Stolen 1M CCTV footage

[FisiP1]

I'm not even a BMW owner and that official company press release makes me angry!

[Zed Ed]

..... although it has moved along from the early client comma baloney

[Skipppy]

I'm sure it's been asked but who in the right mind is going to invest substancial amounts of money in BMW cars until this issue is sorted...?

[Strawman]

If there are sufficient insurance claims coming in that the premiums of BMW whole range starts to go up significantly compared to other brands, then BMW will have to do something to fix this or lose market share.

[devnull]

Good to see this is being addressed on TV. BMW need to grow a pair.

Will probably also inspire some criminals to look into how to do it too, i guess! :S

[TallbutBuxomly]

Marf said:

Watch the full report on BBC One's Watchdog on Wednesday 12 September 2012 at 2000 BST. Or watch afterwards on BBC iPlayer.

Too funny. I wrote to bmw HQ Uk and Germany and official response was given. I pointed out they wont be so dismissive when it gets more mainstream and ends up on bbc watchdog.


I eagerly await their reaction.

[matt3001]

May have been covered before but is this specifically a problem with their newer cars or does it affect E39/E46 cars also?

[devnull]

I believe it's anything with a CAS based key system - i.e. push button start, wedge shaped key. 2005 onwards?

[Dr Interceptor]

This is already affecting BMW premiums... I just did two identical quotes on the Meerkat website, the first for a 2012 BMW 330d M-Sport Touring - on the second quote I changed no details, except to switch the car to a 2012 Audi A4 Avant 3.0TDi S-Line.

Both cars processed with the same market value, same driver details, same everything.

BMW: £443.97
Audi: £360.18

[mjb1]

What I don't understand is why the diagnostic port is electronically active and open to learning new keys whilst the alarm is armed? Surely that is the stupidest design flaw ever for a 'security' system?

If I'd been a victim I'd be looking at legal action against BMW. Class action anyone?

[carinaman]

Perhaps the Watchdog coverage will get BMW to sort it out?

I think it was in the back of F1 Racing magazine, some 'in my previous life' type article where Nick Fry of Mercedes, formerly Brawn, formerly Honda was saying he worked for Ford and had to be media 'coached' before going on Watchdog to be grilled by Anne Robinson over some issue with the Mondeo.

Cynically I am wondering it'll take some news more sensational and worse than the 'Stolen, tuned RS5 tries to outrun police helicopter on the M5' before they'll get this sorted.

Perhaps people feel differently about their cars when they're owned by their employer or a lease company? They'd be happier about not having their homes penetrated to get the keys as it belongs to work or a lease co.?

New cars sales are predominantly B2B these days?

That's something private buyers should consider when selecting their new cars and what dealers to deal with? As most new cars sales are B2B explains why some people seem to get less than wholesome experiences in car dealerships?

It was an eye opener when in a Kwik Fit type tyre, exhaust, brakes and oil change type place someone was faffing about on the phone about replacing a tyre as it was owned by the company.

Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 12th September 12:46

Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 12th September 12:51

[Marf]

TallbutBuxomly said:

Marf said:

Watch the full report on BBC One's Watchdog on Wednesday 12 September 2012 at 2000 BST. Or watch afterwards on BBC iPlayer.

Too funny. I wrote to bmw HQ Uk and Germany and official response was given. I pointed out they wont be so dismissive when it gets more mainstream and ends up on bbc watchdog.


I eagerly await their reaction.

It was inevitable that it would end up on watchdog, I'm just surprised it took so long!

[V8A*ndy]

Dr Interceptor said:

This is already affecting BMW premiums... I just did two identical quotes on the Meerkat website, the first for a 2012 BMW 330d M-Sport Touring - on the second quote I changed no details, except to switch the car to a 2012 Audi A4 Avant 3.0TDi S-Line.

Both cars processed with the same market value, same driver details, same everything.

