New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys

New BMW's getting stolen using blank BMW keys

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Discussion

GarryA

4,700 posts

163 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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D_G

1,824 posts

208 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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I've seen that already. I'd still like to see one in action for myself, crazy it seems that easy.

BE57 TOY

2,628 posts

146 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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GarryA said:
Absolutely shocking design floor

the_g_ster

374 posts

194 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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If that's real, then that's rather scary.

Just prove's that at the end of the day, despite huge sums invested to stop it, if someone wants your pride and joy, they will have it.

mercGLowner

1,668 posts

183 months

Saturday 7th April 2012
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So, for clarity. The new Fxx cars - 1, 3 and 6 are not effected by this?

gangzoom

6,251 posts

214 months

Saturday 7th April 2012
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mercGLowner said:
So, for clarity. The new Fxx cars - 1, 3 and 6 are not effected by this?
Probably not yet, but any electronic system is hackable with the right tools/knowledge (even the CIA computer system is hacked on a regular basis)...and as always if some one really wants your car they will find a way to nick it.

smu11

1 posts

143 months

Saturday 7th April 2012
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Have any bmw's been stolen this week ?

Munchy

6 posts

144 months

Monday 9th April 2012
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smu11 said:
Have any bmw's been stolen this week ?
Yep, BMW 320D M Sport coupe was stolen on Monday 2nd April from Cradley Heath train station, according to the owner on another forum. Police have recovered it from Walsall but its condition is presently unknown.

stuart-b

3,643 posts

225 months

Monday 9th April 2012
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I guess a decent steering wheel lock is in order then?

Would it be possible to use a high-end alarm/immobiliser system to bypass the BMW one completely? Could you have a 2nd level of access/immobiliser?

eastsider

1,101 posts

222 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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So this happened to me last night, East London. 535d M Sport LCI 2007, taken from outside my house overnight without the keys.

Anyone reading this thread who owns this era of BMW, my only advice to you is get some physical security eg a really good stoplock. I know they are a hassle and look horrible but if I'd done that I might still have my car today. frown

Thread with details posted in General Gassing http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Any info very gratefully received.
thanks

hman

7,487 posts

193 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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Steering wheel lock now fitted based on this recent trend,

Trouble is I only have one key for the car so if the car gets nicked I can only produce one key- will the insurers want to know where the other is?- I have no clue where it is, the car came with one key only when I bought it second hand.

The Restorer

841 posts

227 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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BE57 TOY said:
GarryA said:
Absolutely shocking design floor
The flaws with the floors were in earlier BMW's ;-) I know, because I have one!

neilkav

Original Poster:

32 posts

144 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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As the original poster of this thread i didnt realise how easy
It was to steal bmw's until i viewed the utube clip. It looks like
Insurance companies now also know of this, my freind just tried to
Renew his insurance for a 2010 535d and he has 9 years no claims
Bonus. Not only were all the quotes more than a £1,000 more than last
Year but all insurance companies also asking for £3,000 excess. Some
Asking for £5,000 excess.

Brite spark

2,052 posts

200 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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hman said:
Trouble is I only have one key for the car.
Get a second key made up as a back up IMHO, easier to get one now whilst you don't need one than on a Sunday morning when the car won't start and you wonder if the key has gone bust. The missing key can also be removed from the system so it couldn't be used to start the car if you are bothered about that.


Brite spark

2,052 posts

200 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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From what i have read some of the bmw ecu's seem to have a maximum 10 keys that can be coded to the car with 4 active.
If 10 was the maximum and 8 + the two originals had been coded, would this stop car thieves simply plugging in and coding a key or would it be possible for them to delete a key and add a new one anyway, or would it need new parts fitting before a key could be added again?

HFLagos

435 posts

211 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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Kananga said:
Apologies if already asked/answered but surely BMW need to address this ? How can they just accept their customers getting ripped off like this with something that is clearly a manufacturer-specific design flaw ?
Agree with this.

Insurance companies will not hesitate in increasing premiums of affected models too, totally legitimate reason to do so.

AOK - has there been any response from BMW UK to this? Or are they happy to enjoy increased sales due to owners replacing their stolen cars through GAP/RTI policies?

Deva Link

26,934 posts

244 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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HFLagos said:
Insurance companies will not hesitate in increasing premiums of affected models too, totally legitimate reason to do so.
Going back 5 years I opted out of a company car was was looking at 3 Series Touring or C Class estate. The insurer we use for our other car, LV, said they wouldn't insure the BMW unless it had a tracker, but they had no such issue with the Merc.

BE57 TOY

2,628 posts

146 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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Crikey moses. This is becoming a daily occurrence.

AOK

2,297 posts

165 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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HFLagos said:
AOK - has there been any response from BMW UK to this? Or are they happy to enjoy increased sales due to owners replacing their stolen cars through GAP/RTI policies?
Bit of a ramble here:

Never seen any mention of this on any internal bulletins/releases etc. I think the only way to get something done would be to voice your concerns... the more people that email in, the more reluctant they will be to not acknowledge there is a problem. BMW is a reasonable organisation - they do actually care about their customers / employees etc and if there IS a problem, i reckon they would address it, or at least acknowledge it!

Just found this on google... its a long read, but wow.. what an eye opener. Amazing article. Makes you notice how big an industry this is.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-20...

And if you CHOOSE to drive a black 4x4, at least you know that if its a BMW you'll just wake up and find it gone, whereas with a RR etc they will break into your house or threaten you at gunpoint... it's the same level of thief, and if their order is to steal a BMW, they will steal a BMW through the easiest method possible. And if their next order is a RR, they'll hold someone up at gunpoint!

Some worthwhile pointers in this article:
- Avoid buying a Black car... the article makes it clear these are much more desirable stolen to order than any other colour
- Disguise the number plate of your car when advertising + photo it in an obscure location
- Never get out of your car with the keys in ignition
- Don't let potential buyers behind the wheel for a test drive... stay strong and offer to drive them. Even with a £50k private purchase, they can get a feel for the car from the passenger seat and thats that.



Reason for the last point - the saddest part of this article for me was the bankrupt fireman. Sure he had 'comprehensive' insurance which usually covers you for theft.. but I bet he didn't notify them he was allowing test drives. And so technically the moment the car sped off, his insurance was void. And so what if the potential buyer brings with them a 'temporary' cover note... it will no doubt be fake!

HFLagos

435 posts

211 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
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AOK said:
Bit of a ramble here:

Never seen any mention of this on any internal bulletins/releases etc. I think the only way to get something done would be to voice your concerns... the more people that email in, the more reluctant they will be to not acknowledge there is a problem. BMW is a reasonable organisation - they do actually care about their customers / employees etc and if there IS a problem, i reckon they would address it, or at least acknowledge it!
Thanks AOK. I have contacted BMW, waiting to hear a response. In my mind, I don't think there is any doubt here, this IS a problem.

With regards the Daily Wail link, 4x4's being stolen to order has been an ongoing issue for a while now. As a I own a black BMW X5, I am acutely aware of this!

However, what this thread is illustrating is that a security flaw exists which has made a significant volume of BMW's particularly vulnerable.

"Hi, I am calling up about the BMW you have for sale. Is that one of the models which can be stolen really easily without keys?"

"Yes it is".......