Ghost Immobiliser II - Dumb question?

[T1berious]

Hoping someone here can offer some insight.

If you fit this to a "new" Cayman, does it invalidate your Porsche warranty?

I'm giving it some serious thought.

Cheers,

T1b

[Slippydiff]

Not Porsche I grant you, but BMW dealers are fitting them to new and used cars, and the Ghost installer I spoke to says there is no element of "butchering" to the cars wiring harness.

[T1berious]

Slippydiff said:

Not Porsche I grant you, but BMW dealers are fitting them to new and used cars, and the Ghost installer I spoke to says there is no element of "butchering" to the cars wiring harness.

As I understand it, it's a module that sits on the CAN bus rather than something piggy backing the wiring loom.

You can also set it up to be in a "valet mode" when in for servicing etc.

Just spoke to someone on site, theives tried to get his car 3 times and failed dismally.

[T1berious]

Just seen a few videos on installs on Porsches, with a bit of sleuthing ( video post date minus age of the car ) these were in warranty.

A quick Google hasn't thrown up a shed load of "Ghost immobiliser II bricked my car! Porsche said Jog on! Help!!" Stories.

Yup, I'm going to do a bit more research but it's looking like a no brainer at <£600. PPF is several times that cost.

[randlemarcus]

Under warranty with a stealth installation, or under warranty with the knowledge and blessing of Porsche? Different things. I suspect the former, which is fine, until things go a bit wrong, and a tech finds it, at which point, all bets are off, given their stance on other silly things, like radiator shields.

[T1berious]

randlemarcus said:

Under warranty with a stealth installation, or under warranty with the knowledge and blessing of Porsche? Different things. I suspect the former, which is fine, until things go a bit wrong, and a tech finds it, at which point, all bets are off, given their stance on other silly things, like radiator shields.

I've read that it can be removed if it really needs doing in the event of diagnosing an issue

[Slippydiff]

randlemarcus said:

Under warranty with a stealth installation, or under warranty with the knowledge and blessing of Porsche? Different things. I suspect the former, which is fine, until things go a bit wrong, and a tech finds it, at which point, all bets are off, given their stance on other silly things, like radiator shields.

Which is fine IF you still have a car to take to your OPC in the first place, but if you haven’t, because unbeknownst to you some thieving scrote walked into your kitchen through an open patio door late on a Sunday evening (whilst you were in the lounge next door on the phone) and took the car and house keys, and stole the car off the arrive, your perspective may be slightly different ?

It’s true that many manufacturer’s anti-theft systems are increasingly sophisticated, but if criminals resort to stealing the keys to steal vehicles, those wonderful systems are rendered useless, so it now increasingly falls to the owner to take further steps to retain their property in the event the keys are stolen.

[randlemarcus]

Slippydiff said:

Which is fine IF you still have a car to take to your OPC in the first place, but if you haven’t, because unbeknownst to you some thieving scrote walked into your kitchen through an open patio door late on a Sunday evening (whilst you were in the lounge next door on the phone) and took the car and house keys, and stole the car off the arrive, your perspective may be slightly different ?

It’s true that many manufacturer’s anti-theft systems are increasingly sophisticated, but if criminals resort to stealing the keys to steal vehicles, those wonderful systems are rendered useless, so it now increasingly falls to the owner to take further steps to retain their property in the event the keys are stolen.

Absolutely get that, just a caution that while one manufacturer is happy with the intrusion, it doesn't mean that another manufacturer will let it slide. You need to do your own risk assessment, taking into account all aspects, which is a bit rubbish, but Porsche have Vodafone in their corner, and that system doesn't provide all the protection that others do.

[T1berious]

Slippydiff said:

Which is fine IF you still have a car to take to your OPC in the first place, but if you haven’t, because unbeknownst to you some thieving scrote walked into your kitchen through an open patio door late on a Sunday evening (whilst you were in the lounge next door on the phone) and took the car and house keys, and stole the car off the arrive, your perspective may be slightly different ?

It’s true that many manufacturer’s anti-theft systems are increasingly sophisticated, but if criminals resort to stealing the keys to steal vehicles, those wonderful systems are rendered useless, so it now increasingly falls to the owner to take further steps to retain their property in the event the keys are stolen.

^this^

As someone who was broken into and had 2 cars stolen in 2021 I'd be more inclined to take a "I'd rather keep the car (as in its not stolen) and address any issues with the Manufacturer rather than lose another car" approach.



A humble KIA EV6 even behind a post and a well alarmed house was cased by this tool, four times in two days...

[kmpowell]

T1berious said:

A humble KIA EV6 even behind a post and a well alarmed house was cased by this tool, four times in two days...

Google "Kia Boys", and watch how new Hyundai & Kia's are being stolen with nothing more than a USB cable(!)

Even if they can/can't do it to UK cars, my advice is to buy a Disklok and make sure your post is always up.

[bennno]

T1berious said:

^this^

As someone who was broken into and had 2 cars stolen in 2021 I'd be more inclined to take a "I'd rather keep the car (as in its not stolen) and address any issues with the Manufacturer rather than lose another car" approach.



A humble KIA EV6 even behind a post and a well alarmed house was cased by this tool, four times in two days...

Whats the risk of being further threatened by intruders for codes etc? I'd move somewhere else, we can leave keys in the ignition overnight here

[T1berious]

My costs were time, money and just the inconvenience. a few weeks car hire was £700.

