New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys

[Mr Bimmer]

CMOS said:

Let's not take this personally, if you have some valid points please share them. Do you work for BMW or an Independent Mr Bimmer? That would explain a few things if you do.

I work abroad and do not work for a UK dealership or an independent for that matter, and I take exception to some of the members comments.

[hus882]

Benjycov said:

I couldn't agree more with all of that, I am having an ongoing debate with BMW at the moment along these lines, they should be compensating me for loss of NCD, gap, increased premiums. While it is due to a criminal activity they could have done something about it earlier, they could have at least warned me.

However they are too busy covering their asses, settling would be cheap relatively compared with the consequential loss of business.

The concept of group legal action is sounding better by the day.

I hope you dont mind me asking, were you effected by this? What was the reaction of your insurance company? Having just listened to the R4 programme it took one guy approx 9 months to get a payout , I hope your situation is not similar.

[CMOS]

Mr Bimmer said:

CMOS said:

Let's not take this personally, if you have some valid points please share them. Do you work for BMW or an Independent Mr Bimmer? That would explain a few things if you do.

I work abroad and do not work for a UK dealership or an independent for that matter, and I take exception to some of the members comments.

I understand, the thing to consider is that you appear to be quite informed and have opinions that are quite assertive. That's all fine, but other members may become frustrated because they may not share your view.

We all have certain views and forums often cause mild offence as we all have different writing styles and the words used can be often taken out of context.

Keep posting, it's important that this community sticks together.

Best

CMOS

[furrywoolyhatuk]

Watchdog tonight has an update.....

[don'tbesilly]

Mr Bimmer said:

don'tbesilly said:

You've mentioned this firmware update on a number of occasions now,so why if it exists,have BMW stated on Radio 4 this morning, that, "There is still no fix available,but one may be available in approx 7 wks" (or words to that effect).

Is it you that has no clue,or BMW,or both?

Thanks for your kind thoughts, I can now see where your name stems from.

I obviously have no idea about this issue. You really are quite rude. Good Day

Edited by Mr Bimmer on Wednesday 19th September 16:56

Apologies if you have taken exception to my comment,however,I have now asked you similar questions regarding your mention of a firmware upgrade three times,once on Friday,repeated on Saturday,and again today.
Each time you have either ignored them,or are evading them.

So I'd be grateful for a response,to my questions:

You've mentioned this firmware update on a number of occasions now,so why if it exists,have BMW stated on Radio 4 this morning, that, "There is still no fix available,but one may be available in approx 7 wks" (or words to that effect).

Further to that question,you state that the OBD remains live once the firmware update is carried out,how could you possibly know that, if as BMW state, that there is no fix yet available?

I noticed that you have commented that you don't work for either BMW,nor an Independent,but you apparently know more than BMW.

As I own a BMW & one that is at risk,I am as concerned as others are about the real risk of my car being stolen,so you can appreciate my quest for answers.

Thanks in advance

[dasherdiablo1]

Pleased to see watchdog have started to look into this. It's ridiculous that BMW have been so slow to provide a resolution. I feel sorry for those owners who have BMW's with these keys as residuals must have taken a hit and I'm sure they will continue to fall now it has become so public.

[CMOS]

I've just sent another e-mail to the CS Manager at BMW UK handling my complaint. Also copied Tim Abbott (UK MD). It will be interesting to see if there is any high-level response.

[Tea Pot One]

CMOS said:

I've just sent another e-mail to the CS Manager at BMW UK handling my complaint. Also copied Tim Abbott (UK MD). It will be interesting to see if there is any high-level response.

Don't hold your breath ... though you will get a response, I am sure

[D_G]

don'tbesilly said:

Further to that question,you state that the OBD remains live once the firmware update is carried out,how could you possibly know that, if as BMW state, that there is no fix yet available?

All OBD ports are live (+30), this is a hardwired connection. There's no need to change this in any case as it's the software integrity at fault here.

[Flat6er]

Has anyone looked into the option of anti shatter film on the drivers window? That way the glass would need to be pushed (at least 4inxhes)inside the car which would trigger the alarm.

[t8cmf]

Flat6er said:

Has anyone looked into the option of anti shatter film on the drivers window? That way the glass would need to be pushed (at least 4inxhes)inside the car which would trigger the alarm.

Why do you think the alarm will go off if the glass is pushed 4" inside the cabin?

The blind spot on these alarms is massive. I can wave my arms pretty much anywhere inside the front of my cabin (E92 M3) and the alarm doesn't go off. It does go off if you wave behind the headrests.

The film is a good idea but I'm not sure how effective it would be on frameless windows though.

[metsta]

ok, who is up for getting together and marching/driving on BMW's UK HQ, generally causing a scene, hooting horns, revving engines,spitting and a hollering to show en masse our general upset in the ste service and ste alarms we have in our cars etc. I set my alarm the other night with the window open, climed into the fking car and nowt not a dicky bird from the alarm??? my M5 what £60k a few years back, WTF//

whos up for a big fking protest drive out to BMW HQ?????

[CMOS]

metsta said:

ok, who is up for getting together and marching/driving on BMW's UK HQ, generally causing a scene, hooting horns, revving engines,spitting and a hollering to show en masse our general upset in the ste service and ste alarms we have in our cars etc. I set my alarm the other night with the window open, climed into the fking car and nowt not a dicky bird from the alarm??? my M5 what £60k a few years back, WTF//

whos up for a big fking protest drive out to BMW HQ?????

This made me LOL.

Seriously, you have a point though, just wish I had a BMW to drive down in! Mine will just coming off a container now.

[Flat6er]

t8cmf said:

Why do you think the alarm will go off if the glass is pushed 4" inside the cabin?

