New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys

[Steffan]

Slightly off topic I had two Volvo's both S40's used both covered well in excess of 250,000 each on the original engines. And original clutches, exhausts, starter motors, alternators. only service items replaced by, you've guessed it, Colin.

That's over a million miles on all three on cars maintained only by Colin. He used to tell us when the next service was due. Never had a breakdown on one of them ever. Did have lights fail on the Volvos. Model fault apparentyly both went twice.

I bought a 944 Porsche Turbo at an auction with a non starting unit which I thought was an alarm or ECU problem for not a lot. Less than £1500. Colin picked it up and rang me up and said what .... did you buy this for its .....ed.

I told him I fancied the car. He removed all the alarm nonsense (it had two both faulty) rewired the ECU bypass and got all working charged me £250. Car never missed a beat after that, I sold it two years later for £2500. Put tyres on and so forth but no real trouble.

I could list car after car like that my 1954 Land Rover my 1954 Wolseley all of which would be VOR without Colin. Loads of others. You can understand why I trust Colin.

[eastsider]

Back on topic, is there any correlation here that cars stolen were purchased at Sytner group? Several have mentioned it.

Mine was serviced at Sytner Chigwell once last autumn, but I didn't buy it there.

[Steffan]

eastsider said:

Back on topic, is there any correlation here that cars stolen were purchased at Sytner group? Several have mentioned it.

Mine was serviced at Sytner Chigwell once last autumn, but I didn't buy it there.

Good Post. I would certainly look for any common feature. Synters are a big group. Have all the cars gone been to Synters? That would put the cat amongst the birdies. And go part way to explaining these disgraceful thefts.

[Johnboy Mac]

Steffan said:

Good Post. I would certainly look for any common feature. Synters are a big group. Have all the cars gone been to Synters? That would put the cat amongst the birdies. And go part way to explaining these disgraceful thefts.

But the general consensus here is that the cars were stolen using a jammer/scanner device. So, any dealer connection would not apply.

Edited by Johnboy Mac on Monday 16th April 22:47

[hman]

Thank god we got back on topic, Steffan and Colin need to get a room.

I dont think this is a dealer problem but an organised crime outfit with established methods and routes for exporting/dismantling the vehicles.

At 8000 eu a pop for the machine its nothing for a proper criminal outfit to purchase - in the meantime additional security and modifying the obd port is the only way of slowing this down.

Although dont think that they wont have a recovery truck on call if they find you have added these hurdles for them - it wont cost them a lot more to get your car into the container that way...

[aeropilot]

Johnboy Mac said:

Steffan said:

Good Post. I would certainly look for any common feature. Synters are a big group. Have all the cars gone been to Synters? That would put the cat amongst the birdies. And go part way to explaining these disgraceful thefts.

But the general consensus here is that the cars were stolen using a jammer/sacnner device.

Or gaining entry through the drivers side window to reach in to access the OBD-II port.

[Pferdestarke]

Is it worth unmounting the OBD connector and tucking it away? Seems quite fiddly to do.

[Johnboy Mac]

Pferdestarke said:

Is it worth unmounting the OBD connector and tucking it away? Seems quite fiddly to do.

I wouldn't bother. I'd fit a very discrete switch wired into the fuel pump, which could be mounted almost anywhere.

[Steffan]

Johnboy Mac said:

Pferdestarke said:

Is it worth unmounting the OBD connector and tucking it away? Seems quite fiddly to do.

I wouldn't bother. I'd fit a very discrete switch wired into the fuel pump, which could be mounted almost anywhere.

I agree this is an old trick I used on sports cars long ago. And it worked particularly pre immobiliser technology. Saved several thefts.

But thus should not be necessary on BMW's as new as these FFS.

This is BMW's problem: I do hope the owners can force some action immediately, Their denials are a disgrace in themselves.

[joylove]

As mentioned at the beginning of the thread, here's how they get in and disarm the alarm, they simply pick the locks.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4332050438...

[Johnboy Mac]

Steffan said:

I agree this is an old trick I used on sports cars long ago. And it worked particularly pre immobiliser technology. Saved several thefts.

But thus should not be necessary on BMW's as new as these FFS.

This is BMW's problem: I do hope the owners can force some action immediately, Their denials are a disgrace in themselves.

Nor should messing around with the OBD port.........

[eliot]

joylove said:

As mentioned at the beginning of the thread, here's how they get in and disarm the alarm, they simply pick the locks.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4332050438...

Wow!

[B10BRW]

I have contacted Sytners and the CEO of BMW, regarding this theft epidemic.
Won't hold my breath.
Be interesting to hear what Watchdog have to say

[LukeSi]

The worrying thing for me is that although it is only a 325 it is the same I6 as the 330. From the sound of things any would be theif would know this. Even more worrying is that it sounds like Synter cars are being targeted. Ours originated from Synter Chigwell. I may ask about it when we take it to Knights for a service on thursday. Still if they do take it they better bloody hide it well.That way the GAP insurance would pay for itself .

Bloody piss poor attitude from BMW though. This is one of the problems with a FOB only system.

[Jon999]

hman said:

Thank god we got back on topic, Steffan and Colin need to get a room.

I dont think this is a dealer problem but an organised crime outfit with established methods and routes for exporting/dismantling the vehicles.

At 8000 eu a pop for the machine its nothing for a proper criminal outfit to purchase - in the meantime additional security and modifying the obd port is the only way of slowing this down.

Although dont think that they wont have a recovery truck on call if they find you have added these hurdles for them - it wont cost them a lot more to get your car into the container that way...

They are nowhere near that expensive. Quick eBay search finds one for under £600 http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=1...

[contracttor]

I've knocked up a quick map. I thought that people could add their stolen vehicle to the map - it might be of some use.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&am...

[rj1986]

Steffan said:

One of my remaining clients runs a very successful laptop repair business. They offer data recovery from bone fide sources. There is no laptop password or security device based on windows that they cannot get around. They regularly unlock laptops for the authorities. There is as I said no password or program they cannot get around. Never had a failure yet in 12 years.

If someone can write the code, someone can bypass the code.

[eastsider]

Johnboy Mac said:

But the general consensus here is that the cars were stolen using a jammer/scanner device. So, any dealer connection would not apply.

Edited by Johnboy Mac on Monday 16th April 22:47

I didn't think a jammer/scanner was used on mine and I was right. I finally saw my car at the garage it has been recovered to this morning. The drivers door lock was drilled out to access the car. How/why the alarm didn't go off is beyond me. This was all done less than 10m from where me and the mrs were asleep.

The cover was missing off the OBD port. 100% they copied/cloned the key and simply drove off.

The f**kers have kerbed all four of my wheels and they only drove 36 miles!!

[Johnboy Mac]

eastsider said:

I didn't think a jammer/scanner was used on mine and I was right. I finally saw my car at the garage it has been recovered to this morning. The drivers door lock was drilled out to access the car. How/why the alarm didn't go off is beyond me. This was all done less than 10m from where me and the mrs were asleep.

The cover was missing off the OBD port. 100% they copied/cloned the key and simply drove off.

The f**kers have kerbed all four of my wheels and they only drove 36 miles!!

Not surprised the lock was drilled, as I said earlier in the thread I don't believe for one minute that all these stolen BMW's are accessed by jamming/scanning. Then again drilling the lock seems a bit 'unprofessional' & damaging the wheels too. Don't know how your alarm didn't activate - seems strange.

[chrisx666]

jontysafe said:

Does this problem affect F12 6 series?

I'd like to know this as well. If not now then is it just a matter of time? I feel an order cancellation coming on..