New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys
Discussion
Damn! Really wish i had seen this site before. My White 320i M Sport 2010 was stolen on Friday 10.8.12 in B'ham city centre! I was at work and am pretty sure i saw the 3 thugs who took it. CCTV has picked them up and will be sent to the police. After speaking to the police and insurance company they have been fully aware of this for months and its getting worse. Alarm did not sound and drivers window was broken. Shame on you BMW!
Thinking of buying a Audi or Merc but really want a BMW BUT once problem is fixed by BMW.
Can anyone a car for around £15,000 that in not so easy to steal.
Thinking of buying a Audi or Merc but really want a BMW BUT once problem is fixed by BMW.
Can anyone a car for around £15,000 that in not so easy to steal.
Guys, all this talk of trackers, secondary alarms and so on - if you think your car is at risk, just fit one of these to your battery for £10 and remove the "knob" (ha ha) and leave it in the boot whenever you're worried about the car.
Your car won't be going anywhere, whether the OBD II port is active or not.
http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...
Your car won't be going anywhere, whether the OBD II port is active or not.
http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...
MadAdMan said:
youngsyr said:
Can anyone recommend where to get an "OBD Port Disabled" sticker from - I'd ideally like one printed on a clear backing that can be fixed to the inside of the window facing outwards.
just had mine back from the printers, these were the designs - email me and ill send you the PDFyoungsyr said:
Guys, all this talk of trackers, secondary alarms and so on - if you think your car is at risk, just fit one of these to your battery for £10 and remove the "knob" (ha ha) and leave it in the boot whenever you're worried about the car.
Your car won't be going anywhere, whether the OBD II port is active or not.
http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...
I was advised against this by the electrician at my BMW dealer and also by an independent auto electrician. The reason is that a lot of the electronic stuff needs power the whole time and doesn't take kindly to having it shut off. Once in a while you can cope with it, but if you do it all the time, you may find yourself dealing with an endless cascade of errors and warnings.Your car won't be going anywhere, whether the OBD II port is active or not.
http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...
r999 said:
I was advised against this by the electrician at my BMW dealer and also by an independent auto electrician. The reason is that a lot of the electronic stuff needs power the whole time and doesn't take kindly to having it shut off. Once in a while you can cope with it, but if you do it all the time, you may find yourself dealing with an endless cascade of errors and warnings.
Perhaps better than having no car?r999 said:
youngsyr said:
Guys, all this talk of trackers, secondary alarms and so on - if you think your car is at risk, just fit one of these to your battery for £10 and remove the "knob" (ha ha) and leave it in the boot whenever you're worried about the car.
Your car won't be going anywhere, whether the OBD II port is active or not.
http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...
I was advised against this by the electrician at my BMW dealer and also by an independent auto electrician. The reason is that a lot of the electronic stuff needs power the whole time and doesn't take kindly to having it shut off. Once in a while you can cope with it, but if you do it all the time, you may find yourself dealing with an endless cascade of errors and warnings.Your car won't be going anywhere, whether the OBD II port is active or not.
http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...
This works because the current draw of things like the alarm etc will be below the rating of the fuse, say 3A running through a 5A fuse.
However when the car starts it will need much more than 10A and this will then blow the 5A fuse, unless the knob is put back in place.
So the power to all body electrical systems is uninterrupted, but it IS current limited below the current required to start the engine, until the knob is replaced whereupon the large current draw of the starter motor will go via the knob.
The downside of this device is inconvenience.
youngsyr said:
Guys, all this talk of trackers, secondary alarms and so on - if you think your car is at risk, just fit one of these to your battery for £10 and remove the "knob" (ha ha) and leave it in the boot whenever you're worried about the car.
Your car won't be going anywhere, whether the OBD II port is active or not.
http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...
That looks like a great idea....I've just ordered one. Your car won't be going anywhere, whether the OBD II port is active or not.
http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...
My X5 doesn't get used much during the week so it wouldn't be that much of an inconveniance. Also means the wife will use "her" Golf more than "my" X5.
