03-31-2012, 09:11 AM | #23 |
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I would, some kind of black metal with 4 Hex screws sounds like a very good idea to me.
I would recommend everyone does this. However i've just received this email (better late than never i guess!) which makes me think maybe they dont just have to break in: NHW NB & NW Increase in thefts of BMW vehicles, without keys, across the Midlands Region. Please check vehicles are locked Please be aware that since January 2012, 154 BMW vehicles have been stolen from across the Midlands Region. Thieves are targetting vehicles built between 2006 and 2011 and are stealing them without the keys, as in all cases the owners still have all the keys in their possession. Thieves are targetting vehicles on driveways and in large carparks and wait for drivers to park and leave their vehicle. Once the driver presses the key to lock the vehicle a frequency blocker intercepts the signal causing the vehicle to remain open. The thief then enters the vehicle when the coast is clear and uses a device on the vehicle which programs a blank key. The key is then used by the offender to drive the vehicle away. If the frequency blocker is unsuccessful, the thief will often smash a front side window of the vehicle to get in. Four of the vehicles have been stolen from addresses in Warwickshire but it may well be that the thieves are spreading their wings and Warwickshire residents will be targetted next. Please could we advise all BMW owners to try their door handle after using their key to lock their vehicle, to double check that it is actually locked. Please also have a good look around when leaving the vehicle to see if you can spot anyone waiting nearby or in a vehicle in the vicinity, especially if you check and find the door to still be open. Please report anything suspicious to Police on 101 as they are very keen to catch these offenders. Thankyou |
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03-31-2012, 09:56 AM | #24 |
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Jeezz 154 cars in a few months and that only in one region in the UK
Anyone an idea as to where these stolen cars could be headding? Abroad seems a bit difficult since they are RHDR |
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03-31-2012, 10:12 AM | #26 |
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Apparently the police said it was 300 BMW's in the last month in the West Midlands alone!
Apparently there was a youtube clip a few months ago telling the scum how to do it and what to buy and since then its rocketed. I do hope its abroad, i dont want it back now. Apparently the alarm isn't triggered by the smashing window, its only triggered when someone gets in the car and in a certain area. The alarm didnt go off at all. When they got the key re programmed, they simply hit unlock and it deactivated. |
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03-31-2012, 10:25 AM | #28 |
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Agree...
I thought that the BMW alarm detected window shattering
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03-31-2012, 10:37 AM | #29 |
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Scary. Maybe the dead spot is off on RHD drive cars, since in theory the OBD socket would be on the opposite side?
The police should raid whoever sells these things online and get their sales/shipping info. Then go after the bastards who bought 'em. High chance it's mostly thieves. Securing the OBD port seems like a great idea. |
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03-31-2012, 11:02 AM | #31 |
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Garage List 2018 I01 i3s | CURRENT [10.00]
2018 G01 X3 | CURRENT [10.00] 2017 I01 i3 | SOLD [10.00] 2017 F48 X1 | SOLD ... [0.00] 2016 I01 i3 | SOLD [0.00] 2017 F22 M240 | SOLD [8.00] 2016 F25 X3 diesel ... [0.00] 2006 E60 550 | SOLD [6.00] 2011 E90 335 | SOLD [8.66] 2012 E82 135 | SOLD [5.50] 2011 E82 1M | SOLD [7.94] 2007 E85 Z4M| SOLD [4.50] 2003 E53 X5 4.6is S ... [9.00] 2008 E92 328 | SOLD [0.00] 2008 E82 135 | SOLD [0.00] 2008 E90 335 | SOLD [0.00] 2003 E46 M3 | SOLD [7.50] 2006 E90 330 | SOLD [10.00] 2003 E46 330ZHP | SOLD [0.00] |
was hoping this was an early April fools joke. very sorry buddy
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03-31-2012, 11:05 AM | #32 |
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OP, sorry to hear.
Thieves burn in hell, so let it be written, so let it be done. |
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03-31-2012, 11:18 AM | #33 |
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Sorry to hear about that. No defense against a gang equipped with specialized tools and experience with servicing/stealing BMW cars who were determined to steal your car.
Ask your BMW dealer to report your 1M as stolen on the international BMW network. Okay, it's highly doubtful that they will service it at a BMW dealership, but if they (or their "client") ever do, the computer will throw a code at them. I remember someone who purchased a second hand Range Rover, and during first service at an official dealership the computer indicated a conflicting VIN message. If thieves physically change the VIN all around the car, they might not realize that BMW also stamps the VIN at some less likely spots. I remember a case of a stolen BMW 3er: the VIN was physically changed by the thieves, except for one need-to-know spot. That's how the original VIN resurfaced and the original owner got retrieved (in another European country). Hopefully you did not leave important ID board docs inside the car, because resale without board docs is more difficult (they got to fabricate copycat docs instead of messing with the originals). On the other hand, you don't want those folks - who know where you live - to pay you a second nightly visit shortly to "collect" the docs at your house. RHD is a handicap for resale out of the UK, so keep your eyes open for UK car sale websites. If AW represents ± 1/3 of the 450 1M sales, then resale of one of ± 150 AW 1M's might be noticeable. Maybe the future bona fide owner will visit this forum. Cannot imagine thieves will spend time and money on a repaint or wrap. VIN also indicates the original car color. Don't sell your PSS tires yet. Maybe your 1M is retrieved shortly. No-one inside your street heard the peculiar loud cold start noise of your 1M ? Don't give away too many details about your car, how exactly it was stolen and how you could recognize it (eventually edit your first post), because if you simply type the words "stolen 1M" in Google, you'll end up directly on this thread. Needless to say that (potential) thieves use the Internet too... Good luck.
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03-31-2012, 11:38 AM | #36 | |
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Quote:
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03-31-2012, 11:53 AM | #37 | |
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Quote:
it's been done before
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03-31-2012, 12:01 PM | #38 |
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Im about to buy this unit and use it on my car with an old service key i forgot to give back. To further detail us maybe? Is there any way to code your ecu against this. I just dont understand how it can be this easy.
I have a lojack early warning detection system but i feel like even that wouldnt stop them. Have any been stolen in the US? |
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03-31-2012, 12:17 PM | #40 |
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I'm very sorry for your loss. I have the feeling that BMW will be forced to address this issue very soon because the lawyers are already salivating.
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03-31-2012, 12:33 PM | #42 |
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Well there is really no way to stop an organized car theft ring. A few year ago here in SoCal hundreds of late model Corvettes were being stolen. The thieves would target cars in parking lots near movie theaters and malls. After the owner went in they would just pull up in a tow truck hook the car and tow it away with the alarm sounding off and all. After a couple of miles they would pull over destroy the alarm and toss the LoJack. The cars were chopped and the parts transported to Mexico within hours of the car being stolen.
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03-31-2012, 12:36 PM | #43 |
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BMW assist? Not sure. I did think there was an inbuilt SIM card but not too sure.
Does anyone in the UK know if its recovered, does it go down as a stolen recovered? Maybe an obvious question but is it categorised? I thought it would be CAT as stolen recovered if it wasn't returned to the owner. If I do get it back and it is a stolen recovered Category, then I will try my hardest to get BMW to pay for the loss of value. |
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03-31-2012, 01:03 PM | #44 |
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