How do you stop the most stolen car from getting stolen!
Discussion
As the owner of a 66 plate Audi S3 I recently read that its the most stolen car in the UK, which is not great news! I know the car comes with a factory fitted alarm and immobiliser, but one of the methods used to steal the car is to smash the window then reprogram a new key via the com port, which then bypasses the alarm/immobiliser.
Im not keen on just fitting a tracker as that doesnt stop the car being stolen, it just helps you recover it (if you're lucky) after some thieving scumbag has thrashed it to death.
Has anyone looked at fitting a hidden kill switch to either the battery or fuel pump? Is this a feasible job for an auto electrician?
As the car has been bought on a PCP i dont want to modify the car too much as it will need to be put back to factory spec when returned.
Im not keen on just fitting a tracker as that doesnt stop the car being stolen, it just helps you recover it (if you're lucky) after some thieving scumbag has thrashed it to death.
Has anyone looked at fitting a hidden kill switch to either the battery or fuel pump? Is this a feasible job for an auto electrician?
As the car has been bought on a PCP i dont want to modify the car too much as it will need to be put back to factory spec when returned.
A very basic steering lock is a good investment. Had a car stolen a good few years ago and we received a visit from a senior officer who was specifically working in this area of theft (it was related part of some national organised crime network) who stated that a basic steering lock was the greatest single deterrent in his opinion. In our case they came into the house to get the keys, which wasn't great.
Yes, car key burglaries are quite common in North Wales where there has been a spate of high value fast Audi's being stolen. My only reservation against the steering lock is that they can be removed given time, and it becomes a hassle putting it on every time you leave the car. I would prefer a hidden kill switch as unless the thief finds the switch the car doesnt move.
What us BMW crowd do....
Take off the side trim where the OBD port is.
Undo the Port.
Either replace the trim so that the OBD port cannot be seen (need to replace it for services etc)
Or get a decent extension cable, plug it in to your port and re-route it to somewhere handy (hidden) of your choosing.
Then you only have to tell the Dealer the location when it goes in for Service.
Get some enterprising PH member to get some window stickers manufactured saying "OBD Port Disabled" or similar.
Scumbags can't get at the port without setting the alarm off
Hopefully they won't want to waste time ripping off the trim to try and find the port.
I also leave the Port door off so if anyone is peeping, they can (just) see that the port isn't there.
Steering lock is also a deterrent - even if it doesn't stop them, it may mean they think twice and move on to the next car
Take off the side trim where the OBD port is.
Undo the Port.
Either replace the trim so that the OBD port cannot be seen (need to replace it for services etc)
Or get a decent extension cable, plug it in to your port and re-route it to somewhere handy (hidden) of your choosing.
Then you only have to tell the Dealer the location when it goes in for Service.
Get some enterprising PH member to get some window stickers manufactured saying "OBD Port Disabled" or similar.
Scumbags can't get at the port without setting the alarm off
Hopefully they won't want to waste time ripping off the trim to try and find the port.
I also leave the Port door off so if anyone is peeping, they can (just) see that the port isn't there.
Steering lock is also a deterrent - even if it doesn't stop them, it may mean they think twice and move on to the next car
Not as satisfying as jdwoodbury's suggestion above 
but maybe a CANbus Immobiliser would do the job?
http://www.autowatch.co.uk/products/autowatch-immo...
but maybe a CANbus Immobiliser would do the job?http://www.autowatch.co.uk/products/autowatch-immo...
OP - Most steering locks are easily defeated. Check autoexpress for the best but it's still a reasonably quick job and useless if both keys on the same keyring.
I'd take the advice and move the OBD2.
But also, be aware that some of these gangs are violent, and at the end of they day insurance will cover your loss of possession, but not necessarily impact on your or your family.
I'd take the advice and move the OBD2.
But also, be aware that some of these gangs are violent, and at the end of they day insurance will cover your loss of possession, but not necessarily impact on your or your family.
Trev450 said:
Returning to the OP's question regarding a kill switch, why not just have a competition battery master switch fitted. They can be purchased from places such as Demon Tweeks for under £50, and can be fitted by anyone who is reasonably handy with a spanner.
Wouldn't he potentially lose any "settings" he might have after every power off? Trip, radio channels?Did Audi chuck in gap insurance when you bought? (I bought my S3 over 2 years ago and they did then).... like previous people have said- if they're violent and want the car, just let them take the thing and claim on the insurance. Not worth risking safety over.