The blind spot on these alarms is massive. I can wave my arms pretty much anywhere inside the front of my cabin (E92 M3) and the alarm doesn't go off. It does go off if you wave behind the headrests.

The film is a good idea but I'm not sure how effective it would be on frameless windows though.

Ah, I read on the reports, and Im sure somewhere on this thread, that the blind spot is 4" inside the window. If its less sensitive than that the clearly anti shatter film would be a waste of time and potentially cause issues in emergency services trying to gain access in an emergency.

[youngsyr]

Flat6er said:

t8cmf said:

Why do you think the alarm will go off if the glass is pushed 4" inside the cabin?

The blind spot on these alarms is massive. I can wave my arms pretty much anywhere inside the front of my cabin (E92 M3) and the alarm doesn't go off. It does go off if you wave behind the headrests.

The film is a good idea but I'm not sure how effective it would be on frameless windows though.

Ah, I read on the reports, and Im sure somewhere on this thread, that the blind spot is 4" inside the window. If its less sensitive than that the clearly anti shatter film would be a waste of time and potentially cause issues in emergency services trying to gain access in an emergency.

Not to mention that quite a few of the cars that are reported as stolen and recovered on here have had their locks drilled and their windows haven't been touched, so the film is an expensive waste of time.

[don'tbesilly]

D_G said:

don'tbesilly said:

Further to that question,you state that the OBD remains live once the firmware update is carried out,how could you possibly know that, if as BMW state, that there is no fix yet available?

All OBD ports are live (+30), this is a hardwired connection. There's no need to change this in any case as it's the software integrity at fault here.

Thanks for that D_G,I got the impression from one poster on here,that the fact that the OBD remained live after the firmware update was in some way a continued weakness,if that is not the case,why even mention it?

[chrisABP]

I've disabled my 1M OBD port now and can honestly say I slept better last night!

There is now no way that my OBD port can be interogated without my OBD correction lead being used! Simple cost effective mod that might just keep the thieving scum away!

Chris

[pplondon]

youngsyr said:

Flat6er said:

t8cmf said:

Why do you think the alarm will go off if the glass is pushed 4" inside the cabin?

The blind spot on these alarms is massive. I can wave my arms pretty much anywhere inside the front of my cabin (E92 M3) and the alarm doesn't go off. It does go off if you wave behind the headrests.

The film is a good idea but I'm not sure how effective it would be on frameless windows though.

Ah, I read on the reports, and Im sure somewhere on this thread, that the blind spot is 4" inside the window. If its less sensitive than that the clearly anti shatter film would be a waste of time and potentially cause issues in emergency services trying to gain access in an emergency.

Not to mention that quite a few of the cars that are reported as stolen and recovered on here have had their locks drilled and their windows haven't been touched, so the film is an expensive waste of time.

The film by its design will not push in. It will only push out. Check Pentagon and the videos http://www.pentagonlondon.co.uk/pentagon_glass_shi... And yes I installed this when my car was first attacked and not the alarm. The alarm was fitted 6 months later when the car was attacked again. It cost me to replace the shattered glass but the whole pane was still in place with a hole the size of a 10 pence piece and no dent in it. And of course, as you know the BMW alarm did not sound. The company said they had a really good go at it but they were kept out. Was the glass worth the money? Not sure. If I had had the alarm fitted at the time of the first attack, then maybe they would not of bothered as it would of been clear that the security was updated.

Edited by pplondon on Thursday 20th September 10:54

Edited by pplondon on Thursday 20th September 11:07

[mrmr96]

pplondon said:

The film by its design will not push in. It will only push out. Check Pentagon and the videos http://www.pentagonlondon.co.uk/pentagon_glass_shi... And yes I installed this when my car was first attacked and not the alarm. The alarm was fitted 6 months later when the car was attacked again. It cost me to replace the shattered glass but the whole pane was still in place with a hole the size of a 10 pence piece and no dent in it. And of course, as you know the BMW alarm did not sound. The company said they had a really good go at it but they were kept out. Was the glass worth the money? Not sure. If I had had the alarm fitted at the time of the first attack, then maybe they would not of bothered as it would of been clear that the security was updated.

Edited by pplondon on Thursday 20th September 10:54

Edited by pplondon on Thursday 20th September 11:07

Can't see the video at work, but surely if you drill a hole in the glass then you just pass in something like a tent peg puller and pull on the hole and drags the filmed glass out? (You said it can "push out" so using a hook will do the same thing from the outside presumably?)

[pplondon]

mrmr96 said:

pplondon said:

The film by its design will not push in. It will only push out. Check Pentagon and the videos http://www.pentagonlondon.co.uk/pentagon_glass_shi... And yes I installed this when my car was first attacked and not the alarm. The alarm was fitted 6 months later when the car was attacked again. It cost me to replace the shattered glass but the whole pane was still in place with a hole the size of a 10 pence piece and no dent in it. And of course, as you know the BMW alarm did not sound. The company said they had a really good go at it but they were kept out. Was the glass worth the money? Not sure. If I had had the alarm fitted at the time of the first attack, then maybe they would not of bothered as it would of been clear that the security was updated.

Edited by pplondon on Thursday 20th September 10:54

Edited by pplondon on Thursday 20th September 11:07

Can't see the video at work, but surely if you drill a hole in the glass then you just pass in something like a tent peg puller and pull on the hole and drags the filmed glass out? (You said it can "push out" so using a hook will do the same thing from the outside presumably?)

Umm... perhaps. Like I said not sure if it was worth it. But in my case such action would set the Clifford alarm sounding which also has an immobilizer. And if that didn't work, there is always the last line of defence, The flame Thrower http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/232777.stm