in the same SE London suburb). On both occasions it was driven away without the keys- which I had never parted with other than to a main agent for service, but recovered within 48 hours, undamaged and parked a mile away in (different) secluded streets, presumably awaiting pickup after the thieves were sure it had no tracker on board. The police found it 1st time but I combed the area and found it myself 2nd time around, as by now I was wise to the MO!

After the 1st incident, I chained it up at night, but after a couple of years , got sloppy. The second time, they seem to have drilled out the plastic gusset round the fuel filler, then plugged into the engine management port; the 1st time, there was no obvious sign.

I now chain the drive-wheels together and steering-lock my new model; so here's hoping, but, despite the fact that the Police advise several identical thefts in my immediate neighbourhood, and more worryingly, that the insurer's garage to which my vehicle was recovered had experienced dozens (and they were just the recovered ones!), BMW were in denial. As I was days away from taking delivery of a new model, I wrote to customer services about the problem, asking wheter it was fixable or if I should cancel my order- complete refusal to accept there was a fault or weakness. Suggested a tracker and 'return to invoice value ' insurance (bothe massively overpriced from your local BMW agent).
So be cynical- I assume you don't have a BMW!

colino

As a matter of fact we do also have a beemer, yep just checked, it's still in the drive, but I still don't go in for the hogwash about cars being accessed silently, without glass breaking, without keys.
Similarly I didn't think there was a problem with Porsche security when one of mine went walk-about a few years ago. As well as having the original Porsche alarm and immobiiser and an add-on immobiliser, my insurer at the time demanded a Thatcham certificate. This £70 special was duly added and with all three operational, four weeks later, the car was gone, never to be seen again. Now was that sloppy Porsche security or was it connected to having been in a local Porsche specialist for a new transaxle the week before? I know where I put my money and so did the Police.

buscape

It's completely true, this article has the theft on video and the associated thread has posts from the guy who's car got stolen and other people who have also had their BMW's stolen.

No logical reason for anyone to make that up and create some fake CCTV footage is there?

marlot

colino wrote: »

...I still don't go in for the hogwash about cars being accessed silently, without glass breaking, without keys...

Tell that to these people!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9369783/Thieves-placed-bugs-and-hacked-onboard-computers-of-luxury-cars.html

(OK, so they probably should have noticed that the jammer stopped their car from locking, but an easy mistake to make).

mikey72

colino wrote: »

As a matter of fact we do also have a beemer, yep just checked, it's still in the drive, but I still don't go in for the hogwash about cars being accessed silently, without glass breaking, without keys..

You still think the key works a little piece of metal running to the door lock, and you have to reach over to the others?

colino

mikey72 as you aren't in the trade you wont have been aware of this story for so long, but it's not only keyless entry BMWs that are being allegedly stolen this way. Everyone and their dog are claiming that everything from new 650s downwards are being lifted in this new way.
Incidentally other than a truck, I can't remember the last time I had a vehicle that you had to put the key in the door, but for standard plippers and proximity keys, they still have to be present and in range.

innovate

On BBC Watchdog tonight. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19562487 (probably can get the latest on i-player now).

BBC watchdog say BMW do have some sort of fix, and will be writing to all owners of 2006+ models. BMW also set up a special phone line : 0800-083-4397 (just rings this time of night, no announcement or anything).

In the meantime, it might be worth to buy some mechanical immobiliser if you fear for your beemer.