Can it be that easy to steal my car?

rocketpop · 10-19-2008, 05:25 PM

I was thinking the other day while pumping gas. Could someone just jump in the car hit the start button and take off while I am standing there?

How can you prevent that from happening? Even if you lock the car, the car will unlock if the keyfob is close. My kids unlock the doors all the time before I even get close to the car.

syenisch · 10-19-2008, 05:30 PM

Maybe the car will shut off once the keyfob is out of range?

yourfriend · 10-19-2008, 05:33 PM

i know that with my mom's mercedes, if anybody were to do that, it keeps running for a few minutes so they can get out of the murder range then the car will die and call the police automatically. i imagine it can't be much different in the bmw.

Italteen3 · 10-19-2008, 06:16 PM

The car should die and keep the doors locked until a key is introduced to prevent the "suspect" from getting away. Just my opinion though.

MatthewDFW · 10-19-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketpop

I was thinking the other day while pumping gas. Could someone just jump in the car hit the start button and take off while I am standing there?

Assuming you have a Comfort Access key fob (which I think would be required for thief to hop in and take off), I'd press the panic button on your key fob and see what happens... Doing research now, wondering if it sets off alarms or turns off engine... or both... or what.

frimmelnojerz · 10-19-2008, 06:39 PM

i traded cars for a trip to chilis with a friend two weeks ago and forgot to give him my key. the drive was roughly 8 or so miles and the car didnt shut off.

MadMan77 · 10-19-2008, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewDFW

Assuming you have a Comfort Access key fob (which I think would be required for thief to hop in and take off), I'd press the panic button on your key fob and see what happens... Doing research now, wondering if it sets off alarms or turns off engine... or both... or what.

I am not sure what you are talking about since I do not have a panic button on my remote. Maybe you can elaborate a bit.

oneaabe · 10-19-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMan77

I am not sure what you are talking about since I do not have a panic button on my remote. Maybe you can elaborate a bit.

the trunk-open button doubles as the panic button. You have to keep that button pressed for 3 seconds to activate panic mode.

KeithLM · 10-19-2008, 08:15 PM

The car won't start if the key is not inside it.

Jewpac · 10-19-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yourfriend

i know that with my mom's mercedes, if anybody were to do that, it keeps running for a few minutes so they can get out of the murder range then the car will die and call the police automatically. i imagine it can't be much different in the bmw.

That isn't true, unless she calls MBZ at least. When I used to work as a valet, people would levae their cars running and take their keyfob all the time. We would just park them in the garage and get the key from the owner when they got back.

MadMan77 · 10-19-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneaabe

the trunk-open button doubles as the panic button. You have to keep that button pressed for 3 seconds to activate panic mode.

Ahhh... I guess that is why there is an owner's manual and the fact that I should read it...

Lester · 10-19-2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketpop

I was thinking the other day while pumping gas. Could someone just jump in the car hit the start button and take off while I am standing there?

How can you prevent that from happening? Even if you lock the car, the car will unlock if the keyfob is close. My kids unlock the doors all the time before I even get close to the car.

The manual says that the Key fob has to be inside the passenger compartment for the engine to start. They could get in the car, but not start it. However, I don't have CA so I can't verify this.

Citizen Z · 10-19-2008, 10:58 PM

The CA is pretty effective at figuring out where the keyfob is located relative to the corresponding function. My buddy couldn't unlock the passenger door even though I may be by the trunk. While the car will stay on and you can drive it without the comfort access keyfob once the car is started, preventing theft is easy: turn your car off when you're not inside. Case in point:

kbimmer135i · 10-20-2008, 01:29 AM

so i did an experiment because i also wondered if someone can drive off with the car without the key in it.

the answer is Yes. and the car won't shut off even when there's warning signs telling you that the car will shut off.

i had my friend hold my key and i drove around the block. nothing happened. i even stopped and put it in park but never turned off the car. i drove around and the warning sign just went away after a while. not a good sign at all.

clived · 10-20-2008, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbimmer135i

so i did an experiment because i also wondered if someone can drive off with the car without the key in it.

the answer is Yes. and the car won't shut off even when there's warning signs telling you that the car will shut off.

i had my friend hold my key and i drove around the block. nothing happened. i even stopped and put it in park but never turned off the car. i drove around and the warning sign just went away after a while. not a good sign at all.

Surely uoi turn off the engine before you start pumping gas though, to answer the OPs question...?

Oregon · 10-20-2008, 03:17 AM

Lester and Keith hit it, the car cannot be started without the fob. Frimmel and kbimmer demonstrated a running car can be driven without a fob on-board.

