New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys
Discussion
GTSJOE said:
I had 2 BMW X5's stolen from London W9 in the last 6 months . The first car was never found even though it had a Tracker Horizon fitted to the car , the second car was found the same night that it went missing . The thieves had parked it up off the A1 waiting to see if I had a second tracker fitted to the car.
I have been on the case with BMW , they are an arrogant bunch of idiots , never offering any help , they even tried to make me sign a full and final settlement letter before they would do a software upgrade.
I dropped my car off at a main dealer to have the OBD disconnected , to my surprise the dealer told me that BMW had come up with a new software programme that will sort out the issues, my car was the first to have the upgrade, supposedly the upgrade stops keys being reprogrammed through the OBD.
I would advise you to call your local BMW main dealer and ask for the upgrade. BMW will start a marketing campaign in September highlighting the solution . Good luck .
sorry to see that you lost 2 X5, crazy that the tracker did not work...I have been on the case with BMW , they are an arrogant bunch of idiots , never offering any help , they even tried to make me sign a full and final settlement letter before they would do a software upgrade.
I dropped my car off at a main dealer to have the OBD disconnected , to my surprise the dealer told me that BMW had come up with a new software programme that will sort out the issues, my car was the first to have the upgrade, supposedly the upgrade stops keys being reprogrammed through the OBD.
I would advise you to call your local BMW main dealer and ask for the upgrade. BMW will start a marketing campaign in September highlighting the solution . Good luck .
About this software upgrade, did the dealer ask you anything to pay? there should be a goodwill?
thanks
vblanche said:
GTSJOE said:
I had 2 BMW X5's stolen from London W9 in the last 6 months . The first car was never found even though it had a Tracker Horizon fitted to the car , the second car was found the same night that it went missing . The thieves had parked it up off the A1 waiting to see if I had a second tracker fitted to the car.
I have been on the case with BMW , they are an arrogant bunch of idiots , never offering any help , they even tried to make me sign a full and final settlement letter before they would do a software upgrade.
I dropped my car off at a main dealer to have the OBD disconnected , to my surprise the dealer told me that BMW had come up with a new software programme that will sort out the issues, my car was the first to have the upgrade, supposedly the upgrade stops keys being reprogrammed through the OBD.
I would advise you to call your local BMW main dealer and ask for the upgrade. BMW will start a marketing campaign in September highlighting the solution . Good luck .
sorry to see that you lost 2 X5, crazy that the tracker did not work...I have been on the case with BMW , they are an arrogant bunch of idiots , never offering any help , they even tried to make me sign a full and final settlement letter before they would do a software upgrade.
I dropped my car off at a main dealer to have the OBD disconnected , to my surprise the dealer told me that BMW had come up with a new software programme that will sort out the issues, my car was the first to have the upgrade, supposedly the upgrade stops keys being reprogrammed through the OBD.
I would advise you to call your local BMW main dealer and ask for the upgrade. BMW will start a marketing campaign in September highlighting the solution . Good luck .
About this software upgrade, did the dealer ask you anything to pay? there should be a goodwill?
thanks
How long did it take?
Was there a cost involved?
Was it covered by your warranty?
Thanks.
youngsyr said:
This may well be because the thieves are using a limited number of stolen reprogramming tools that were issued to dealerships and not some generic software that can be used on any laptop.
Have you not read this thread?They are using hand held portable device that you can buy off ebay for about 300 quid.
Not a stolen BMW device, and no laptop needed.
vblanche said:
mrmr96 said:
eBay Link?
are you going to try to steal a car?I'm trying to find out what we're up against. I'd imagine that if they were really on ebay for £300 then we'd have a nationwide rash of thefts nightly, but we don't. So I don't think the tools are as easily available as being made out.
Edited by mrmr96 on Friday 31st August 13:23
I spoke to BMW about the implications of disconnecting the OBD from the Ecu , I wanted to know if it would impact the warranty . Sukh Bramba at BMW told me that it would not impact the warranty for the car ex any problems with the OBD. I dropped the car off at my local dealership to have the Odb disconnected , the car also needed a service ... When I went to pick the car up the manager at the dealership told me that BMW had come up with a software solution that would solve the problem , it's would stop keys being reprogrammed through the OBD, they have also solved the issue relating to "comfort opening" , thieves were getting access to the car by sticking a screw driver into the lock , the windows would open automatically.
