STOLEN BMW 335i (East London, E14)
Discussion
shoehorn said:
Hi all,Iwas led to this thread through a link and thought it worth a quick mention.
The story goes my sister and her husband bought a 335d M sport and set about reading up on it after purchase.
She was alarmed to find how prevalent this is.
Anyway with this in mind I fitted 2 micro switches into the wiring up to the obd port and hidden about the cabin,one on the power supply to the port and one more for good measure on a(remaining secret)terminal that all scantools/interfaces need.
This kills any attempt to communicate with the vehicle by any means and can be left in the off position until needed,cost about a fiver from Maplins and twenty mins work.
3 nights ago the inevitable happened,returning from work she finds the o/s glass smashed and the obd port cover removed.
Importantly the car was still there.
It may not stop your car getting stolen by other methods but its a damn site more than bmw are doing apparently.
Can you post the part numbers you purchased from Maplins ?The story goes my sister and her husband bought a 335d M sport and set about reading up on it after purchase.
She was alarmed to find how prevalent this is.
Anyway with this in mind I fitted 2 micro switches into the wiring up to the obd port and hidden about the cabin,one on the power supply to the port and one more for good measure on a(remaining secret)terminal that all scantools/interfaces need.
This kills any attempt to communicate with the vehicle by any means and can be left in the off position until needed,cost about a fiver from Maplins and twenty mins work.
3 nights ago the inevitable happened,returning from work she finds the o/s glass smashed and the obd port cover removed.
Importantly the car was still there.
It may not stop your car getting stolen by other methods but its a damn site more than bmw are doing apparently.
driver67 said:
Can you post the part numbers you purchased from Maplins ?
Sorry,I did not buy them from Maplin,my workshop is full of such stuff.Just suggesting a place to buy them from but any reasonable quality on/off switch will do the trick.
sSpend time deciding where to hide them,it`s not like you need to access them regularly.
Guys,
I should have been reading this post earlier... this is my story..
I have a E92 M3. Not new.. a few years old, kept very clean and tidy but certainly not showroom new with a 12 plate.
Monday of last week i went to get the car and... no car. Vanished.. nothing.. another car parked there with a chauffeur inside who told me he had been parked there for 10mins and had found an empty space.. i thought i was dreaming.. but no, car had been stolen. In West london in a VERY posh neibourhood.
Here comes the good bit. I call the tracking company, who get in touch with the police, they trace the historical movement of the car.. car gets recovered in CENTRAL London, 2.9miles away, in a NCP car park. Police calls me, I go there to meet them.
Car is parked, neatly in a bay. There is NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER. Nothing, not a lock forced, nothing. Car is perfect. I agree for the car to be "forensicated" (BIG MISTAKE). They make me leave the keys and I leave them to it. They apparently load the car on a recovery truck to take it to the police pound for analysis. I get the car back 3 days later. There's dings on it. They basically damaged it whilst moving it. Obviously they deny. I know they did as I inspected it carefully when they found it. My word against the MET. Who wins ? I am writing formal letter of complaint.. but what can come out of that.
Back to the car. Aside from the dings, it's perfect. OBD computer cover removed of course.. i bring it to BMW dealer. They are adamant that it's "unstealable" whitout a key. I have both keys, I had both keys during the night. They say they dont understand and suggest to get in touch with BMW customer services. I do. They don't care. I have been a loyal customer, bought many cars, expensive cars. They don't care. Calls get escalated to their management, they still don't care. THey say that they think "the car comply with legislation and they have no known issues". I reply that if they get stolen that easily obviously this is not the case. They dont care.
Bottom line. I am disgusted by BMW customer service. Only thing dealership wanted to do was to replace locks and re-code the car for 1100 pounds ex-VAT. Which would solve.. NOTHING.
BMW BIRDS were much more helpful and suggested few things amongst which have the OBD disabled as suggested above, fitting separate immobilizer (non-BMW of course) etc etc.
Basically.. BMW is aware of the issue, denies everything to avoid liability, and will do nothing to help owners. Basically I will now sell the car and probably never buy a BMW again. Tracker can be a good thing as you tend to recover the car immediately, often with no damage (especially if it's a BMW
). But i will be looking to install some aftermarket systems, as thiefs know all to well the ones factory-installed. Actually the tracker i had had been fitted by a separate company, which might explain why they didnt find it !
So.. if you do have a BMW.. beware.. install something separate.. or sell it. I am so disappointed by their lack of help and assistance I can hardly explain. They point-blank refused even to have the car recoded for free.. they insist on charging me. It's incredibly poor.
I think I will write a few letters to voice my opinion.. although might be achieving little.
Good luck guys,
R
I should have been reading this post earlier... this is my story..
I have a E92 M3. Not new.. a few years old, kept very clean and tidy but certainly not showroom new with a 12 plate.