135iUSN · 10-20-2008, 04:01 AM

solved - turn it off - and you're safe.

2nd q - when you walk away - does it lock automatically too??

Oregon · 10-20-2008, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 135iUSN

2nd q - when you walk away - does it lock automatically too??

Mine does not.

135iUSN · 10-20-2008, 04:08 AM

stands to reason - CA - upon access not departure....

rocketpop · 10-20-2008, 06:22 AM

I tested yesterday and you can start the car without the key fob "inside" the car. I had a friend hold my keys and yes I was able to start the car BUT only if he within a foot or so of the driver side door. Any further away, I could not start the car.

It has a range and it looks to be very short. It will not allow someone to start the car if I am around on the other side pumping gas. You would have to be close to the driver side door before he could start it.

I also drove around the block while he had my keys.

MatthewDFW · 10-20-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketpop

I tested yesterday... It has a range and it looks to be very short. It will not allow someone to start the car if I am around on the other side pumping gas. You would have to be close to the driver side door before he could start it.

Good info.

If key fob is in your hand while gassing car, I'd try popping the gas lid, then locking car doors via fob button, then fueling. I do this with wife's X5 - lets me go inside gas station for snack while car is gassing up. Only caveat: When finished fueling, you gotta remember to unlock the car to securely shut the gas lid.

If doors are locked, but car windows are down - and you are still near the car - I wonder if the CA will let someone reach inside and unlock the doors from the console lock/unlock button. The "reach inside" part is important: without their weight being on one of the front seats, CA might consider them an intruder instead of an occupant, and refuse to unlock doors.

Got me wondering if BMW had their CA team sitting at desk trying to figure out all sorts of "what ifs" for programming the darned thing.

KeithLM · 10-20-2008, 05:27 PM

I had a friend in the drivers seat once and I was standing beside him with the keys in my left pocket and he could not start the car. There's some detection being done to determine the proximity of the keys to the antennas in the doors to decide whether the keys are in the car or not. I could see some leeway that would allow it to work with the keys nearby, but I don't think that being at the fuel door would be anywhere near enough.

As for other concerns, such as having the windows open, those things are huge, surely if someone can reach in and hit the lock button they can take what they want. What's with the paranoia regarding that?

Calm down, relax, and take a deep breath. Having CA makes it no more vulnerable than any other car. If you have a habit of leaving your car running when you aren't in it you deserve to have it stolen. Also if you never have to take the keys out of your pocket you are far less likely to forget them in the car, which is a good thing. And if someone does steal your car because you left it running, at least they can't shut it off and restart it.

And finally, yes it should be able to run when you get out of it. For instance, if you don't have an automatic garage door opener you might need to get out, open the door, and then pull in. That's fairly reasonable. So there are times when it's good to have it still running.

