RE: Video: Key fob reprogrammers steal BMW in 3 mins

[Cotic]

Scuffers said:

once again, there is no EU directive that says BMW have to give out the info/equipment for the security systems.

BER covers diagnostics, period.

BMW made the choice to use OBD for the CAS unit and then NOT to encrypt it.

Yep - that is entirely BMW's decision, their fault, and for that they should apologise, and in my opinion, reimburse the increasing number of owners who have been affected by this spectacularly bad element of design.

[gcpeters]

why not just make it so that the ODB port becomes live when the ignition is on (which can only be done with the proper key in the slot)

you could even swap the wires in the ODB port to do this...

[bertie]

gcpeters said:

why not just make it so that the ODB port becomes live when the ignition is on (which can only be done with the proper key in the slot)

you could even swap the wires in the ODB port to do this...

Because sometimes you need diagnostics when ignition is off.

The cockup is having key pairing available via the ODB port.

[Leicesterdave]

disclock, disclock, disclock!

[Trommel]

Leicesterdave said:

disclock, disclock, disclock!

When you're spending £60k+ you shouldn't have to mess around with Victorian-style ironmongery to stop it being nicked (although there's a Panamera Turbo down the road which always has one on).

Bad luck Zod.

[Leicesterdave]

Trommel said:

When you're spending £60k+ you shouldn't have to mess around with Victorian-style ironmongery to stop it being nicked (although there's a Panamera Turbo down the road which always has one on).

Bad luck Zod.

You shouldn't. But sometimes good old fashioned things works. It would put them off, would it not?

[Scuffers]

Leicesterdave said:

You shouldn't. But sometimes good old fashioned things works. It would put them off, would it not?

Because its a PITA, inconvenient, bulky, and, at the end of the day, should be unessesary ...

[djdestiny]

I have a disklok in the boot of my RS4 for any time I feel the need to use it. It takes literally seconds to fit and remove, hardly a big deal

[anonymous-user]

Zod said:

Said they'd go looking for it. Not much hope there without a Tracker.

Where was the M5 found? Most decent cars get stolen and then left in a carpark for a few days to see if they have trackers fitted. If the same lot nicked it then they might get lazy and leave it in the same place.

[thinfourth2]

ZesPak said:

I stated this before, but can people who like to blame the EU for this please elaborate how:

1. It's the EU's fault the OBD is accessible without opening a door?
2. It's the EU's fault the OBD is accessible without triggering the alarm?
3. It's the EU's fault it's that easy to program new keys in the car? No code required, no new key?

And why does my wifes Fiat panda which is on a 61 plate come with a key if the EU has banned cars from having keys

[PastorOfMuppets]

Leicesterdave said:

disclock, disclock, disclock!

Which clock? What clock? Dis clock?...



The whole thing makes me think of the keys in the boot of a BMW 5 series thing that happened and apparently there was no way of getting them out? Can't really remember the full details - anyone?

But it would certainly seem that depending on the model, it's a whole lot easier for the owner to lock themself out of their own car, than it is for a thief to get in. Bit of a shambles really.

[Zod]

Symbolica said:

Zod said:

Said they'd go looking for it. Not much hope there without a Tracker.

Where was the M5 found? Most decent cars get stolen and then left in a carpark for a few days to see if they have trackers fitted. If the same lot nicked it then they might get lazy and leave it in the same place.

That was pretty much what happened with the M5. I'll mention it to the Police.

[Paul O]

jbi said:

Pray tell me... if you bother to secure your house, how are they going to break in without causing a massive racket?

Just make sure you lock all doors and windows and have your doors secured with a big heavy deadbolt.

If the scrotes still try and get in... you will have been roused and be ready for them

That exact thing happened to a guy I worked with. They couldn't get in by stealth, so they came in as a big group, smashed the door out of the frame and made a deliberate huge noise, demanded the keys and then took his car.

He assured me that at 3am, when you are woken up to a bunch of blokes shouting in your house with weapons in hands and a family upstairs, you are most certainly not ready to go wading in to protect your car. Jason Statham might do alright but I can imagine it is a pretty terrifying experience otherwise.

