Alarming amount of BMW cars being stolen

[bmwm6bruce]

I have watched a alarming video of 3 #ankers stealing a white M1 with a laptop . This was a shock and I went straight out and put a steering wheel lock on my M6 . ( had it from my time with a Subaru STI ) I have spoke to my local Dealer and they say its not a common problem !!!! . Has any one got a solution to this worrying problem . There was mention of a software update that removes the window opening on the key etc .
I know that if they want your car that bad ,then you will lose it , But I was always led to believe that BMWs were theft prove . Remember that advert were they say the key changes its code every time its used etc etc . My friend said remote toggle switch to fuel pump . which is a good idea but surely there must be something more substantial. Video was on you tube placed on there by the owner ..

[c7xlg]

ummm.. I think you are about 12 months late on this one!

There is/was an issue with BMW security on some cars where if you could gain access to the OBDII port (ie smash a window, or find the car unlocked) you could easily programme a blank key to the car and drive off. Big 'watchdogstylie' scandal over it. BMW deny everything but then offer an option to fix it (though I don't think they did a recall and you might need to badger your BMW dealer to get it done FOC).

[ZOLLAR]

c7xlg said:

ummm.. I think you are about 12 months late on this one!

There is/was an issue with BMW security on some cars where if you could gain access to the OBDII port (ie smash a window, or find the car unlocked) you could easily programme a blank key to the car and drive off. Big 'watchdogstylie' scandal over it. BMW deny everything but then offer an option to fix it (though I don't think they did a recall and you might need to badger your BMW dealer to get it done FOC).

Software update is done free of charge when it's in for service, the dealer may not even tell you it's done.
However BMWs are still being stolen without keys (as well as other marques)
The solution is unlikely to ever be completely solved, not software system is infallible.

[Schermerhorn]

My friend told me about installing an alarm with a 'valet' feature in which even if the car is stolen it cannot rev over 1500rpm as a special button pressing sequence is required to disarm the valet mode.

I think all cars should feature something similar.

[bmwm6bruce]

c7xlg said:

ummm.. I think you are about 12 months late on this one!

There is/was an issue with BMW security on some cars where if you could gain access to the OBDII port (ie smash a window, or find the car unlocked) you could easily programme a blank key to the car and drive off. Big 'watchdogstylie' scandal over it. BMW deny everything but then offer an option to fix it (though I don't think they did a recall and you might need to badger your BMW dealer to get it done FOC).

thank you for that message , year late or not Im glad there are some people on here who can help and not ridicule concerned owners . I will be contacting my local BMW Dealer to see if my car has had the software download .

[MOTK]

I don't really think he's trying to ridicule you. There are hundreds of threads out there about this.
Perhaps do a search before starting a new thread in future.

[8Tech]

Exactly, like this one with 180 pages and 3500+ posts.......

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[a4cabrio]

8Tech said:

Exactly, like this one with 180 pages and 3500+ posts.......

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I think if the op reads that thread he'll have his M6 on autotrader by page 20 lol

[Johnthepotter]

I had both mine and my wife's cars "security updated" by BMW dealer in December 2012. Took about an hour for each car.

[smashy]

bmwm6bruce said:

thank you for that message , year late or not Im glad there are some people on here who can help and not ridicule concerned owners . I will be contacting my local BMW Dealer to see if my car has had the software download .

with you mate...just because you dont spend your life on BMW forums doesnt mean you have you be treated like an idiot.
Mind you the pizza left outside the bedroom door merchants seem to get off on it.

[Bigglez]

Someone is going round my area trying this trick in the hope they find cars that haven't been updated. My dealer had 6 cars in just two days with their locks drilled out as they were attempting to then insert a screwdriver in the hope the windows go down...

[Locknut]

smashy said:

bmwm6bruce said:

thank you for that message , year late or not Im glad there are some people on here who can help and not ridicule concerned owners . I will be contacting my local BMW Dealer to see if my car has had the software download .

with you mate...just because you dont spend your life on BMW forums doesnt mean you have you be treated like an idiot.
Mind you the pizza left outside the bedroom door merchants seem to get off on it.

I can't see why you two guys are getting offended. I've read c7xlg's post several times and it seems to be quite factual with no attempt to ridicule anybody. Do you not want to be told the problem has existed for a while and do you not want to be pointed to a very comprehensive thread on the matter?

BTW: could you tell us about the pizza outside the bedroom door so that we can understand that bit.

[8Tech]

I think that is a reference to people who supposedly sit in their bedrooms on the internet and get so engrossed in the importance of posting, they get a takeaway delivered to the door.

[MCambridge]

bmwm6bruce said:

I have watched a alarming video of 3 #ankers stealing a white M1 with a laptop . This was a shock and I went straight out and put a steering wheel lock on my M6 . ( had it from my time with a Subaru STI ) I have spoke to my local Dealer and they say its not a common problem !!!! . Has any one got a solution to this worrying problem . There was mention of a software update that removes the window opening on the key etc .
I know that if they want your car that bad ,then you will lose it , But I was always led to believe that BMWs were theft prove . Remember that advert were they say the key changes its code every time its used etc etc . My friend said remote toggle switch to fuel pump . which is a good idea but surely there must be something more substantial. Video was on you tube placed on there by the owner ..

Hi there,

I disconnect and move the OBD port from my M6. It only takes about 5 mins. I then put it back when the car goes in for service etc. I know it doesn’t stop the determined scum, but as these thefts are through (or used to be) through the OBD port via the drivers window it hopefully stops them from being able to do it this way. I have also bought a dummy port to put in the place of the genuine one while it’s out of the way, but I haven’t got round to working out how to do that yet, but it should be straight forward enough.