New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys

[Billyray911]

What's the 0800 number and I take it that you haven't telephoned it yet?

[fraz1001]

Nope not called the number back yet,thought i'd do some research first!!!!

Edit- They aint getting my details regardless of who they say they are!!!!!!

Edited by fraz1001 on Wednesday 31st October 12:01

[Ollie997]

Thank you Aeropilot

[StevenB]

fraz1001 said:

So i called and registered my details with BMW the day after the watchdog programme.......


I just had a phone call from someone claiming to be from watchdog, asking to confirm my reg number, i gave them it then they asked to confirm my address, i drew the line there,has anyone else had same phone call???? Told them i wasn't giving that info out to anyone, they gave me an 0800 number to call back on to confirm.????

Could well be a scam, they want you to call back straight away, they won't have hung up the phone their end so you will be connected to them again.

[barrisimo]

I have looked at the OBD lock and sounds good. I guess a couple of stickers on the windows will help to keep the thieves away. As my car has been stolen I guess there is someone out there with a key to my car so the reality is I need a full key change, OBD lock and hope for the best or get shot of the car. What would you do? I almost feel like on principal I should abandon the BMW brand for this and their shocking dealer service. Help me make up my mind what should I do?

[fraz1001]

StevenB said:

Could well be a scam, they want you to call back straight away, they won't have hung up the phone their end so you will be connected to them again.

I can confirm the number they gave me to call back is the BMW customer service number 0800 325 600....Still not called them back yet

[ArsE92]

barrisimo said:

As my car has been stolen I guess there is someone out there with a key to my car so the reality is I need a full key change, OBD lock and hope for the best or get shot of the car.

Get BMW to delete any rogue key entries from your car. The scumbags key will then no longer work.

Then fit the OBD lock, or just disconnect it and hide it away in your trim somewhere.

[StevenB]

fraz1001 said:

StevenB said:

Could well be a scam, they want you to call back straight away, they won't have hung up the phone their end so you will be connected to them again.

I can confirm the number they gave me to call back is the BMW customer service number 0800 325 600....Still not called them back yet

It dosen't matter if it is the right number you will end up speaking to them again until they hang up the original call

[t8cmf]

barrisimo said:

I have looked at the OBD lock and sounds good. I guess a couple of stickers on the windows will help to keep the thieves away. As my car has been stolen I guess there is someone out there with a key to my car so the reality is I need a full key change, OBD lock and hope for the best or get shot of the car. What would you do? I almost feel like on principal I should abandon the BMW brand for this and their shocking dealer service. Help me make up my mind what should I do?

Barrisimo,

Can I ask if you did anything with your OBD port? When it was stolen for the first time did you not relocate the OBD port?

Relocating the OBD port has to be the first job for anybody with a BMW that is subject to this weakness. I relocated the OBD port on my E92 M3 myself. I also did my Dad's 520d and my brother is doing the same to his 520d M Sport. It's easy and I've yet to hear of a BMW stolen that had a relocated OBD port. I would imagine most people are put off by BMW's ludicrous claim that moving the port would somehow invalidate your warranty. Your warranty is no good to you if you don't have a car in the first place.

A word of warning to those looking at the NVMotorsport OBD lock. A member on M3Cutters ordered one a while back and it still hasn't turned up. They aren't replying to his emails either. It may be entirely innocent but be careful anyway.

[fraz1001]

StevenB said:

fraz1001 said:

StevenB said:

Could well be a scam, they want you to call back straight away, they won't have hung up the phone their end so you will be connected to them again.

I can confirm the number they gave me to call back is the BMW customer service number 0800 325 600....Still not called them back yet

It dosen't matter if it is the right number you will end up speaking to them again until they hang up the original call

Not if I call them back on a different phone!

[barrisimo]

Thanks for your comments all. In reply to T8CMF no I did not reloacte the OBD (probably beyond my skill set). My concern is even if I get an OBD lock could they just get that off without triggering the alarm. Not seen one of these things so could they pull of the plastic trim around it and then they are in would it be possible to do this without the alarm going off or just going off briefly? I think if they can remove a disklock surely they can get roud the OBD? Even if I get an OBD lock and put stickers on the windows stating such I still think there is a good chance every 3 months or so I come out to find the window smashed or the lock has been worked on. Has anyone heard of a car with an OBD being taken or the crims still having a go? I am 50/50 on keeping the car or switching it for a Range Rover Sport which is probably better for a young family and for shooting but think I will miss the M3 performance as otherwise I have loved the car.