There was no charge for the software upgrade.
I would advise you to talk to BMW UK about the upgrade.
There was no charge for the software upgrade.
I would advise you to talk to BMW UK about the upgrade.
I spoke to BMW about the implications of disconnecting the OBD from the Ecu , I wanted to know if it would impact the warranty . Sukh Bramba at BMW told me that it would not impact the warranty for the car ex any problems with the OBD. I dropped the car off at my local dealership to have the Odb disconnected , the car also needed a service ... When I went to pick the car up the manager at the dealership told me that BMW had come up with a software solution that would solve the problem , it's would stop keys being reprogrammed through the OBD, they have also solved the issue relating to "comfort opening" , thieves were getting access to the car by sticking a screw driver into the lock , the windows would open automatically.
There was no charge for the software upgrade.
There was no charge for the software upgrade.
mrmr96 said:
I'm a 5 year member with nearly 10k posts. What do you think?
I'm trying to find out what we're up against. I'd imagine that if they were really on ebay for £300 then we'd have a nationwide rash of thefts nightly, but we don't. So I don't think the tools are as easily available as being made out.
The tools are readily available if you know where to look, but cost a couple of grand, not a couple of hundred. If you think there isn't a 'rash' of thefts, you're mistaken. BMWs are being stolen via the OBD port by the bucketload. We keep catching some of the gangs responsible and recovering the cars (or the parts). Unfortunately, the courts keep releasing them. I'm trying to find out what we're up against. I'd imagine that if they were really on ebay for £300 then we'd have a nationwide rash of thefts nightly, but we don't. So I don't think the tools are as easily available as being made out.
Edited by mrmr96 on Friday 31st August 13:23
GTSJOE said:
I spoke to BMW about the implications of disconnecting the OBD from the Ecu , I wanted to know if it would impact the warranty . Sukh Bramba at BMW told me that it would not impact the warranty for the car ex any problems with the OBD. I dropped the car off at my local dealership to have the Odb disconnected , the car also needed a service ... When I went to pick the car up the manager at the dealership told me that BMW had come up with a software solution that would solve the problem , it's would stop keys being reprogrammed through the OBD, they have also solved the issue relating to "comfort opening" , thieves were getting access to the car by sticking a screw driver into the lock , the windows would open automatically.
There was no charge for the software upgrade.
Is this solution just for the X5/6, or is it across all the ranges of cars that are vulnerable to this type of theft?There was no charge for the software upgrade.
There's so much speculation now on here and the only people who really know what's going on here is likely to be; BMW GB, BMW Authorised Dealers, Thatcham, the decent independents out there, the alarm manufactures, the insurance companies and the Police.
What exactly can we the consumers and owners do at this stage?
COMPLAIN - but BMW CS are not acknowledging this issue properly. So we either start a high-level media campaign or we shut up and get on with life and accept the fact that your vehicle is likely to be stolen and pay out exorbitant security upgrade fees and insurance premiums.
There is nothing left to talk about, it's either take action time collectively or just get on with it.
David versus Goliath springs to mind at this stage but, just remember cracked wheels, throw enough mud and it will stick!
What exactly can we the consumers and owners do at this stage?
COMPLAIN - but BMW CS are not acknowledging this issue properly. So we either start a high-level media campaign or we shut up and get on with life and accept the fact that your vehicle is likely to be stolen and pay out exorbitant security upgrade fees and insurance premiums.
There is nothing left to talk about, it's either take action time collectively or just get on with it.
David versus Goliath springs to mind at this stage but, just remember cracked wheels, throw enough mud and it will stick!
CMOS said:
There's so much speculation now on here and the only people who really know what's going on here is likely to be; BMW GB, BMW Authorised Dealers, Thatcham, the decent independents out there, the alarm manufactures, the insurance companies and the Police.
What exactly can we the consumers and owners do at this stage?
COMPLAIN - but BMW CS are not acknowledging this issue properly. So we either start a high-level media campaign or we shut up and get on with life and accept the fact that your vehicle is likely to be stolen and pay out exorbitant security upgrade fees and insurance premiums.