10-19-2008, 05:25 PM	#1
rocketpop Captain 60 Rep 865 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Home iTrader: (0)	Can it be that easy to steal my car? I was thinking the other day while pumping gas. Could someone just jump in the car hit the start button and take off while I am standing there? How can you prevent that from happening? Even if you lock the car, the car will unlock if the keyfob is close. My kids unlock the doors all the time before I even get close to the car. __________________
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10-19-2008, 05:30 PM	#2
syenisch Captain 111 Rep 810 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Gran Coupe Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Winter Garden, FL iTrader: (1)	Maybe the car will shut off once the keyfob is out of range?
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10-19-2008, 05:33 PM	#3
yourfriend Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 224 Posts Drives: E82 128i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Beverly Hills iTrader: (0)	i know that with my mom's mercedes, if anybody were to do that, it keeps running for a few minutes so they can get out of the murder range then the car will die and call the police automatically. i imagine it can't be much different in the bmw.
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10-19-2008, 06:16 PM	#4
Italteen3 Captain 59 Rep 765 Posts Drives: 135i JB Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Somewhere..... iTrader: (0)	The car should die and keep the doors locked until a key is introduced to prevent the "suspect" from getting away. Just my opinion though.
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10-19-2008, 06:39 PM	#6
frimmelnojerz Captain 23 Rep 692 Posts Drives: Montego blue 135i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bayonne, NJ iTrader: (0)	i traded cars for a trip to chilis with a friend two weeks ago and forgot to give him my key. the drive was roughly 8 or so miles and the car didnt shut off. __________________ 08' 135 in much need of some TLC. But after that... Watch out. AA/Berk/ER/UR/CP-e/Snow/ESS
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10-19-2008, 08:15 PM	#9
KeithLM Proud 1er 24 Rep 699 Posts Drives: Crimson/Coral 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Wylie, TX iTrader: (0)	The car won't start if the key is not inside it.
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10-19-2008, 10:58 PM	#13
Citizen Z Alpine Master 109 Rep 1,310 Posts Drives: '08 135i AW Sport Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kansas iTrader: (1)	The CA is pretty effective at figuring out where the keyfob is located relative to the corresponding function. My buddy couldn't unlock the passenger door even though I may be by the trunk. While the car will stay on and you can drive it without the comfort access keyfob once the car is started, preventing theft is easy: turn your car off when you're not inside. Case in point: __________________ Alpine White with Taupe Leather 135i, Sports Package, Heated Seats, Comfort Access, iPod Adapter Fastness: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252727
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10-20-2008, 01:29 AM	#14
kbimmer135i Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 243 Posts Drives: 2008 135i (3/24/08-3/17/11) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Francisco, Ca. iTrader: (0)	so i did an experiment because i also wondered if someone can drive off with the car without the key in it. the answer is Yes. and the car won't shut off even when there's warning signs telling you that the car will shut off. i had my friend hold my key and i drove around the block. nothing happened. i even stopped and put it in park but never turned off the car. i drove around and the warning sign just went away after a while. not a good sign at all. __________________ (3/24/2008-3/17/2011) 135i Cashmere Silver with black interior
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10-20-2008, 03:17 AM	#16
Oregon NRA Life Member, BMW CCA 30 year member 179 Rep 2,614 Posts Drives: 04' M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oregon iTrader: (1) Garage List 1971 2002 [0.00] 2004 M3 [0.00] 2008 135i [0.00]	Lester and Keith hit it, the car cannot be started without the fob. Frimmel and kbimmer demonstrated a running car can be driven without a fob on-board. __________________ Resigned 1ADDICTS Moderator “To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them.” – George Mason
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10-20-2008, 04:01 AM	#17
135iUSN 19 X5 1998 M Roadster 64 Rep 1,503 Posts Drives: 135i Alpine White / Terra Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SW Florida iTrader: (1) Garage List 1998 BMW M Roadster [0.00] 2009 135i [0.00]	solved - turn it off - and you're safe. 2nd q - when you walk away - does it lock automatically too?? __________________ '09 135i Dinan In BMW heaven 09.28.2022 - Stage 2/Alpine White w/Terracotta /High Gloss Black Trim/ZCW/ZPP/ZSP w/313's /CA/PDC/Steptronic/
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10-20-2008, 04:08 AM	#19
135iUSN 19 X5 1998 M Roadster 64 Rep 1,503 Posts Drives: 135i Alpine White / Terra Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SW Florida iTrader: (1) Garage List 1998 BMW M Roadster [0.00] 2009 135i [0.00]	stands to reason - CA - upon access not departure.... __________________ '09 135i Dinan In BMW heaven 09.28.2022 - Stage 2/Alpine White w/Terracotta /High Gloss Black Trim/ZCW/ZPP/ZSP w/313's /CA/PDC/Steptronic/
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10-20-2008, 06:22 AM	#20
rocketpop Captain 60 Rep 865 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Home iTrader: (0)	I tested yesterday and you can start the car without the key fob "inside" the car. I had a friend hold my keys and yes I was able to start the car BUT only if he within a foot or so of the driver side door. Any further away, I could not start the car. It has a range and it looks to be very short. It will not allow someone to start the car if I am around on the other side pumping gas. You would have to be close to the driver side door before he could start it. I also drove around the block while he had my keys. __________________
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10-20-2008, 05:27 PM	#22
KeithLM Proud 1er 24 Rep 699 Posts Drives: Crimson/Coral 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Wylie, TX iTrader: (0)	I had a friend in the drivers seat once and I was standing beside him with the keys in my left pocket and he could not start the car. There's some detection being done to determine the proximity of the keys to the antennas in the doors to decide whether the keys are in the car or not. I could see some leeway that would allow it to work with the keys nearby, but I don't think that being at the fuel door would be anywhere near enough. As for other concerns, such as having the windows open, those things are huge, surely if someone can reach in and hit the lock button they can take what they want. What's with the paranoia regarding that? Calm down, relax, and take a deep breath. Having CA makes it no more vulnerable than any other car. If you have a habit of leaving your car running when you aren't in it you deserve to have it stolen. Also if you never have to take the keys out of your pocket you are far less likely to forget them in the car, which is a good thing. And if someone does steal your car because you left it running, at least they can't shut it off and restart it. And finally, yes it should be able to run when you get out of it. For instance, if you don't have an automatic garage door opener you might need to get out, open the door, and then pull in. That's fairly reasonable. So there are times when it's good to have it still running.
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