New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys

New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys

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Discussion

neilkav

Original Poster:

32 posts

144 months

Tuesday 6th March 2012
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Unfortunaltey last week I woke up to find my 6 month old 330im Sport conveertable had been stolen from my drive in Birmingham. at first i thought i had been burgled, and my spare key had been taken, but i checked and i still had the spare key.

the car hadnt been towed either as the space it was in would be too small to get a truck behind it, and no broken glass. after speaking to the police, it became apparent that a large number of 1 and 3 series BMW's has been stolen using blank BMW keys. i called Sytner where i bought the car, and yep the salesman confirmed that a large number of cars recently purchased from them had recently been stolen ( i bet they dont tell that to new customers)

the police basically told me not to buy another high end BMW as they are very easy to steal using these keys, so if any of you out there think you car is safe, please think again, and use a garage if you have one.

14-7

6,233 posts

190 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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There are videos on youtube of how to code a blank key for any BMW. As long as you can enter the car to access the OBD port you're on your way. Seems a very silly system to have.

mekondelta

681 posts

259 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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How new is "new"? Are 3yr olds affected as well?

neilkav

Original Poster:

32 posts

144 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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the police told me its BMW's that use the electronic keys. so i'm guessing thats all 3 and 1 series for the past 4 years.

Sonic

4,007 posts

206 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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Errr... that doesn't sound good! Just bought a new 1 frown

I hope you get yours sorted mate!

Big E 118

2,407 posts

168 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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Not good news but I don't think buying another manufacturer will make any difference. I have heard of a number of Mercs being stolen in the same way recently.

I would say most cars are pretty secure against opportunistic theft but a lot of premium cars are stolen to order by some acomplished car thieves. If they've spotted your car and they want it they'll have it. You can only make it as unnatractive a theft as possible.

neilkav

Original Poster:

32 posts

144 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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i think your right about any decent motor getting nicked, but its just that BMW's seem to be the car of choice at the moment. i'm going to get a nice new but boring 220d merc. nice to drive but i dont think its a car that gets stolen to order.

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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Its key copying, and they need to access the original as far as i am aware to copy it.

Cheib

23,067 posts

174 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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roofer said:
Its key copying, and they need to access the original as far as i am aware to copy it.
I don't think that's right....they just need a blank key, the right type of programming tool/computer which they plug into the socket in the car (in the passnger compartment) and job done. The only issue is opening the car I believe.

TX1

2,346 posts

182 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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I think if they get into the car they can plug in the equipment and they go from there, watched some videos on youtube not long ago.
I also thought they can get your code by sitting in a nearby car and once you press your remote they get your code with the equipment they have, not sure if I dreamt this one

cptsideways

13,532 posts

251 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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Check the youtube videos, its dead easy with the right kit. Though they do have to get into the car in the first place, but also check youtube for how easy it is to pick the locks!


Once they have access to the obd port its just a case of programming a new key to the car, it takes 2 mins.

edc

9,227 posts

250 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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Stick a steering lock on?

Johnboy Mac

2,666 posts

177 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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Cheib said:
The only issue is opening the car I believe.
If so, how do they not set off the alarm I wonder. I was always under the impression that on both BMW's & Merc's an original key or copy was required.

stevesuk

1,343 posts

181 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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Don't know how easy it is on newer BMWs, but I can disconnect the ODB socket/connector on my E46 from its housing and tuck the wiring up out of the way under the dash really easily (just a few screws to drop the trim panel it sits in).

I guess if you do that, it will confuse whoever is trying to connect their equipment to it to steal your car until the alarm is raised, or they get spooked and give up?

Of course, you'd have to remember to put it back before it was serviced or you needed to do some kind of fault diagnosis :-)

BE57 TOY

2,628 posts

146 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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Does this affect new audis?

TheEnd

15,370 posts

187 months

Wednesday 7th March 2012
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What I imagine is the plan of attack is a radio jammer to stop the locking signal.
I've experienced something similar where in a range of about 150m around where I live, there was a loud radio signal that blocked out remotes.

If I drove somewhere else, everything would work fine. The signal lasted for 3-4 days before going back to normal.
It could have been something else, but whatever it was, it had that effect anyway.

I imagine what happens next is a bit of consequence of using a fully electronic key.
On an older car, you'd still need to turn the ignition on to switch on the electrics. Because there isn't a switch like this, there is a system where as long as any key is put into the slot, the electrics will wake up but the engine won't start.
This is the point where you could add keys into the CAS system.
It needs the electronics on so it can sort out any electronic key problems, and must fall back on "being inside the car" as good enough to allow it.

I wouldn't say adding a new key is particularly easy, but I guess there are people out there that have automated the process.

The best tip is to watch the indicators flash when locking, or if you can get to someone with Autologic, they'll be able to switch on an alarm chirp on locking.

neilkav

Original Poster:

32 posts

144 months

Thursday 8th March 2012
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all i can can pass on is what i was told again last night by West Midlands CID. do not buy a BMW, they arent sure if someone from BMW or a main dealership is invloved in the thefts, but over 30 high end BMW's have been stolen from birmingham alone since January. what makes it worse is that the dealershps are still lying to new customers, my collegue went for a test drive this week in a 330i and was told that the thefts are just rumors and in no way can these cars get stolen without the keys. i'm sure thats illegal as CID told me they have been in commuication with BMW UK for over 6 months in connection with these thefts.
i'm actually going to contact the press to let them know about this BMW coverup.

c7xlg

862 posts

231 months

Thursday 8th March 2012
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I can't believe no one has commented on this yet:

" my 6 month old 330im Sport conveertable had been stolen from my drive "

"the police basically told me not to buy another high end BMW"

Ummm... since when has a 1, 3 or even a 5 that doesn't have a M (at the front!) of it's model designation been considered a 'high end BMW'???

I'd consider 1 or 3 to be quite the opposite. Considering 7s start at £56K, M5/M6 are pushing £80-100,000 I don't' think a £20-40K 1er, 3er or 5 is anywhere near 'high end'.

Still, doesn't detract from the main issue of the story, which is quite scary if actually true.

neilkav

Original Poster:

32 posts

144 months

Thursday 8th March 2012
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Well, I WOULD consider the £42k I spent on my BMW 330im sport convertable to be high end, you moron.
if you have nothing constructive to say, dont say anything.

Munter

31,319 posts

240 months

Thursday 8th March 2012
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neilkav said:
Well, I WOULD consider the £42k I spent on my BMW 330im sport convertable to be high end, you moron.
if you have nothing constructive to say, dont say anything.
Welcome to a world where everybody is a multimillionaire company director.

One thing about your previous post though. If the dealers are saying the cars cannot be stolen without a key they are technically correct. A key is still involved. It's just not one of yours! It's why you should believe nothing salesmen tell you about a car except the price. For some odd reason they seem keen that the price is accurate. hehe