I was massively lucky and my mates came through. Borrowed a mates Mini for a few months and another mate insisted I take his 220d while he was away for 6 weeks in Romania.



We ordered a Kia EV6 which thankfully was only 3 months from order to delivery. The replacement for the M2C has been 10 months since order, delivery hopefully mid to late October.

Truth is, manufacturers need to do more to tackle car crime.

[Jamescrs]

In addition to my Boxster I also own a BMW M240i, I did have a Ghost immobiliser installed to the BMW (since removed) but when it came to taking out the extended BMW warranty I spoke to the warranty company and they said they would not warranty the car if I had the immobiliser fitted, I chose to do it anyway and run without a warranty and (touch wood) the car has been perfect.

I think the extended BMW warranty is backed by Allianz Insurance.

I had the immobiliser removed because I was going to trade in the car and the garage wouldn't take it with the Ghost installed, I since changed my mind on the new car though and the BMW is still with me.

[julian987R]

Slippydiff said:

I had two pairs of prescription glasses in the car, one a pair of Raybans I’d purchased in NZ 20 years ago, they were irreplaceable, something similar would have been £350, the other pair were a decent quality frame with expensive clear lenses, probably worth £400.
Also on the back seat were a Berghaus jacket £100, various other fleeces and a gillet, probably worth £150.

Edited by Slippydiff on Friday 26th August 12:01

Not wise to leave items in view for opportunists. Not that that is all they took, and admittedly questionable if that was the catalyst with your incident, but still very unwise to do that.

[Slippydiff]

julian987R said:

Slippydiff said:

I had two pairs of prescription glasses in the car, one a pair of Raybans I’d purchased in NZ 20 years ago, they were irreplaceable, something similar would have been £350, the other pair were a decent quality frame with expensive clear lenses, probably worth £400.
Also on the back seat were a Berghaus jacket £100, various other fleeces and a gillet, probably worth £150.

Edited by Slippydiff on Friday 26th August 12:01

Not wise to leave items in view for opportunists. Not that that is all they took, and admittedly questionable if that was the catalyst with your incident, but still very unwise to do that.

Neither pair of glasses were viewable from outside the car. The various items of clothing were on the back seat, and the car had BMW OE privacy glass.
Rest assured, the car was not stolen because of or for the items inside it, it was either stolen to order for parts, or one of hundreds of cars stolen worldwide to be shipped to Africa where they are imported and sold with “ no questions asked” due to the corruption endemic there.

A bit like the OP, the thieving scrotes who took the car, were seen casing the joint on the Friday afternoon, two days before it was stolen.

[julian987R]

Slippydiff said:

Neither pair of glasses were viewable from outside the car. The various items of clothing were on the back seat, and the car had BMW OE privacy glass.
Rest assured, the car was not stolen because of or for the items inside it, it was either stolen to order for parts, or one of hundreds of cars stolen worldwide to be shipped to Africa where they are imported and sold with “ no questions asked” due to the corruption endemic there.

A bit like the OP, the thieving scrotes who took the car, were seen casing the joint on the Friday afternoon, two days before it was stolen.

Ah I see. Fascinating about Africa, I didn't know that...same steering side so I can see how that would be. Terrible though isn't it.

What is the general consensus then on Ghost Immobiliser, having read the thread it does seem overwhelming on it. I was thinking of getting one but am now holding out for a new tracker that AutoFarm are trialing currently.

[Thewy003911]

wondered if i might reopen this thread:


Scenario:

I have a 911 992.2 with a Ghost fitted to it. Prior to collection of my car Porsche should have paired the tracker fobs so that i could activate the security system. However they forgot to do this.

After the Ghost was fitted, i subsequently booked the car into my local Porsche Centre to have the fobs paired. Arriving at Porsche, i put the Ghost into service mode, essentially disabling it for the time it was going to be with them.

I received a call from Porsche that day saying they needed to keep it overnight as they were struggling to pair the fobs. Then the next day saying that the car kept wanting to go into sleep mode every time they tried to pair them (i'm paraphrasing here as i have little to no detail about exactly what the car is doing).

4 weeks later - car still with Porsche and they have tried 2 x new "Control Units" but still the problem persists. They have another control unit arriving this week and assure me they will get it fixed.

QUESTION: Could it be the Ghost that is causing the problem? My understanding is that a Ghost is nothing to do with control units and therefore would not cause the car to go into sleep mode for any reason, especially as it is in 'service mode' currently.

[scrounger73]

I'd give the company that installed your Ghost a call and ask the Q. If needs be, take the car back to them (make some excuse up) and have the Ghost removed then take it back to your OPC and see if it works.

[Paft Dunk]

Have you called Autowatch Support ? The guys have always been super helpful whenever I’ve spoken to them and know their products very well.

[Thewy003911]

I have spoken to them. The general consensus is that it "could be" but... "it's probably not" the Ghost from their point of view. Which is encouraging and frustrating in equal measure. My biggest concern is that it could invalidate the warranty.

However i've seen on the Ghost website the following:

"This seems to be a question that gets asked a lot about installing an Autowatch Ghost Immobiliser but in a word, no. Installing a Ghost will not void your vehicles warranty. This is the same for any of the products we install, including Parking Sensors (drilling the bodywork), cruise control, speed limiters, tracking systems, alarms and more. In 18 years of installing these devices we have never voided a vehicles warranty"...

That gives me some comfort, but anyone out there with similar-ish problems would help ease the anx!