Discussion
Upgrades, innit bruv?
Sadly it's been a thing for quite some time to nick desirable bits off top of the range models to fit to lower models. I remember there was a spate of thefts of the RS4 bucket seats ~15 years ago. Interiors, wheels and various exterior panels will be desirable to scrotes who can shift them on.
Which part of the country are you in?
Sadly it's been a thing for quite some time to nick desirable bits off top of the range models to fit to lower models. I remember there was a spate of thefts of the RS4 bucket seats ~15 years ago. Interiors, wheels and various exterior panels will be desirable to scrotes who can shift them on.
Which part of the country are you in?
JulianHJ said:
Upgrades, innit bruv?
Sadly it's been a thing for quite some time to nick desirable bits off top of the range models to fit to lower models. I remember there was a spate of thefts of the RS4 bucket seats ~15 years ago. Interiors, wheels and various exterior panels will be desirable to scrotes who can shift them on.
Which part of the country are you in?
You'd think bits that are connected to electrics would be somehow coded to the car so they can't be used on another car, wouldnt you?Sadly it's been a thing for quite some time to nick desirable bits off top of the range models to fit to lower models. I remember there was a spate of thefts of the RS4 bucket seats ~15 years ago. Interiors, wheels and various exterior panels will be desirable to scrotes who can shift them on.
Which part of the country are you in?
Have you seen how easy they are to steal on the m3/m4/m2? theres a video showing they can do it in about 3 or 4 seconds, you literally just pull it full force out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8rl9CGoSM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8rl9CGoSM
Michael-lxb9y said:
Have you seen how easy they are to steal on the m3/m4/m2? theres a video showing they can do it in about 3 or 4 seconds, you literally just pull it full force out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8rl9CGoSM
Yeah I had a look at this. I'm thinking to do some added security to slow or hamper these people. Smash and Grab window film. Full enclosre steering wheel lock. Not sure how this would help if the wheel is just yanked up and off. They'd still have to get the lock off though. I read of a guy chaining the steering lock to rhe pedals. Not leaving the car parked in the same place over weeks. SOme of this is relly excessive stuff but necessary maybe.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8rl9CGoSM
RSsteveH said:
Michael-lxb9y said:
Have you seen how easy they are to steal on the m3/m4/m2? theres a video showing they can do it in about 3 or 4 seconds, you literally just pull it full force out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8rl9CGoSM
Yeah I had a look at this. I'm thinking to do some added security to slow or hamper these people. Smash and Grab window film. Full enclosre steering wheel lock. Not sure how this would help if the wheel is just yanked up and off. They'd still have to get the lock off though. I read of a guy chaining the steering lock to rhe pedals. Not leaving the car parked in the same place over weeks. SOme of this is relly excessive stuff but necessary maybe.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8rl9CGoSM
TheAngryDog said:
The video showed the car had a disklok on it - any kind of steering lock isn't going to deter them from taking the wheel.
Yeah was that the full actual DiskLok? Trouble is, not trying anything makes you feel like a sitting duck - just waiting for the next time. Some of that smash and grab winndow film looks very effective in slowing them down. I quite like the idea of chaining the whole set up to the peddles as well. Isn't it about them saying "ah f*** this..." and moving on to an easirr target?RSsteveH said:
TheAngryDog said:
The video showed the car had a disklok on it - any kind of steering lock isn't going to deter them from taking the wheel.
Yeah was that the full actual DiskLok? Trouble is, not trying anything makes you feel like a sitting duck - just waiting for the next time. Some of that smash and grab winndow film looks very effective in slowing them down. I quite like the idea of chaining the whole set up to the peddles as well. Isn't it about them saying "ah f*** this..." and moving on to an easirr target?My thoughts are like this:
1) In making it more difficult for someone to steal xyz, you're also inconveniencing yourself. How long before you think "f
k it, I cba with this anymore" and stop / do it less often?2) Any deterrent has to be very visible. Are thieves going to see the chain before they break into your car? Sure they may not make off with the wheel (see point 3) but they're still causing damage (see point 5).
3) If they do see the chain, they may just come back with bolt croppers later or another time, and you're non the wiser. They may also opt to smash the peddle the chain is locked to, causing you an even bigger issue.