Monday of last week i went to get the car and... no car. Vanished.. nothing.. another car parked there with a chauffeur inside who told me he had been parked there for 10mins and had found an empty space.. i thought i was dreaming.. but no, car had been stolen. In West london in a VERY posh neibourhood.
Here comes the good bit. I call the tracking company, who get in touch with the police, they trace the historical movement of the car.. car gets recovered in CENTRAL London, 2.9miles away, in a NCP car park. Police calls me, I go there to meet them.
Car is parked, neatly in a bay. There is NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER. Nothing, not a lock forced, nothing. Car is perfect. I agree for the car to be "forensicated" (BIG MISTAKE). They make me leave the keys and I leave them to it. They apparently load the car on a recovery truck to take it to the police pound for analysis. I get the car back 3 days later. There's dings on it. They basically damaged it whilst moving it. Obviously they deny. I know they did as I inspected it carefully when they found it. My word against the MET. Who wins ? I am writing formal letter of complaint.. but what can come out of that.
Back to the car. Aside from the dings, it's perfect. OBD computer cover removed of course.. i bring it to BMW dealer. They are adamant that it's "unstealable" whitout a key. I have both keys, I had both keys during the night. They say they dont understand and suggest to get in touch with BMW customer services. I do. They don't care. I have been a loyal customer, bought many cars, expensive cars. They don't care. Calls get escalated to their management, they still don't care. THey say that they think "the car comply with legislation and they have no known issues". I reply that if they get stolen that easily obviously this is not the case. They dont care.
Bottom line. I am disgusted by BMW customer service. Only thing dealership wanted to do was to replace locks and re-code the car for 1100 pounds ex-VAT. Which would solve.. NOTHING.
BMW BIRDS were much more helpful and suggested few things amongst which have the OBD disabled as suggested above, fitting separate immobilizer (non-BMW of course) etc etc.
Basically.. BMW is aware of the issue, denies everything to avoid liability, and will do nothing to help owners. Basically I will now sell the car and probably never buy a BMW again. Tracker can be a good thing as you tend to recover the car immediately, often with no damage (especially if it's a BMW
). But i will be looking to install some aftermarket systems, as thiefs know all to well the ones factory-installed. Actually the tracker i had had been fitted by a separate company, which might explain why they didnt find it ! So.. if you do have a BMW.. beware.. install something separate.. or sell it. I am so disappointed by their lack of help and assistance I can hardly explain. They point-blank refused even to have the car recoded for free.. they insist on charging me. It's incredibly poor.
I think I will write a few letters to voice my opinion.. although might be achieving little.
Good luck guys,
R
rosino said:
Car is parked, neatly in a bay. There is NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER. Nothing, not a lock forced, nothing. Car is perfect. I agree for the car to be "forensicated" (BIG MISTAKE). They make me leave the keys and I leave them to it. They apparently load the car on a recovery truck to take it to the police pound for analysis. I get the car back 3 days later. There's dings on it. They basically damaged it whilst moving it. Obviously they deny. I know they did as I inspected it carefully when they found it. My word against the MET. Who wins ? I am writing formal letter of complaint.. but what can come out of that.
Sounds like it's worth doing a walk-around with a cameraphone in this situation like you might when collecting a hire car.rosino said:
Guys,
I should have been reading this post earlier... this is my story..
I have a E92 M3. Not new.. a few years old, kept very clean and tidy but certainly not showroom new with a 12 plate.
Monday of last week i went to get the car and... no car. Vanished.. nothing.. another car parked there with a chauffeur inside who told me he had been parked there for 10mins and had found an empty space.. i thought i was dreaming.. but no, car had been stolen. In West london in a VERY posh neibourhood.
Here comes the good bit. I call the tracking company, who get in touch with the police, they trace the historical movement of the car.. car gets recovered in CENTRAL London, 2.9miles away, in a NCP car park. Police calls me, I go there to meet them.
Car is parked, neatly in a bay. There is NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER. Nothing, not a lock forced, nothing. Car is perfect. I agree for the car to be "forensicated" (BIG MISTAKE). They make me leave the keys and I leave them to it. They apparently load the car on a recovery truck to take it to the police pound for analysis. I get the car back 3 days later. There's dings on it. They basically damaged it whilst moving it. Obviously they deny. I know they did as I inspected it carefully when they found it. My word against the MET. Who wins ? I am writing formal letter of complaint.. but what can come out of that.
Back to the car. Aside from the dings, it's perfect. OBD computer cover removed of course.. i bring it to BMW dealer. They are adamant that it's "unstealable" whitout a key. I have both keys, I had both keys during the night. They say they dont understand and suggest to get in touch with BMW customer services. I do. They don't care. I have been a loyal customer, bought many cars, expensive cars. They don't care. Calls get escalated to their management, they still don't care. THey say that they think "the car comply with legislation and they have no known issues". I reply that if they get stolen that easily obviously this is not the case. They dont care.
