My Other Car Was Stolen Last Night

[Rich_p 23]

I came out to my car park this morning to discover a pile of glass and no more BMW 130i.

 

Hugely frustrating experience, you just can't have anything nice can you!

 

The police decided not to send anyone out and just gave me a crime number.

[m@ttc 30]

Yes the police do that. Post pictures all over the social internet hopefully someone will see it.

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

Sorry to hear that

 

There wouldn't be a lot the Police could do by visiting you though, in fairness.

[mowflow 67]

Sorry to hear about this. Can remember when you got this car.

 

Lots of similarly aged 3 series used to get pinched as they were prone to key cloning. There was a thing on watchdog about owners appealing for BMW to do something about the supply of blank keys and updating the OBD software or providing a port lock.

 

It is a case of not being able to have anything nice. Got one of those cheap golf Rs recently and the frequency of posts on the forum from people who've had the cars stolen via house break in or car jacking is scary. Theory is fast 5 door hatches make the perfect getaway car. So buy a 3 door.

[Rich_p 23]

Just found out that another 1 series was taken last night from the other side of town, it's the same generation as mine so I assume they have taken it the same way.

 

They must be on a mission!

[rikky 37]

Know a few people who've had the Audi S3 sportbacks nicked, again a theme of fast 5 door hatchbacks(ish)

 

Bad luck, hopefully it'll turn up, but I personally wouldn't keep a car if I'd had it nicked and got it back

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

Theory is fast 5 door hatches make the perfect getaway car. So buy a 3 door.

 

Fast, 4 door and AWD is the desired combo for getaway cars. Had the unfortunate experience of 4 attempted thefts within a month on an Evo I owned years ago, they aborted each time due to being disturbed in the act, sold it shortly after.

 

Edit: After a quick google I'm very surprised the 1 series can be nicked so easily, but there are easy mods that can prevent it apparently.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Ams

[wicked 103 3 Cars]

If you have a modern car with a 'digital' key, that don't have an mechanical function like locking steering columns, then make a hidden switch on your OBD port wiring.

On BMW's / VW's etc, they just smash a window, put a laptop on your OBD port, program a new key that they bring, and start the engine and drive away...

They probably brought a BMW 1 series key that night....

If they don't get access on OBD, they might stop and walk away.

[Rich_p 23]

Sadly I'm aware how easy they are to nick. I guess I was just complacent and thought it would never happen to me.

 

I live in a quiet area so just didn't expect it.

 

If it does get found it will be sold on, chances of it going again are slim but I wouldn't be comfortable knowing it's been interfered with.

 

I've remain strangly calm about the whole thing, if it had been my civic that I had before I'd have been gutted even though it was worth thousands less

Edited June 9, 2015 by Rich_p

[Rich_p 23]

A 3 series got nicked last night too, that's 3 BM's in under a week from the area, this was an earlier car but may well be linked still.

[mowflow 67]

With slightly older cars I can only imagine it's a case of being stolen to be sold abroad or broken and sold for parts.

 

The keyless or partial keyless nature of current and previous generation BMWs is quite a big flaw in their security. It surprised me that after the issues with the late E series cars they moved even further in that direction with the current F series.

 

In saying all that, I would rather my car was taken from my drive without my knowledge while i slept peacefully in bed rather than the confrontational car jackings that are frequently reported on the Golf R forum.

 

Hope the insurance pays out quickly and generously for you Rich_p

Edited June 11, 2015 by mowflow

[Rich_p 23]

I completely agree with you, I'm very glad it just disappeared without my knowledge rather than someone entering my home.

 

It's made me more vigilante about locking my windows etc when I go to bed now though just in case.

 

The insurance have been surprisingly fair so far, they offered me a settlement yesterday which was £750 more than I paid for the car 18 months ago! I'm still pushing for some more though, it can't do any harm as people always say never accept the first offer!

[rikky 37]

In all reality if someone wants something bad enough they'll get it one way or another. Guy I know bought a Golf VR6 back in the 90's brand new and they came with a small truck / lowloader and winched it off his drive whilst he sat in the front room!