I've also read its most stolen car, however, the insurance premiums don't seem to reflect this...... yet!
I've also read its most stolen car, however, the insurance premiums don't seem to reflect this...... yet!
Evanivitch said:
OP - Most steering locks are easily defeated. Check autoexpress for the best but it's still a reasonably quick job and useless if both keys on the same keyring.
I'd take the advice and move the OBD2.
But also, be aware that some of these gangs are violent, and at the end of they day insurance will cover your loss of possession, but not necessarily impact on your or your family.
I don't know the answer to that but its possible.I'd take the advice and move the OBD2.
But also, be aware that some of these gangs are violent, and at the end of they day insurance will cover your loss of possession, but not necessarily impact on your or your family.
Trev450 said:
Returning to the OP's question regarding a kill switch, why not just have a competition battery master switch fitted. They can be purchased from places such as Demon Tweeks for under £50, and can be fitted by anyone who is reasonably handy with a spanner.
Wouldn't he potentially lose any "settings" he might have after every power off? Trip, radio channels?H.7 said:
Not as satisfying as jdwoodbury's suggestion above but maybe a CANbus Immobiliser would do the job?
http://www.autowatch.co.uk/products/autowatch-immo...
That looks a really good solution. but maybe a CANbus Immobiliser would do the job?http://www.autowatch.co.uk/products/autowatch-immo...
Garage it, or at least have it out of sight from the road. Minimise the likelihood of someone with the right connections noticing it's there.
Everything else - the most likely way it'll be stolen is breaking into your house for keys, so think more on home security. If there's a disklok or security post, there WILL be a key for it in the house, and so just another thing to threaten you for.
Everything else - the most likely way it'll be stolen is breaking into your house for keys, so think more on home security. If there's a disklok or security post, there WILL be a key for it in the house, and so just another thing to threaten you for.
sjg said:
If there's a disklok or security post, there WILL be a key for it in the house, and so just another thing to threaten you for.
Why bother locking the car at all then? The idea of extra security is to make the car more awkward to steal. They will then hopefully(for you)chooses an easier car to pinch.Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm liking the look of the CANbus immobiliser system and have fired them an e mail asking for a cost to install.
I did think a battery master switch would cause a problem with opening the car and it would be difficult to hide.
I did think a battery master switch would cause a problem with opening the car and it would be difficult to hide.
Edited by walshie on Sunday 12th February 20:51
This is a similar product to the Ghost, but doesn't require the button press sequence/phone presence hassle. What it can't protect against is key cloning, but that involves you giving the key to a garage for a service, or leaving it at airport parking etc and somebody making a clone, so less likely than a scrote following you home and coming back equipped to code a blank key.
https://www.obdportector.com/
It's entirely reversible and doesn't invalidate your warranty. If you speak to the leasing firm I doubt they would be concerned about you leaving it in situ when you hand the car back, assuming you have it professionally installed (which also makes it Thatcham approved). Although it's technically feasible to remove the unit you will need a lot of time and patience to do so.
If you deactivate the unit for a service it'll revert to active after a set number of hours, unless you provide them with a smart card to deactivate it themselves. This isn't required in daily use - only when you need to access the OBD
https://www.obdportector.com/
It's entirely reversible and doesn't invalidate your warranty. If you speak to the leasing firm I doubt they would be concerned about you leaving it in situ when you hand the car back, assuming you have it professionally installed (which also makes it Thatcham approved). Although it's technically feasible to remove the unit you will need a lot of time and patience to do so.
If you deactivate the unit for a service it'll revert to active after a set number of hours, unless you provide them with a smart card to deactivate it themselves. This isn't required in daily use - only when you need to access the OBD
Trev450 said:
Returning to the OP's question regarding a kill switch, why not just have a competition battery master switch fitted. They can be purchased from places such as Demon Tweeks for under £50, and can be fitted by anyone who is reasonably handy with a spanner.
So after they've stealthily broken into your house and taken your keys, they decide to pop back in and wake you and the family up "politely" to find out why your car won't start.The truth is house alarms, cctv, steering locks etc. are all just deterrents. If someone REALLY wants your car they'll take it. They may however go for an easier S3 if you have too many deterrents.
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