Security for older motors

[nuyorican]

More and more I've been wanting an old BMW E30 touring. But as I live in a large city I'm worried it would be stolen. These 80's/90's cars are pre-immobilser if I've got that right? So would be easy for the local scrotes to have away.

So are there any realistic options for keeping a car like this as a daily driver without the headache of people trying to steal it all the time? I don't have a garage, only a drive. Can new tech/alarm/immobilser be retro-fitted? Obviously a crook lock of some description would help too.

[J4CKO]

Have a look at the Viper 106V, a simple immobiliser that disables three circuits, they seem pretty foolproof,

https://www.clifford.co.uk/ProductPages/Security_V...

Took an hour and a half to be installed and cost me like £230 a couple of years back, has worked well.

[vikingaero]

Most of my friends use steering wheel locks on their modern classics when the cars are parked up. Anything can be stolen, but deterrents move the theft to the next easier to steal car.

Edited by vikingaero on Friday 26th July 08:53

[brillomaster]

fortunately, i dont think you're at a huge threat of having it stolen. sure E30s are an appreciating asset, but crims will be far more interested in the latest fast BMWs and Audis, or the expensive brand new range rovers and the like, the type that can be easily nicked and shipped off to europe because of keyless entry.

i think the best deterent is that your car requires an actual key to start! you could perhaps consider getting a new ignition lock for it so it needs a nice sharp key, and can't be started with a screwdriver. or perhaps a hidden battery cut off switch - might help save you from dodgy 30 year old electrics draining the battery too.

Edited by brillomaster on Friday 26th July 08:58

[nuyorican]

brillomaster said:

fortunately, i dont think you're at a huge threat of having it stolen. sure E30s are an appreciating asset, but crims will be far more interested in the latest fast BMWs and Audis, or the expensive brand new range rovers and the like, the type that can be easily nicked and shipped off to europe because of keyless entry.

i think the best deterent is that your car requires an actual key to start! you could perhaps consider getting a new ignition lock for it so it needs a nice sharp key, and can't be started with a screwdriver. or perhaps a hidden battery cut off switch - might help save you from dodgy 30 year old electrics draining the battery too.

Edited by brillomaster on Friday 26th July 08:58

Thanks. Yeah, I'm more worried about it being stolen for the lols and burnt out after I've just had a new spray job or the like. 'Joyriding' was the old term When I mentioned this to a mate, he said that these old tourers are magnets for scrotes, something to do with drifting.

I'm probably overthinking this.

Good idea about the new ignition lock.

[Lotobear]

I used to run a remote battery switch on my Elan, more as I was worried about fires but it was great for security too.

http://www.batterybrain.co.uk/shop/

[RazerSauber]

Be realistic with the fact that if someone wants it, they're going to take it. But yes, you can get all manner of mental alarms or immobilisers with pin codes using buttons inside, remote fobs, all sorts of things. You're a little bit more limited with a car that's so old but you'll still get a solid alarm and immobiliser that might just scare off a thief. No harm in using something like a steering wheel lock, either. Something visible to put them off. If you want to go mad, you can install a post at the end of your drive. They're usually simple to drop with a key and it's something else that makes your particular car less appealing.

[Riley Blue]

J4CKO said:

Have a look at the Viper 106V, a simple immobiliser that disables three circuits, they seem pretty foolproof,

https://www.clifford.co.uk/ProductPages/Security_V...

Took an hour and a half to be installed and cost me like £230 a couple of years back, has worked well.

Genuine question as one of my cars was broken in to recently though not driven away but how do you know it has worked well. Has someone tried, but failed, to make off with the car it's fitted to?

[J4CKO]

Riley Blue said:

J4CKO said:

Have a look at the Viper 106V, a simple immobiliser that disables three circuits, they seem pretty foolproof,

https://www.clifford.co.uk/ProductPages/Security_V...

Took an hour and a half to be installed and cost me like £230 a couple of years back, has worked well.

Genuine question as one of my cars was broken in to recently though not driven away but how do you know it has worked well. Has someone tried, but failed, to make off with the car it's fitted to?

Thats a good point, I still have a the car but its perhaps a bit like the old Elephant Powder joke.

