Thief proofing your BMW?

[fredt]

Our car got stolen a couple of weeks ago (2008 X5), smashed window and after that I guess they connected to the OBD port and somehow got the thing going.

Since I can't think of a better option for a comfortable 7 seater that is also a little bit of fun, I'm looking pretty much to replace it like for like. I'm guessing the thieves would also like to steal like for like, so I'm looking at additional safety measures. Car is in a well lit spot, with additional security light in full view from the street, so these thieves knew what they were doing and are not shy.

1. How are thieves actually stealing these cars, as i described above or is it more crude (or more sophisticated) then this?

2. What would you do to prevent them to get away with the car again? The car will live outside still in the same spot outside our garage, so I guess there is no way of stopping them getting in the car, but I want to stop them getting it started.

2a. A physical switch cutting power to for example the fuel pump or starter motor?
2b. A separate immobilizer?
2c. Get rid of the OBD port. Cutting the wires and install connector to you plug in the OBD port when you need it. Put a dummy OBD in its place. (Put in a obd port connected to mains power to blow up their device.. )

Or how else can I go about this?

Thanks,
Fred

[fredt]

hyphen said:

older X5 seems a strange choice to steal... was it in gangster black?

If so then buying one in Beige or Green may make it less desirable!! And aftermarket alarm/immobiliser.

Yep gangsta-black fo sho!

Probably my least favourite colour (after maybe silver) but it doesn't really enter into my search criteria, I'm a 2nd hand buyer and spec will always rule. This car was great, albeit black.

[fredt]

Hoofy said:

And learn Krav Maga...

Aint gonna help much when I'm asleep in bed is it? Not sleeping in the car, don't like them that much..

Edited by fredt on Monday 6th March 14:39

[fredt]

Cheib said:

Very sorry to hear this....fk me I remember when this first started happening...so worried my car would "get done" as it was parked on the street in London. Battery cut off from what I remember is not a great solution as the battery is in the boot...also not sure it does these cars any good to constantly be losing power etc. Moving OBD port is a good idea as is the idea of some collapsible posts/bollards to make the car harder to move...also some lighting. You need some kind of physical deterrent I think....make them go elsewhere...ultimately if they want it they'll get it sadly.

I traded in a very high spec 2007 X5 SD at the weekend...1 owner 60k miles. Gangster grey in this case.

Did you own it from new? Tell me more, is it a good car? where did you trade it in? I'm interested.
I am looking into collapsible bollards, but it seems a faff and/or very expensive. Mind you so is loosing a car to thieves.
Battery cut off is ruled out, messes up car setting specially memory seats.

It's a well lit area literally outside our front door. It's the courtyard in front of a row of townhouses. Additionally each garage have security lights with motion sensors. These were disabled by force. Not much can be done to improve this that wouldn't be susceptible to the same.

Is there any other wired access points to the cars 'brain', other then the OBD port? Any wireless ways to connect to the car?

Why are these so easy to steal, anyone know?

Thanks

[fredt]

Cheib said:

I traded it in at a Sytner owned Porsche dealership....I doubt it will end up at one of there BMW dealers as its too old. I could ask if you're genuinely interested.

Was a very good car, owned it from new and kept it much, much longer than any other car I have ever had. Did quite a few continental journeys four up with loads of luggage/roof box which it just did superbly. Very comfortable and for the first six years nothing went wrong...last couple of needed sunroof replacing and the rear airbag suspension on one side (both common issues)....car was still under warranty from new. Spec was Se with Dynamic Pack, 20" wheels, 7 seats, pano roof, electric boot, comfort seats (superb and very rare), heated seats and steering wheel, adaptive lights, rear blinds, digital radio (not standard then!), sun protection glass (natch) and a few other bits.

Genuinely interested. Sent you an email. Cheers

[fredt]

Little unnerving reading that whilst planning to buy an identical car...

[fredt]

Cheib said:

I traded it in at a Sytner owned Porsche dealership....I doubt it will end up at one of there BMW dealers as its too old. I could ask if you're genuinely interested.

Was a very good car, owned it from new and kept it much, much longer than any other car I have ever had. Did quite a few continental journeys four up with loads of luggage/roof box which it just did superbly. Very comfortable and for the first six years nothing went wrong...last couple of needed sunroof replacing and the rear airbag suspension on one side (both common issues)....car was still under warranty from new. Spec was Se with Dynamic Pack, 20" wheels, 7 seats, pano roof, electric boot, comfort seats (superb and very rare), heated seats and steering wheel, adaptive lights, rear blinds, digital radio (not standard then!), sun protection glass (natch) and a few other bits.

I just bought your old car

Anything I should know about? It is basically identical spec to the one I lost so bought it unseen. Model year is 2008 isn't?

Edited by fredt on Tuesday 7th March 16:12

[fredt]

msej449 said:

If we assume the 2015 X5 proportion was similar to the 2016 Audi S3 (and my recollection is that it was 8.5%), then the official stats say there were 81,158 cars stolen in 2015. So that's 6,899 X5s stolen in 2015! The official figures for YE March 2016 was that only 34% of stolen cars were returned to the owner, so that means 4,554 BMW X5s 'disappeared' in 2015 .... Given police comments, it seems a lot of these got transported out of the country.

BTW you may see figures closer to 240,000 for car thefts, but that is for thefts from cars. It isn't clear whether that number (actually 239,336 thefts from cars) includes the 81,158 stolen cars or is in addition, since if your car was stolen with stuff in it, it could get recorded as both.

The reason I'm interested in all this is that I know someone who was assaulted in their home for their Ford Focus RS keys and was trying to convince him that (a) he was just unlucky (b) he was going to be fine with his replacement BMW M125i and (c) he should stop taking forum posts as statistically representative of crime. Unfortunately, the experience has permanently put him off owning anything but an anonymous Japanese car.

Can't blame him. I'm a little apprehensive myself. Specially putting an identical car back in the same spot!

[fredt]

greghm said:

Out of interest, what do they do with the stolen cars ? Ship them abroad ? dismount them for parts ?

I think a fair few gets exported to eastern Europe, however unlikely this might seem.

Anyway I have agreed a settlement in principal with my insurance, and have put a deposit on Cheib's old car. Seems like a good replacement, thanks for giving me the heads up!

I will add some additional security measures, but shuold I find there has been an attempt to steal this one as well I will probably sell asap and get a boring people carrier. Last thing I want is someone coming into the house, or confronting me or my wife in person in order to take the car away.