New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys

[r999]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well, it's been in place for a while and in reality it hasn't screwed up anything. And the electrician at the dealer, whom I have spoken to often and whose work is very good, assures me the CANBUS is not involved and nothing else will be affected. Moreover, if a problem arose with something major, then going by past experience the dealer would remedy it under the BMW warranty and so shift the cost (which is one reason why I am not giving any clues about who the dealer is, as BMW have procedures to catch warranty cost-shifting).

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I agree entirely with the spirit of that comment. In my case, though, I proposed the remedy; it wasn't offered by either the dealer or BMW and wasn't anyone's easy option. Far from the dealer fobbing me off with this solution, they didn't even know about the problem until I told them - which is perhaps an indictment in itself, but a rather different one from yours.

I regard the work as nothing more than a short-term measure to get me through until the day when a proper fix is available.

[Steffan]

neilkav said:

Mr Bimmer, I think we all now by now you probably work for BMW, and you don't have talk some rubbish. If I went to spend £50k on a car and was told by the dealer that they were easy to steal and their security system had been cracked and i still went ahead and bought it, then yes i suppose it would be my fault for not listening. however in my case and eveyone esle on this forum who had their car stolen, one of the main reasons we paid the money for a BMW was for their security, and all the dealers saying "just keep you keys safe and you car will be safe" when they knew for a facy this was a lie. So back in your BMW box please Mr Bimmer.

I do think that the "advice" by Mr Bimmer is heavily slanted towards whitewashing the BMW name. Not really very helpful. And transparent.

More publicity must be the best defense.

[barbzd]

rosino said:

mellyE92 said:

Hi,

What a marathon thread. I hope BMW come clean and do something about this otherwise I can see them loosing a lot of custom.

Unfortunately I had my BMW E92 335d stolen last Tuesday night (west london). It has been recovered without damage (other than the panels in the boot being dismantled and the OBDC port cover loose in the driver footwell). Another example of the car being taken without keys which remain safely in my custody.

These must be the same guys who took mine in West London last week. Recovered the car within hours in a Mayfair car park!! It must be so easy for them that they just go for anything they can get hold of. Mine had no damage whatsoever.. Not to the locks.. To nothing. Except interior passenger and boot trim removed looking for tracker... And of course the OBD port cover removed.

Now, I will have the OBD port disabled but my question is.. If they have cloned a key out of my system... Is it too late? Shall I have the coding reset at BMW? They wouldn't bear the cost of course.. I have complained to dealer, customer service at various levels.. Nothing,, they don't care.

So OBD off and recoding? Or OBD off should suffice?

Same guys again??? My '09 E92 335d went April 24th from W9 (West London) and was found the same day in NW1 (next postcode across). They also looked in the boot for the tracker by removing the panels and left the obd cable out. And they stuck new plates on it but the police spotted it parked up.

I've asked the dealer who sold it (Reading) if they can disable the additional key added by the thieves...am awaiting their response.

[Steffan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Excellent question. But I think you need BMW to answer it assuming you can get them to admit that any of their cars can be stolen.

I thought the earlier post from the hidden BMW employee was particularly unhelpful. Pity BMW cannot man up and admit and address the problem. I have never been a BMW fan, as I stated in my first post on here, but the shoddy treatment of the owners of stolen BMW cars, by BMW themselves, has even further reduced my admiration for the brand.

I hope the situation is sorted quickly. I do not expect it to be.

[virgil]

Just been directed here as been talking about a 550 I'm just about to pick up...

So what's the scoup with the type of key/car being nicked (50 pages is a lot to trawl through)...are we talking only about the ones where you key is all plastic and there's no mechanical 'key' bit - these are only on the face lifted 5 series??

My '05 645 has a 'proper' key and I guess all is fine - if the '06 550 I'm picking up has a 'proper' key I guess all is still good too?? or is this ANY type of remote alarm key? (in which case as I wasn't worried before I won't be too worried now!)

[eastsider]

virgil said:

Just been directed here as been talking about a 550 I'm just about to pick up...

So what's the scoup with the type of key/car being nicked (50 pages is a lot to trawl through)...are we talking only about the ones where you key is all plastic and there's no mechanical 'key' bit - these are only on the face lifted 5 series??

My '05 645 has a 'proper' key and I guess all is fine - if the '06 550 I'm picking up has a 'proper' key I guess all is still good too?? or is this ANY type of remote alarm key? (in which case as I wasn't worried before I won't be too worried now!)

Broadly, if car has "proper" key you put in ignition and twist, ok. If its a "lozenge" type key that goes in slot in dash, with stop/start button, not ok. Definitely not ok for E60 or E90 and derivatives thereof, roughly 06-11. My understanding is so far F-series cars are unaffected.

The vast majority taken are 5 or 3 series, generally but not exclusively diesel, and top engines and specs. So 535d sport (mine), 335d sport, 335i, 135i particularly affected. Not exclusively though, 530, 520 etc have been taken. Not sure about X series but X5 is most stolen car in UK so must be.

A 550 petrol probably low risk even if it has the wrong key but I think yours is pre-LCI stop/start button so should be ok hopefully...

Edited by eastsider on Friday 22 June 23:00

[va1o]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Agreed, and it can still have the electric key even if pre-LCI. The E60 key was updated in 2006

[eastsider]

@virgill

Page 27 of this thread someone has posted pics of the different keys and there is discussion in the next few posts of which are affected.

[mellyE92]

barbzd said:

rosino said:

mellyE92 said:

Hi,

What a marathon thread. I hope BMW come clean and do something about this otherwise I can see them loosing a lot of custom.

Unfortunately I had my BMW E92 335d stolen last Tuesday night (west london). It has been recovered without damage (other than the panels in the boot being dismantled and the OBDC port cover loose in the driver footwell). Another example of the car being taken without keys which remain safely in my custody.

These must be the same guys who took mine in West London last week. Recovered the car within hours in a Mayfair car park!! It must be so easy for them that they just go for anything they can get hold of. Mine had no damage whatsoever.. Not to the locks.. To nothing. Except interior passenger and boot trim removed looking for tracker... And of course the OBD port cover removed.

Now, I will have the OBD port disabled but my question is.. If they have cloned a key out of my system... Is it too late? Shall I have the coding reset at BMW? They wouldn't bear the cost of course.. I have complained to dealer, customer service at various levels.. Nothing,, they don't care.

So OBD off and recoding? Or OBD off should suffice?

Same guys again??? My '09 E92 335d went April 24th from W9 (West London) and was found the same day in NW1 (next postcode across). They also looked in the boot for the tracker by removing the panels and left the obd cable out. And they stuck new plates on it but the police spotted it parked up.

I've asked the dealer who sold it (Reading) if they can disable the additional key added by the thieves...am awaiting their response.

Asked BMW what I should do. Their response was

"Thank you for your email dated June 13, 2012.

I have been in contact with our technical department and they have advise that you would need to get keys number 3 through to 10 barred in the vehicle at Holland Park. However, I must note that this would also stop any further keys being made, therefore, if you lose your own two keys you would need to purchase a complete new CAS control unit and key.

I trust that this answers your enquiry, however, please do not hesitate to contact me, if I can be of further assistance.

Yours sincerely

BMW UK"

Contacted dealer who said he would ask his technicians about it but still waiting for a reply a week later despite chasing - not impressive in the least.

[gf15]

Nov 2005 650 (comfort Access) with the latter type key. Now with a little switch fitted.
Thanks for the advice!

[Steffan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I entirely agree. The absolute cynicism shown by BMW and the total lack of honesty or transparency by BMW in all of this is probably the most disappointing feature. The thefts are bad enough but the BMW attitude to customers is appalling.

[virgil]

Yep. New style key and stop start button it is. Oh well...

[sinizter]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's probably set up like DVD regions on computer drives (5 changes only - unless you reflash the firmware) and cannot be reset without overwriting the memory section - which is probably not something they have tested or prepared for.

[mrmr96]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Nope.

Because if this were the case then the criminals (using the same gear as the dealership) could also re-activate the blocked key storage locations. So there is /some/ control built in, but it's st.

[btcc123]

My local main BMW dealer has a special offer on all new and secondhand BMW sold during June and July.

They will supply enough building bricks free of charge for you to jack up your car and remove all wheels,to be used in conjunction with their 100% foolproof alarm and immobilizer systems.

[Mr Bimmer]

Cheib said:

Like fk it has. The locking wheel nuts they used to fit which you could get off with a large screwdriver were just ludiccrous.

I could go on but you've consistently talked utter garbage on this thread so I won't waste my energy.

How very constructive.

[Brite spark]

Steffan said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I entirely agree. The absolute cynicism shown by BMW and the total lack of honesty or transparency by BMW in all of this is probably the most disappointing feature. The thefts are bad enough but the BMW attitude to customers is appalling.

From what I have read elsewhere the maximum amount of keys is ten and once they are used no more can be added.
However I've also seen places that claim they can wipe the system back to a "virgin" state rather than having to replace the module.

[Steffan]

Brite spark said:

Steffan said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I entirely agree. The absolute cynicism shown by BMW and the total lack of honesty or transparency by BMW in all of this is probably the most disappointing feature. The thefts are bad enough but the BMW attitude to customers is appalling.

From what I have read elsewhere the maximum amount of keys is ten and once they are used no more can be added.
However I've also seen places that claim they can wipe the system back to a "virgin" state rather than having to replace the module.

I do not doubt that they can. From the start of this topic I have predicted that this would come down to the knowledge of the clever manipulators and non technology lovers being greater on what can be done with these systems than the manufacturers ever anticipated.

Clearly BMW have totally underestimated the way in which these latest devices substantially undermine the security systems on the cars. No doubt there are a whole variety of changes that knowledgeable individuals can make,

This BMW's problem from start to finish. I suspect a radical reduction in the accessibility to the security systems within BMW cars will be first change.

[cptsideways]

If 10 key slots are available, once used up I've no doubt its simply a case of recoding the whole unit to allow more to be used once again. This possibly takes some time & is not something that can be done at the roadside with ease.

At the end of the day its only software (I'm assuming) though maybe some chips can only be wriiten once????

[cptsideways]

Well, 10 mins of googling & its fairly obvious the CAS units can reprogrammed with relative ease it would appear. There are some youtube videos which show how its done & have they've accessed the relavant chips on the board etc.

It would appear BMW have the left the front door open & unlocked ready for anyone to walk in & do what they want. So a software fix is'nt going to be the solution as any software can simply be overwritten.

There is also programming available that bypasses the CAS unit so the key directly sends the signal to the starter relay! Completely bypassing the BMW security system & its all software driven.

I'm no tech geek but some quick googling reveals how simple all this stuff is! google for yourself & I'm sure some techy types can explain just what is going on here & what is possible.