Bit of a pain with the X5 as the battery is under the boot floor. Hopefully the powered boot lid won't blow the fuse...that would be a right royal pain in the posterior.
mrmr96 said:
Cheib said:
Hopefully the powered boot lid won't blow the fuse...that would be a right royal pain in the posterior.
Why not check the fuse rating for the powered boot, and be sure to use a jumper wire of suitable gauge for that current, and an appropriate fuse?Tyrewrecker said:
Perhaps better than having no car?
Most of the time ... perhaps not always.If someone's BMW went missing 30+ months into a 36 month return to invoice GAP insurance policy, after getting over their initial shock, they will probably be thanking their lucky stars and buying a non-BMW or even another new BMW.
Cheib said:
Without wishing to sound like a total numpty....how can I check the fuse rating for the boot ?!?!
Look in the handbook, and it will tell you which fuse does what, and what the rating is. Sometimes there's also icons drawn on the inside of the fuse box lid, but they can be a bit ambiguous in my experience.Cheib said:
Without wishing to sound like a total numpty....how can I check the fuse rating for the boot ?!?!
On the 5-Series Touring there's a neat little card tucked into a slot behind the RH trim panel in the load area. It lists all fuse ratings.It shows the electric tailgate lift as having two fuses, one of 40A and one of 7.5A. The X5 probably uses the same motors.
Good luck if you try a 40A bypass fuse!
Tyrewrecker said:
Yeah most whether they like it or not!
Just had mine back and its OBD disabled + fully armed - but after 2 attempts is it worth all the extra hassel? (BMW Head of tech at the dealership confirmed they do know and even eluded to BMW internally are trying to work up a lockable port cover for the new model while lobbying the eu for a change in the legislation re universal access to obd port) if i could find a X5 M sport 7 seat alternative , it wouldn't take much for me to switch a gain a little extra piece of mind..
MadAdMan said:
BMW internally are trying to work up a lockable port cover for the new model while lobbying the eu for a change in the legislation re universal access to obd port
I just knew BMW would try to use this to try to get the legislation changed. The legislation is NOT the issue, this is BMW's f**k up plain and simple but they've now got the perfect excuse to fudge the issue, blame it on the odb regulations and stop local indies from having access to it in the name of security. Bye Bye cheap servicing!Guvernator said:
MadAdMan said:
BMW internally are trying to work up a lockable port cover for the new model while lobbying the eu for a change in the legislation re universal access to obd port
I just knew BMW would try to use this to try to get the legislation changed. The legislation is NOT the issue, this is BMW's f**k up plain and simple but they've now got the perfect excuse to fudge the issue, blame it on the odb regulations and stop local indies from having access to it in the name of security. Bye Bye cheap servicing!Not just local indies. I now have an OBD reader which I bout for £29.
It saves me £70 and probably more in repairs just by being able to look up a code.
This is BMW trying to use their f
k up and use it to fleece us for money at the dealers.My 330 vert was pinched just before Christmas - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I was at a loss as to how they took it but it's obviously a lot clearer now. Obviously got my insurance payout - less to what I paid (GAP is a must next time) but it still affects your NCB, premiums etc. Do I want another BMW? Would love one but I am just too worried about leaving it every night. I live in the East End - where from reading some the posts on here seems to be a hot spot?
If I do decide to bite the bullet and risk another...what tracker (are they worth the investment?) and additional steps do the experts on here recommend?
Or do I just opt for an Audi or Merc?
I was at a loss as to how they took it but it's obviously a lot clearer now. Obviously got my insurance payout - less to what I paid (GAP is a must next time) but it still affects your NCB, premiums etc. Do I want another BMW? Would love one but I am just too worried about leaving it every night. I live in the East End - where from reading some the posts on here seems to be a hot spot?
If I do decide to bite the bullet and risk another...what tracker (are they worth the investment?) and additional steps do the experts on here recommend?
Or do I just opt for an Audi or Merc?
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff