5 Series E60 Thefts on the Rise

[Glassman]

Been replacing a few doorglasses on these. A few stolen and recovered and a few attempts have been stopped while they plug into the car's compute.

Crook locks for now?

[hman]

Whereabouts?

[Defcon5]

So they are starting the car with no key?

[gizlaroc]

Have you seen how easy these are to start with a blank key and a cable??!!

Search youtube.

[gizlaroc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVmPfCFFkqQ

[Beardy10]

Blimey......that looks ridiculously easy.

Is that only on the E60 ?

[sinizter]

Beardy10 said:

Blimey......that looks ridiculously easy.

Is that only on the E60 ?

That's an X5 in the linked vid.

[Zod]

Now it all adds up: my E60 M5 was stolen back in March (recovered within 24 hours, thanks to Tracker). They had broken the door lock to gain entry, but the managed to drive off, which mystified me. I told BMW GB at the time that I was concerned about the X5 suffering the same fate.

[Beardy10]

So BMW are no doubt aware of this and I am sure could probably solve this with a software update....but will they hell.

[Glassman]

One guy in Whetstone N20 has had his E60 broken into twice; one guy in Wembley had his car stolen (and subsequently recovered three days later). Another attempt was in Potters Bar; I have been hearing of similar thefts/attempts from all over the UK.

Always the driver's door window that gets smashed IME.

[E30M3SE]

Ridiculous.

It will not be just e60 5's it will probably be all cars that use that type of key, which will include X5, E9X, plus others, would imagine.

[Glassman]

The E60 has plenty of buyers from what I hear. Big demand for the higher spec ones.

[gizard]

How do they get around the dead locks though, crawl through the broken window?

[Defcon5]

Once you have coded the key, you can just unlock it I suppose. To plug it in you would have to climb though

[Glassman]

One guy's neighbour's CCTV camera recorded the whole event - I've asked him if that footage is available, or if he could give us a better account of how his car was stolen.

Will update as soon as..

[Casa]

Chaps,

My car was taken off my drive, the smashed the driver side window, very neatly I must add and only one or two pieces of glass on the floor. They then opened the door - God knows why the alarm didnt go off or the immobiliser didnt kick in. They then ripped open the OBD box below the steering column in the footwell and inserted some electronic device and started the car in a few minutes and drove it off. All keys were in my posesssion and BMW didnt want to know when I spoke to them (so much for Thatcham 2). My insurance company were very skeptical but the police saw the CCTV footage and understood how they did it.

It happens every day of the week in London - guys just taken as if they have been left open with the keys inside.

Happy to discuss.

Casa

[E30M3SE]

Casa said:

Chaps,

My car was taken off my drive, the smashed the driver side window, very neatly I must add and only one or two pieces of glass on the floor. They then opened the door - God knows why the alarm didnt go off or the immobiliser didnt kick in. They then ripped open the OBD box below the steering column in the footwell and inserted some electronic device and started the car in a few minutes and drove it off. All keys were in my posesssion and BMW didnt want to know when I spoke to them (so much for Thatcham 2). My insurance company were very skeptical but the police saw the CCTV footage and understood how they did it.

It happens every day of the week in London - guys just taken as if they have been left open with the keys inside.

Happy to discuss.

Casa

They were probably carrying out the process in the youtube link posted earlier on in the thread, <£80 buys a key programmer, similar amount for a key, both purchased on line, and it's open season on a the majority of BMWs on the roads.

[gizard]

If BMW could be bothered they could limit the number of Keys that could be added to the car, or better still require one of the originals to be present when programing? Surely from a software update this would be very easy - costly for the recall however...

[hman]

seeing as I have only one key for my car and the log book is in the post I shall be buying a stoplock tomorrow!

[Zod]

Glassman said:

One guy in Whetstone N20 has had his E60 broken into twice; one guy in Wembley had his car stolen (and subsequently recovered three days later). Another attempt was in Potters Bar; I have been hearing of similar thefts/attempts from all over the UK.

Always the driver's door window that gets smashed IME.

Also North London, but it was the driver's door lock, not window they broke.