In part there is the peace of mind that, based on anecdotal evidence, its the go to solution for Fiesta ST, many of which get nicked and as far as I am aware none have ever been taken with one of these fitted. Unlike a Ghost there is no way round it, its simple but effective

It takes an hour and a half to fit for someone who knows them in a well lit, fully fitted workshop, so a car thief isnt easily going to dismantle the car interior and remove it, under duress, in the dark with limited tools.

Plus its worked well and not caused me any issues, only criticism would be the little keys, the loop for your key ring is a bit flimsy and I have had to reinforce it.

Basically I dont overly worry about it getting pinched int he night, with that and a few other security tricks.

[Riley Blue]

J4CKO said:

Riley Blue said:

J4CKO said:

Have a look at the Viper 106V, a simple immobiliser that disables three circuits, they seem pretty foolproof,

https://www.clifford.co.uk/ProductPages/Security_V...

Took an hour and a half to be installed and cost me like £230 a couple of years back, has worked well.

Genuine question as one of my cars was broken in to recently though not driven away but how do you know it has worked well. Has someone tried, but failed, to make off with the car it's fitted to?

Thats a good point, I still have a the car but its perhaps a bit like the old Elephant Powder joke.

In part there is the peace of mind that, based on anecdotal evidence, its the go to solution for Fiesta ST, many of which get nicked and as far as I am aware none have ever been taken with one of these fitted. Unlike a Ghost there is no way round it, its simple but effective

It takes an hour and a half to fit for someone who knows them in a well lit, fully fitted workshop, so a car thief isnt easily going to dismantle the car interior and remove it, under duress, in the dark with limited tools.

Plus its worked well and not caused me any issues, only criticism would be the little keys, the loop for your key ring is a bit flimsy and I have had to reinforce it.

Basically I dont overly worry about it getting pinched int he night, with that and a few other security tricks.

Thanks.

Mine's a 2016 Fiesta, though not an ST, but has keyless entry and start. Fortunately damage was just confined to the door lock and handle and nothing was taken but it's a PITA having to get it fixed. It happened between 11:00 - 16:00 on a Friday at the kerbside opposite my house. I'd prefer the next attempt to fail too...

ETA: My Riley was once broken into, in a hotel car park in Alnwick, and the contents of the boot 'liberated' - tools, spares, fuel can etc. taken. The boot handle/lock needed replacing though no attempt at taking the car; the Disklok may have saved it.

Edited by Riley Blue on Friday 26th July 10:20

[Wacky Racer]

In the 1970's, with my Spitfire and Capris, if I was leaving the car in a dodgy area, such as going to see a rock concert at The Manchester Apollo, I used to lift the bonnet and whip the rotor arm out and keep it in my pocket.

Took me about two minutes.

Except once, the rotor arm fell out of a hole in my pocket, and I had to call the AA out.

[aeropilot]

Wacky Racer said:

In the 1970's, with my Spitfire and Capris, if I was leaving the car in a dodgy area, such as going to see a rock concert at The Manchester Apollo, I used to lift the bonnet and whip the rotor arm out and keep it in my pocket.

Took me about two minutes.

Except once, the rotor arm fell out of a hole in my pocket, and I had to call the AA out.

Reminds me of when I had my first RS2000 back in 1983, and it was common to fit a small flick switch wired into the ignition, hidden up behind the dash. Once though, on visiting an old school mate, he came outside to say goodbye and stood next to car as I went to start it, and so my 'starting routine' was 'interrupted' and the car wouldn't start. So, with fuddled brain, after several attempts, he went and got the keys to his old man's Jag XJ, and with tow rope attached, we tried tow starting it up and down his road, to no avail. As it was nearly midnight, and mid-week, I decided I'd have to leave outside my mates house and he'd drop me home, at which point, after pushing it into side of road outside his house, I reached instinctively reached down and up behind the dash to flick the cut-out switch to 'off' and then it dawned on me that it was 'off' and that's why it wouldn't start......
My friend was not impressed when it immediately fired into life and I had to explain why our efforts of the past 20mins had been in vain

[some bloke]

I use a steering wheel lock on mine, and as others have mentioned, have used the 'whip the rotor out' trick as well.

