Stupid idea to keep M3 on driveway at night?
Discussion
I'm thinking of getting an M3 (to get over the limitations of the Cerbera as a family car - getting the pushchair etc in the boot- and still have a serious blat when I have the urge) - I wouldn't be able to fit it in my garage (big enough for a 3.2l lawnmower but not much more than that), so it would have to sit on the drive at night. Is that a stupid idea (theft risk) etc? From reading various posts on this site and others, I've got the impression that they get lifted quite frequently. Having sampled the delights of a Carbon Black M3 at a dealership on the weekend, I am very, very tempted ... but am slightly put off by the idea of not being able to keep it for more than a few nights ... 
I keep mine on the street (no garage and no drive - live in London). I've had this one just over a year without any problems. My previous one was stolen from the same spot outside the house, though.
Thefts seem to have reduced since the waiting list disappeared and prices have softened. It's a fantastic car, so don't let the theft worry prevent you from enjoying it. Get shortfall insurance and you will be covered in any case. In the end, the worst thing about my theft was the inconvenience of not having a car for six weeks while I waited for the insurance payout (and of course the sheer impotent rage at the thieves for stealing my beloved car and at the Police for not giving a toss).
>> Edited by Zod on Tuesday 27th January 12:48
Thefts seem to have reduced since the waiting list disappeared and prices have softened. It's a fantastic car, so don't let the theft worry prevent you from enjoying it. Get shortfall insurance and you will be covered in any case. In the end, the worst thing about my theft was the inconvenience of not having a car for six weeks while I waited for the insurance payout (and of course the sheer impotent rage at the thieves for stealing my beloved car and at the Police for not giving a toss).
>> Edited by Zod on Tuesday 27th January 12:48
As mentioned above the number of thefts has gone down since there's more cars on the market.
One thing that has gone up though is the little thieving b'stards pinching the 19" alloys and leaving the car on the deck.
At £3.5k+ for a set of new rims and tyres from BMW it's well worth shelling out £50 for a decent set of locking wheel nuts.
One thing that has gone up though is the little thieving b'stards pinching the 19" alloys and leaving the car on the deck.
At £3.5k+ for a set of new rims and tyres from BMW it's well worth shelling out £50 for a decent set of locking wheel nuts.
Is your drive gravel?, if not can you make it so? Not liked by the theft boys as it makes a lot of noise.
I had a 98 Impreza Turbo (Blue/with nick me gold wheels) at the height of Impreza Mania (1998). Easy to nick as crap security/immobiliser and frameless windows. Kept on a Gravel Drive in Surrey (near M25 easy escape route) for 2 years, never touched.
davidy
I had a 98 Impreza Turbo (Blue/with nick me gold wheels) at the height of Impreza Mania (1998). Easy to nick as crap security/immobiliser and frameless windows. Kept on a Gravel Drive in Surrey (near M25 easy escape route) for 2 years, never touched.
davidy
dragstar said:
get a tracker fitted
Does this actually act as a deterrent? Do you get a "Tracker" sticker for the rear windscreen or something? If not, the thought of getting my car back after it has been burnt silly by a high speed police chase is not a great incentive on its own to spend the cash buying Tracker.
Do insurance companies refuse to insure without tracker? If they do, I suppose I'd have no choice. [It seems to me that Tracker is really a device invented for the benefit of insurance companies, but paid for by poor insureds who probably get their premiums increased because of theft (even where car is recovered) anyway]razor said:
get a tracker fitted
Do insurance companies refuse to insure without tracker?
You are unlikely to get insurance on an M3 without one. Colleague at work has one and every insurance company he tried demanded it.
There is no tracker sticker - the point is to recover the car and hopefully catch the thief, not deter the theft. Get the system that notifies you if the car has moved for total piece of mind
www.thankstotracker.co.uk/svt/carpricing.html
I know this message was posted a while ago now, but the best solution that I've found is that most local councils will rent you a lock up for around £7 - £10 a week - in my opinion a very sound way to protect your investment. I'm very lucky in that mine's 30 seconds from my front door - but I still think that I would've walked for 5 minutes rather than come out to see my wing mirrors kicked off on 2 seperate occasions. They didn't even nick them - the little chavs were just jealous. F*ckers.
I came across a Porsche 993 RS going for 15 grand under what they normally do, and I didn't get it for the garage issue- and I've put off buying a 993 in general for 3 years due to the thieving scum bags around aweful bitter Coventry, but no MORE!
I'm not going to let them run my life!I'm getting a lock up and a 993 Twin Turbo!
Go for it!
I'm not going to let them run my life!I'm getting a lock up and a 993 Twin Turbo!
Go for it!
Don't think I'd recommend it ....there is a bit in this months Straight Six about some scrotes who took tin snips to the bootlid of an E46 to get at the key for the locking nuts. They managed to get the wheelnuts off before being disturbed .... left the poor sod who owned it with a hefty repair bill.
In the end, I sold my TVR and bought an X5. I was too worried about the M3 being stolen from my drive: I'll wait until I get a place with a decent garage.
Plus, the amount of vandalism (mostly keying) that I kept seeing to 3 series (including to my wife's 325) is shocking: what is it with these scumbags? - they can't just admire decent motors, they have to damage them. Mindless.
Plus, the amount of vandalism (mostly keying) that I kept seeing to 3 series (including to my wife's 325) is shocking: what is it with these scumbags? - they can't just admire decent motors, they have to damage them. Mindless.
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