BMW: £443.97
Audi: £360.18

That is interesting, however the wife has just renewed her 1M insurance for £260 inclusive of legal protection. That's down from £400.

[Gaygle]

Dr Interceptor said:

This is already affecting BMW premiums... I just did two identical quotes on the Meerkat website, the first for a 2012 BMW 330d M-Sport Touring - on the second quote I changed no details, except to switch the car to a 2012 Audi A4 Avant 3.0TDi S-Line.

Both cars processed with the same market value, same driver details, same everything.

BMW: £443.97
Audi: £360.18

Totally irrelevant. Insurance premiums are made up by more than what cars get stolen using the OBD technique. Parts for BMW's might statistically cost more, or take longer to fix, or BMW's may be involved in more accidents, or driven by less careful people, or get stolen (via the traditional method) more.

[ArsE92]

Skipppy said:

I'm sure it's been asked but who in the right mind is going to invest substancial amounts of money in BMW cars until this issue is sorted...?

Me, probably. Whilst this security flaw is unfortunate to say the least I'm not going to rule out an E90 M3 as my next car because of it. Once I buy the car I have responsibility to secure it, so I'd nobble the OBD port like I have done with my 335.

I'm sure many others will take the same approach.

[matt3001]

Dr Interceptor said:

This is already affecting BMW premiums... I just did two identical quotes on the Meerkat website, the first for a 2012 BMW 330d M-Sport Touring - on the second quote I changed no details, except to switch the car to a 2012 Audi A4 Avant 3.0TDi S-Line.

Both cars processed with the same market value, same driver details, same everything.

BMW: £443.97
Audi: £360.18

I dont think you can read anything into this at all.

[oyster]

XDA said:

What's shocked me about that CCTV footage is the fact that 2 visable CCTV cameras and security lighting doesn't put them off in the slightest!!

A secure locked garage is the best way.

Always amazes me how people put old carpets, knackered lawnmowers and boxes of the childrens' old school reports in the garage and park £70k of metal in front of it.

[carinaman]

ArsE92 said:

Skipppy said:

I'm sure it's been asked but who in the right mind is going to invest substancial amounts of money in BMW cars until this issue is sorted...?

Me, probably. Whilst this security flaw is unfortunate to say the least I'm not going to rule out an E90 M3 as my next car because of it. Once I buy the car I have responsibility to secure it, so I'd nobble the OBD port like I have done with my 335.

I'm sure many others will take the same approach.

Really? Those that have one as company cars will do that? What would happen with the warranty? The Nobbling wouldn't cause any issues so dealers couldn't quibble about it?

That buyers have to beef up car security for what's an obvious oversight on the part of BMW (I've mentioned comparisons to network security and physical access before) sounds like days past were Jaguar and Lotus seemed to use their customers to finish off their car development for them.


It's not BMW's responsibility to ensure the OBD post isn't as easy to access and functionally enabled that port to be used to disable the alarm and reprogram keys?

Hopefully Watchdog will give Thatcham a well deserved boot in the nads too for certifying the 1M as secure. I guess like BMW they just know about car security and nothing about network security?

[carinaman]

That other cars don't suffer this vulnerability could be a bit of a clue that BMW and Thatcham have dropped a bit of a clanger here?

It's the fault of owners that Thatcham signed it off as secure?

[Pugland53]

V8A*ndy said:

Dr Interceptor said:

This is already affecting BMW premiums... I just did two identical quotes on the Meerkat website, the first for a 2012 BMW 330d M-Sport Touring - on the second quote I changed no details, except to switch the car to a 2012 Audi A4 Avant 3.0TDi S-Line.

Both cars processed with the same market value, same driver details, same everything.

BMW: £443.97
Audi: £360.18

That is interesting, however the wife has just renewed her 1M insurance for £260 inclusive of legal protection. That's down from £400.

Same here, my renewal was a couple of hundred cheaper this year on my 1M, no idea why.