4) Where do you keep all of these deterrents while you're not using them? In the boot? See point 1, if it's pissing it down you may decide not to fit / not to put the deterrents in the boot, so they're rattling around in the rear of the cabin, annoying you immensely.
5) Malicious damage. They may just say f
k you and smash your windows for sts and giggles.I'm not saying not do anything, just be aware of the challenges.
TheAngryDog said:
Yes it was a full disklok, you can see him running off with it.
My thoughts are like this:
1) In making it more difficult for someone to steal xyz, you're also inconveniencing yourself. How long before you think "fk it, I cba with this anymore" and stop / do it less often?
2) Any deterrent has to be very visible. Are thieves going to see the chain before they break into your car? Sure they may not make off with the wheel (see point 3) but they're still causing damage (see point 5).
3) If they do see the chain, they may just come back with bolt croppers later or another time, and you're non the wiser. They may also opt to smash the peddle the chain is locked to, causing you an even bigger issue.
4) Where do you keep all of these deterrents while you're not using them? In the boot? See point 1, if it's pissing it down you may decide not to fit / not to put the deterrents in the boot, so they're rattling around in the rear of the cabin, annoying you immensely.
5) Malicious damage. They may just say fk you and smash your windows for sts and giggles.
I'm not saying not do anything, just be aware of the challenges.
To be fair, I can see the breaking of the window easily. I can see him yank the wheel out, but I cant see enough to determine its a full disklok. The quality of that footage is rubbish. And those guys are far away.My thoughts are like this:
1) In making it more difficult for someone to steal xyz, you're also inconveniencing yourself. How long before you think "f
k it, I cba with this anymore" and stop / do it less often?2) Any deterrent has to be very visible. Are thieves going to see the chain before they break into your car? Sure they may not make off with the wheel (see point 3) but they're still causing damage (see point 5).
3) If they do see the chain, they may just come back with bolt croppers later or another time, and you're non the wiser. They may also opt to smash the peddle the chain is locked to, causing you an even bigger issue.
4) Where do you keep all of these deterrents while you're not using them? In the boot? See point 1, if it's pissing it down you may decide not to fit / not to put the deterrents in the boot, so they're rattling around in the rear of the cabin, annoying you immensely.
5) Malicious damage. They may just say f
k you and smash your windows for sts and giggles.I'm not saying not do anything, just be aware of the challenges.
Havng said that, I get your points, all of them.
I just got the estimate from BMW for this repair - over £5k. The list of required parts is L O N G !!! And they get a few hundred for a steeirng wheel?
Don't these guys want to just smash and grab in as few seconds as possible? Sure malicious damage is possible but they come expecting to get a steerng wheel (because it's not opportunist, its planned imo. A cased vehicle then return to do the job.) and get nothing. They are one track minded, probably not that bright, and now they have to think of the alternative.
You see, I'm painting the same picture of doom as you are, except in reverse. I'm doubting that they'd return to the scene with a bolt cutters, at least not that same night. They don't need any tools for these thefts, they just yank the wheel out, in literally seconds. They like it becaue it's quick, easy money. They don't want hassle. Or the risk of confrontation - they want to be gone. Sure they could be violent thugs but they have no idea who's confronting them, or what they are capable of. And, they don't want to be caught, or imobilised in any way. They want to live to be a scum-bag another day.
Have you seen that smash and grab secuity tint for car wndows? Its pretty effective and slows them up considerably. They may even say "f*** it" and leave before they even get through that. Sure there's a window that needs replacing but not a full insurance job. I mean the list of 'what ifs' is huge. My car was parked up, in the same place, over the course of a year with no incident. And the M2 I had before it for well over 2 years.
Sure it's all an incovenience. And at some point I'm gonna say cba. I may give it up and go electric. And tbh it's a very real option right now.
I have contacted BMW about this. Surely the steering wheel is a design flaw if it can be just pulled out like that? Of course I havent had a response yet. Probably won't get one. But hey ho.
RSsteveH said:
My car was broken into last night / early hours of this morning. Scum Bags!
Why would anyone break into an M4 and steal....... the steering wheel?
Even quality security window film 8 micron plus, is no good for the M4. The door windows are frameless at the top edge which isn't just a weakness but and absolute failure. This comes from the owner of a company in that line of work. Looking more like I'll offload this car, even though I love it.Why would anyone break into an M4 and steal....... the steering wheel?
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