 

He has since bought a new Golf R32 (few years ago) and was pepper-sprayed coming out of the office and locking up one night for the keys. They didn't get it though as he put up a fight with his briefcase against two of them

 

I've had a few people down our dead-end close, petty crime but no car theft (yet) (touch wood). I'm more worried about people nicking my dogs than my cars but if someone does get in my house in the night they are without doubt going home with 12gauge injuries after I exercise my self-defence right

 

My next-door-but-two neighbour had his house walked into on New Years Day about 4am after leaving the front door unlocked and stole loads of stuff and left quietly

 

Who are you insured with out of interest? Sounds like they have been decent with you anyway

Edited June 12, 2015 by rikky

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

In all reality if someone wants something bad enough they'll get it one way or another.

 

Too right!

 

That's great news on the insurance payout side of things Rich. The insurance battle is as bad as the losing your vehicle sometimes! At least you're being compensated nicely for the loss with no hassles.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Ams

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

Questions is rich, what you spending the insurance money on?? Same again?

[Rich_p 23]

Its a Highway policy which is underwritten by LV so dealing with them.

 

I really expected an insulting low offer then have to argue the point and still end up with less that I wanted.

 

Im amazed they offered what they did right off the bat. It may be the fact there are only about 5 on them on sale in the country with similar or less miles and they are in double figures at dealerships. Im using those for a bit of leverage to get a bit more for them but if I dont Im still happy with what Ive got.

 

Really not sure what to get next, it took me a while to settle on the 130, I want a quick hatch as its practical but there are reasons why I wont consider most of them.

 

Its a shame it went as after 18 months of not gelling with it I recently had the front geo set up more to my liking and much preferred driving it, it was nowhere near perfect but an improvement. Having said that there are so many things I would change about it, it would be daft to get another plus I wouldnt feel comfortable with one outside.

 

I may go for something thats less money so Im less precious about it, the car sits at home all week as I car share so it is a bit of a waste sitting there. Ive always fancied a bog standard 2004/5 WRX Scooby wagon but getting one with low miles may prove to be an issue.

 

Id love an S1 Elise but wouldnt want to leave it outside, I do have access to a garage but its a 5-10 minute drive away which would bug me plus Id need to tax and insure a practical run about too.

[rikky 37]

Easy to say but I would not let them win by you not having the car you want. It is not a healty attitude really to go without for fear of losing it

 

I've grown up in a s*it area, I've had knifes pulled on me, I've been dragged out of my car, I've had my cars wrecked purposely, I've had people trying to get in my house, and I've got equally as many stories of friends who've been carjacked and had their houses broke into. Sadly it is life, and you going without a nice car for fear of it being nicked isn't the right answer IMO

 

Don't take it the wrong way, it's not a dig, it's just that going without what you want doesn't solve the problem overall

 

The 130i is a cracking car, I didn't like our E87 1 series at first but it's grown majorly on me

Edited June 12, 2015 by rikky

[Rich_p 23]

Not getting another 130 isn't purely down to not wanting to leave it outside, while it was a good car I never 100% gelled with it, there was lots I'd change about it.

 

I've been out having a look round some cars today to give me some idea of what to get next.

I popped into a ford dealers to see if they had any Focus ST's, they didn't but they had a couple of new little Fiesta ST's.

They are not on my radar at all but thought I'd try one for a laugh.

I have to say I was completely surprised, they are brilliantly fun little things, I got out of it grinning!

[jeremy 70]

Coincidently I got a FB link to someone who had their 1 series stolen last night too. Twenty five years ago it was all Fords and Vauxhalls my how times have changed.

Edited June 13, 2015 by jeremy

[Rich_p 23]

Was that in Essex too?

[jeremy 70]

Not sure but it was red if that helps. Will try and find the post.

[jeremy 70]

It was a red 135i yh59 cwa stolen from just outside Biggleswade.