[gangzoom]

barrisimo said:

Thanks for your comments all. In reply to T8CMF no I did not reloacte the OBD (probably beyond my skill set). My concern is even if I get an OBD lock could they just get that off without triggering the alarm. Not seen one of these things so could they pull of the plastic trim around it and then they are in would it be possible to do this without the alarm going off or just going off briefly?

Moving the OBD port takes about 10 minutes max, if you can use a screwdriver you can do the job. The trim around the OBD port is all plastic, all it would take to remove a OBD "lock" would a decent flat headed screw driver. I've just ordered a dummy OBD port to put in my car so that if anyone breaks in they will just think the OBD port is disabled rather than going to look where it's been repositioned. When I went to order the part from BMW (£3.85 for the dummy port) the chap told me even BMW techs were talking about moving the port...clearly not every one has faith in BMWs promised "fix".

[barrisimo]

I think I am getting shot. Even if they can't take the car life is too short to be dealing with the hassle of a smashed windscreen, damaged lock etc every few months just not worth it.

[youngsyr]

barrisimo said:

I think I am getting shot. Even if they can't take the car life is too short to be dealing with the hassle of a smashed windscreen, damaged lock etc every few months just not worth it.

Unfortunately, if your only option is to park the car on the street and it's already been targetted, then the only prevention that even has a chance of stopping your car being damaged in an attempted theft is an aftermarket alarm (Viper?) that has proximity warnings (tells potential thieves that the car is alarmed if they get too close) and a secondary immobiliser. Couple this with a relocated OBDII and the car is as safe as you can make it.

However, even then you can't guarantee that some chancer won't have a go anyway - causing your insurance premiums to rise to the point where even if you can stop it being nicked, the insurance premiums make it too expensive to keep an expensive car.

[Simes205]

Birdster said:

Anyone had their 3 series done yet?

ETA: Read back a few pages and see November has been suggested. Will see.

Edited by Birdster on Monday 29th October 16:41

I called BMW back in August regarding our 2005/6 E91. They basically told me that nothing was going to be done but they would call.
During that time I relocated the OBD port etc.

Today BMW called me and stated that my main dealer would be carrying out the security upgrade in the next two weeks.
I await their call.

[Hofmeister]

I was told yesterday by a BMW master tech that the 'enhancement' will be available from mid November (don't know which models)
He said it disables the power to the OBD when the ignition is not on, he was fully aware of the whole issue and has been advising fitment of dummy OBD ports along with a relocated live port.
I have no other details and nothing to back up what I was told but have no reason to doubt it either.
I realise this does not tally up with info provided by other people on here so I guess we will have to wait and see, should be easy to test once update/fix/enhancement is done.

[fraz1001]

Simes205 said:

Birdster said:

Anyone had their 3 series done yet?

ETA: Read back a few pages and see November has been suggested. Will see.

Edited by Birdster on Monday 29th October 16:41

I called BMW back in August regarding our 2005/6 E91. They basically told me that nothing was going to be done but they would call.
During that time I relocated the OBD port etc.

Today BMW called me and stated that my main dealer would be carrying out the security upgrade in the next two weeks.
I await their call.

So BMW called ypu just to tell you that? Has anyone else received a call like this?

I didn't trust the call and didn't give them my details incase it was some undesireable looking to steal my motor.

[Simes205]

fraz1001 said:

So BMW called ypu just to tell you that? Has anyone else received a call like this?

I didn't trust the call and didn't give

them my details incase it was some undesireable looking to steal my motor.

It was definitely BMW customer service

[brindlycorp]

Has anyone heard about BMW Mini being taken the same way.

[barrisimo]

Even if they sort the OBD issues get ready for a ramp in your insurance. I was quoted by Elephant insurance that of £16.5m of stolen cars that they cover (Admiral group), £10.5m are BMW. He said premiums will be reflecting this soon.