Bottom line. I am disgusted by BMW customer service. Only thing dealership wanted to do was to replace locks and re-code the car for 1100 pounds ex-VAT. Which would solve.. NOTHING.
BMW BIRDS were much more helpful and suggested few things amongst which have the OBD disabled as suggested above, fitting separate immobilizer (non-BMW of course) etc etc.
Basically.. BMW is aware of the issue, denies everything to avoid liability, and will do nothing to help owners. Basically I will now sell the car and probably never buy a BMW again. Tracker can be a good thing as you tend to recover the car immediately, often with no damage (especially if it's a BMW). But i will be looking to install some aftermarket systems, as thiefs know all to well the ones factory-installed. Actually the tracker i had had been fitted by a separate company, which might explain why they didnt find it !
So.. if you do have a BMW.. beware.. install something separate.. or sell it. I am so disappointed by their lack of help and assistance I can hardly explain. They point-blank refused even to have the car recoded for free.. they insist on charging me. It's incredibly poor.
I think I will write a few letters to voice my opinion.. although might be achieving little.
Good luck guys,
R
Jeez. Nightmare.I should have been reading this post earlier... this is my story..
I have a E92 M3. Not new.. a few years old, kept very clean and tidy but certainly not showroom new with a 12 plate.
Monday of last week i went to get the car and... no car. Vanished.. nothing.. another car parked there with a chauffeur inside who told me he had been parked there for 10mins and had found an empty space.. i thought i was dreaming.. but no, car had been stolen. In West london in a VERY posh neibourhood.
Here comes the good bit. I call the tracking company, who get in touch with the police, they trace the historical movement of the car.. car gets recovered in CENTRAL London, 2.9miles away, in a NCP car park. Police calls me, I go there to meet them.
Car is parked, neatly in a bay. There is NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER. Nothing, not a lock forced, nothing. Car is perfect. I agree for the car to be "forensicated" (BIG MISTAKE). They make me leave the keys and I leave them to it. They apparently load the car on a recovery truck to take it to the police pound for analysis. I get the car back 3 days later. There's dings on it. They basically damaged it whilst moving it. Obviously they deny. I know they did as I inspected it carefully when they found it. My word against the MET. Who wins ? I am writing formal letter of complaint.. but what can come out of that.
Back to the car. Aside from the dings, it's perfect. OBD computer cover removed of course.. i bring it to BMW dealer. They are adamant that it's "unstealable" whitout a key. I have both keys, I had both keys during the night. They say they dont understand and suggest to get in touch with BMW customer services. I do. They don't care. I have been a loyal customer, bought many cars, expensive cars. They don't care. Calls get escalated to their management, they still don't care. THey say that they think "the car comply with legislation and they have no known issues". I reply that if they get stolen that easily obviously this is not the case. They dont care.
Bottom line. I am disgusted by BMW customer service. Only thing dealership wanted to do was to replace locks and re-code the car for 1100 pounds ex-VAT. Which would solve.. NOTHING.
BMW BIRDS were much more helpful and suggested few things amongst which have the OBD disabled as suggested above, fitting separate immobilizer (non-BMW of course) etc etc.
Basically.. BMW is aware of the issue, denies everything to avoid liability, and will do nothing to help owners. Basically I will now sell the car and probably never buy a BMW again. Tracker can be a good thing as you tend to recover the car immediately, often with no damage (especially if it's a BMW
). But i will be looking to install some aftermarket systems, as thiefs know all to well the ones factory-installed. Actually the tracker i had had been fitted by a separate company, which might explain why they didnt find it ! So.. if you do have a BMW.. beware.. install something separate.. or sell it. I am so disappointed by their lack of help and assistance I can hardly explain. They point-blank refused even to have the car recoded for free.. they insist on charging me. It's incredibly poor.
I think I will write a few letters to voice my opinion.. although might be achieving little.
Good luck guys,
R
Did the Police fingerprint inside the car too? If so you've now got years of cleaning finger-print dust from the inside of your car. It seems to linger in the air and gets everywhere.
It's a shame you're thinking of selling and changing brands, but I can't say I blame you with the experience you've had with BMW.
lmaoBMW claim to know nothing about this.
But then they also flatly denied that their 19'' E92 wheels were prone to cracking, until they got embarassed on watchdog anyway.
I suggest we pick at random one of their customer service staff and all of us with BMW's ring up and express our concerns to that member of staff. At least then they might stop denying having heard of the problem. It would appear that BMW owners are sitting ducks at the moment and BMW are offering no real solution to this.
But then they also flatly denied that their 19'' E92 wheels were prone to cracking, until they got embarassed on watchdog anyway.
I suggest we pick at random one of their customer service staff and all of us with BMW's ring up and express our concerns to that member of staff. At least then they might stop denying having heard of the problem. It would appear that BMW owners are sitting ducks at the moment and BMW are offering no real solution to this.
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