There is nothing left to talk about, it's either take action time collectively or just get on with it.
David versus Goliath springs to mind at this stage but, just remember cracked wheels, throw enough mud and it will stick!
If you think there's nothing left to discuss, I think you're wrong.What exactly can we the consumers and owners do at this stage?
COMPLAIN - but BMW CS are not acknowledging this issue properly. So we either start a high-level media campaign or we shut up and get on with life and accept the fact that your vehicle is likely to be stolen and pay out exorbitant security upgrade fees and insurance premiums.
There is nothing left to talk about, it's either take action time collectively or just get on with it.
David versus Goliath springs to mind at this stage but, just remember cracked wheels, throw enough mud and it will stick!
I've learned how to disable my OBD socket from this thread, and have done so. Other people have suggested a £20 method of immboilising the car at the battery. Yet more have told tales of BMW offering a s/w upgrade. There's LOADS of decent info on this thread, including posts from people in the police, insurance industry and people with contacts at Thatcham. There's actually quite a lot of good info in the thread, so I don't see an end to the discussion any time soon.
Problem is as I see it, even if there is an upgrade you'll still end up with a smashed window/buggered lock/lots of inconvenience, as the people doing this won't know you've had the upgrade until they're actually in the car.
Still means we'll have to keep fitting the Disclok all the time.
Still means we'll have to keep fitting the Disclok all the time.
mrmr96 said:
If you think there's nothing left to discuss, I think you're wrong.
I've learned how to disable my OBD socket from this thread, and have done so. Other people have suggested a £20 method of immboilising the car at the battery. Yet more have told tales of BMW offering a s/w upgrade. There's LOADS of decent info on this thread, including posts from people in the police, insurance industry and people with contacts at Thatcham. There's actually quite a lot of good info in the thread, so I don't see an end to the discussion any time soon.
And, if you check with BMW CS and your car is still under warranty - you have just invalidated it including the Service Pack if you have one. In addition, you have mis-understood. The threads are helpful, but we can talk about this for months and years to come, BUT, if you want traction, ACTION needs to be taken.I've learned how to disable my OBD socket from this thread, and have done so. Other people have suggested a £20 method of immboilising the car at the battery. Yet more have told tales of BMW offering a s/w upgrade. There's LOADS of decent info on this thread, including posts from people in the police, insurance industry and people with contacts at Thatcham. There's actually quite a lot of good info in the thread, so I don't see an end to the discussion any time soon.
If you have a 1, 3, 5 or six there is NO firmware upgrade available yet, and if you do your due diligence properly, the OBD programmers are fully 'flashable' and will easily be upgraded to manipulate the new firmware.
Before you pass off the cuff comments I would recommend that you really dig far deeper into this.
Edited by CMOS on Saturday 1st September 10:22
mrmr96 said:
If you think there's nothing left to discuss, I think you're wrong.
I've learned how to disable my OBD socket from this thread, and have done so. Other people have suggested a £20 method of immboilising the car at the battery. Yet more have told tales of BMW offering a s/w upgrade. There's LOADS of decent info on this thread, including posts from people in the police, insurance industry and people with contacts at Thatcham. There's actually quite a lot of good info in the thread, so I don't see an end to the discussion any time soon.
And, if you check with BMW CS and your car is still under warranty - you have just invalidated it including the Service Pack if you have one. In addition, you have mis-understood. The threads are helpful, but we can talk about this for months and years to come, BUT, if you want traction, ACTION needs to be taken.I've learned how to disable my OBD socket from this thread, and have done so. Other people have suggested a £20 method of immboilising the car at the battery. Yet more have told tales of BMW offering a s/w upgrade. There's LOADS of decent info on this thread, including posts from people in the police, insurance industry and people with contacts at Thatcham. There's actually quite a lot of good info in the thread, so I don't see an end to the discussion any time soon.
If you have a 1, 3, 5 or six there is NO firmware upgrade available yet, and if you do your due diligence properly, the OBD programmers are fully 'flashable' and will easily be upgraded to manipulate the new firmware.
Before you pass off the cuff comments I would recommend that you really dig far deeper into this.
Edited by CMOS on Saturday 1st September 10:28
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