[The Dictator]

My 1981 Mercedes 500 SEL does not have airbags, as such I have fitted a Sparco removable steering wheel boss to my MOMO California steering wheel.

I don't think I am at massive risk of theft, but not having a steering wheel in the car, is going to make it much more problematic to steal.

[dirky dirk]

Cut out switch was always the best

rotor arm off,

hide a couple of air tags in it,

[bad company]

A friend of mine bought a Triumph TR4A. It was stolen less than a week after he bought it, I never even got to see it before it was gone.

That was in North Essex near the Suffolk border.

[miniman]

[ARHarh]

aeropilot said:

Wacky Racer said:

In the 1970's, with my Spitfire and Capris, if I was leaving the car in a dodgy area, such as going to see a rock concert at The Manchester Apollo, I used to lift the bonnet and whip the rotor arm out and keep it in my pocket.

Took me about two minutes.

Except once, the rotor arm fell out of a hole in my pocket, and I had to call the AA out.

Reminds me of when I had my first RS2000 back in 1983, and it was common to fit a small flick switch wired into the ignition, hidden up behind the dash. Once though, on visiting an old school mate, he came outside to say goodbye and stood next to car as I went to start it, and so my 'starting routine' was 'interrupted' and the car wouldn't start. So, with fuddled brain, after several attempts, he went and got the keys to his old man's Jag XJ, and with tow rope attached, we tried tow starting it up and down his road, to no avail. As it was nearly midnight, and mid-week, I decided I'd have to leave outside my mates house and he'd drop me home, at which point, after pushing it into side of road outside his house, I reached instinctively reached down and up behind the dash to flick the cut-out switch to 'off' and then it dawned on me that it was 'off' and that's why it wouldn't start......
My friend was not impressed when it immediately fired into life and I had to explain why our efforts of the past 20mins had been in vain

Been there done that with a mini many years ago. Gave up trying to start it and got a lift home. Next day my mate took me to try and get it started, first thing he said was did you flick the switch. DOH!

[Wacky Racer]

aeropilot said:

Wacky Racer said:

In the 1970's, with my Spitfire and Capris, if I was leaving the car in a dodgy area, such as going to see a rock concert at The Manchester Apollo, I used to lift the bonnet and whip the rotor arm out and keep it in my pocket.

Took me about two minutes.

Except once, the rotor arm fell out of a hole in my pocket, and I had to call the AA out.

Reminds me of when I had my first RS2000 back in 1983, and it was common to fit a small flick switch wired into the ignition, hidden up behind the dash. Once though, on visiting an old school mate, he came outside to say goodbye and stood next to car as I went to start it, and so my 'starting routine' was 'interrupted' and the car wouldn't start. So, with fuddled brain, after several attempts, he went and got the keys to his old man's Jag XJ, and with tow rope attached, we tried tow starting it up and down his road, to no avail. As it was nearly midnight, and mid-week, I decided I'd have to leave outside my mates house and he'd drop me home, at which point, after pushing it into side of road outside his house, I reached instinctively reached down and up behind the dash to flick the cut-out switch to 'off' and then it dawned on me that it was 'off' and that's why it wouldn't start......
My friend was not impressed when it immediately fired into life and I had to explain why our efforts of the past 20mins had been in vain

Bit off topic but:-

About five years ago we bought a brand new motorhome and decided to go down to Brighton caravan camp site for a week. (I live near Manchester).

We parked up, and I decided to make a cup of tea. All the power was off to the van, I could start the engine, but had no plug sockets, lights, heating etc,

I mentioned it to the bloke on the next pitch, who happened to be an auto electrician on holiday who had all his toolkit, testers with him,

Well he came over, spent nearly an hour literally pulling the van apart and testing everything, all the wiring under the rear seats etc.....and eventually gave up, I said "Thanks anyway" and he went back to his van.

I was just about resigned to abandoning the holiday when I noticed a small rocker switch near the floor by the side door, I thought "I wonder what this is for"

Knocked it down and all the power came on, I must have caught it with my foot when I was getting out,

I went round to the guy, knocked on his door and said "You are not going to believe this".........

[WhiskyDisco]

Have you looked at pedal locks? I use one on my old defender and it gives me peace of mind.