It p1sses me off that we have two options.. Either don't buy nice things, or buy them and then live in fear of crime. The punishment for crime in this country is utter ste.

[dasbimmerowner]

My BMW always has a steering lock on now, be it on my drive or parked elsewhere. It's much easier to go and take one of the other 20+ BMWs on the estate I live on which don't wear a disclok every night. I'm glad I don't have to venture into places like Birmingham or London, but I do question how long it is before this starts to spread nationally.

This is a serious issue for BMW that needs resolving PDQ, the longer they don't do something the more bad press this will get, the more owners won't buy from the brand again etc etc. Potential solutions - rather than moaning about it too much (lowest cost first):

1.)Adjust the alarm sensors so that they cover the blind spot. Cost to BMW fairly low one would hope.

2.)BMW develop an approved security add-on package, e.g. additional alarm siren, more sensors to cover dead zones, window shatter detector on drivers side and an ODB port locking cover plus relocation kit. Cost, a few hundred quid granted, but there are plenty of us who would pay for that sort of thing to protect our cars even if it should be FOC on cars of this value. I'm very reluctant to let some of dodgy alarm places start messing with the wiring on my car, much as I am tempted by blackjax etc.

3.)Give owners new keys with codes stamped into them and tweek the CAS stuff. Said code is required in order to pair a key with the car. That way owners won't mislay bits of paper and to steal the car you need the keys or weeks of computing time to establish the code. If both your keys disappear then hard luck, it's new components + new keys and BMW priced rape for you sonny.

4.)Revert to non push button start technology, take that out, replace it and make owners use the key. Fobs swapped for key fobs.

[pilchardthecat]

Paul O said:

jbi said:

Pray tell me... if you bother to secure your house, how are they going to break in without causing a massive racket?

Just make sure you lock all doors and windows and have your doors secured with a big heavy deadbolt.

If the scrotes still try and get in... you will have been roused and be ready for them

That exact thing happened to a guy I worked with. They couldn't get in by stealth, so they came in as a big group, smashed the door out of the frame and made a deliberate huge noise, demanded the keys and then took his car.

He assured me that at 3am, when you are woken up to a bunch of blokes shouting in your house with weapons in hands and a family upstairs, you are most certainly not ready to go wading in to protect your car. Jason Statham might do alright but I can imagine it is a pretty terrifying experience otherwise.

It p1sses me off that we have two options.. Either don't buy nice things, or buy them and then live in fear of crime. The punishment for crime in this country is utter ste.

Meanwhile, in the USA, you can just get one of these for the bedside cabinet.

[kambites]

pilchardthecat said:

Meanwhile, in the USA, you can just get one of these for the bedside cabinet.

So the car thief has something convenient to threaten you with when he breaks in to ask where the keys are?

Even if you hear them coming and get the gun, having a gun against a gang of thieves (who almost certainly also have guns) isn't going to help much.

[Fastdruid]

It seems crazy that my 14 yo car has better (replacement) key security, simple yet as it requires two keys can't just be done by a teenage scrote with a laptop (assuming of course there are no glaring security holes).

• Insert the first already programmed key into the ignition and turn to position II
• Turn back to 0 and remove the key
• Insert the second already programmed key into the ignition and turn to position II
• Turn back to 0 and remove the key
• Key programming mode is now activated and you have ten seconds to:
• Insert the unprogrammed new key into the ignition and turn to position II
• Turn back to 0 and remove the key
• Allow 10 seconds to pass for the system to exit programming mode.

[pilchardthecat]

kambites said:

pilchardthecat said:

Meanwhile, in the USA, you can just get one of these for the bedside cabinet.

So the car thief has something convenient to threaten you with when he breaks in to ask where the keys are?

You just have to fire it in an adjacent room, and they'll all run away with their hands over their ears

[kambites]

pilchardthecat said:

You just have to fire it in an adjacent room, and they'll all run away with their hands over their ears

So you have to take ear muffs to bed with you too?

[pilchardthecat]

kambites said:

pilchardthecat said:

You just have to fire it in an adjacent room, and they'll all run away with their hands over their ears

So you have to take ear muffs to bed with you too?

Since you'd have fired it recreationaly you'll be half deaf anyway and therefore immune