Is my BMW Series 1 vulnerable to theft?

Head_The_Ball

Hi,

I have a BMW 116i Series 1 (F20) car first registered in January 2015.

The key fob has buttons that need to be pressed to unlock and lock the doors. The doors will not react to key proximity as some other makes and models do.

However there is no ignition key. The car will start provided one of the keys is inside the car.

Is this type of key system vulnerable to remote hacking?

I normally keep my key in a drawer just inside the front door. My wife normally keeps hers in a back bedroom.

Could someone stand outside the front door, just a few feet away from my key, and use a device to unlock the car door and start the engine?

I have read various reports that some modern cars are vulnerable to this type of theft.

I prefer not to have to place our keys in a metal box, fridge or other Faraday cage to secure the car.

The car is normally parked on a drive that is gateless and accessible to any passer by although fortunately we are in a cul de sac so there are is no passing pedestrian or vehicle traffic and our risks are fairly low.

Thanks

Johno100

'Relay theft' that you describe is still relatively uncommon. More likely the modern thief will put the drivers window in, access the OBD port (near where your right knee goes), programme a new key and drive off, all within a minute.

Some on here don't agree, but a physical deterrent such as a Disklok or similar may go some way to deterring both methods of theft and encourage them to go for easier pickings.

Of course the less tech savvy will burgle the house and nick the keys to the car and the wheel lock key as well.

MataNui

Seems odd to have keyless start but not keyless entry. On the face of it you should be safe from the recently publicised method of breaking into vehicles. They cant get into your car.

EssexExile

MataNui wrote: »

Seems odd to have keyless start but not keyless entry.

My dad's old Nissan Micra has the same. Who'd have thought - BMW & Nissan Micra the same!

AdrianC

Auris we rented the other year had the same combo. I found it odd, too.

tonycarew

I think it's only the BMW's with 'Comfort Access' that are affected by this method of theft.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

I think in principle, you could use the remote hack to start the car, but obviously they still need to gain entry to the car.

Apparently, the more exciting feature of their set up is that you can walk away from your car with it running, and someone can get in and drive it away. You don't need the key present to drive it, just to start it.

The other iffy scenario is parking, stop start kills the engine, you get out and walk away without pressing stop/start and then you are halfway down your latte in Costas and someone tells you you've left your engine running - it restarts under stop start.

Mercdriver

tonycarew wrote: »

I think it's only the BMW's with 'Comfort Access' that are affected by this method of theft.

Yes, when we bought my wife's car (2012 X5) we didn't select this expensive option.

AdrianC

Mercdriver wrote: »

Yes, when we bought my wife's car (2012 X5) we didn't select this expensive option.

It is bizarre that people would pay more to make their car less secure - all so they don't have to press a button on a thing they need to carry with them anyway.

Mercdriver

AdrianC wrote: »

It is bizarre that people would pay more to make their car less secure - all so they don't have to press a button on a thing they need to carry with them anyway.

It is bizarre that the premium brands charge for extras like this - My old E class was a top of the range Avantgarde with hard drive and multichanger, but if you wanted to be able to move your seat forward and back electronically (the seat adjusted eltronically on the angle of the back of the seat and the height) you had to pay an extra 1k for the privilege.

Iceweasel

IanMSpencer wrote: »

The other iffy scenario is parking, stop start kills the engine, you get out and walk away without pressing stop/start and then you are halfway down your latte in Costas and someone tells you you've left your engine running - it restarts under stop start.

I think that's not possible.