E30 Zone

After seeing yet another zoner having their car stolen its got me thinking that I need to improve my own security. My cars garaged at the moment, has an immobiliser and other than family members not many people know where its stored. Just wondered if anyone has any recommendations? Steering wheel braces etc?

Hidden switch for the fuel pump.

My old E30 had a Cat1 alarm and immob and it took a mate a few mins to get in and drive away! (It wasn't deadlocked as I didn't want him breaking a window )

Take the fuel pump relay out. Won't start ever then. Or a well hidden kill switch which is wired to the fuel pump relay circuit.

Guys, keep these things to yourselves, or PM about it, we wouldn't want the wrong eyes to read about these nifty tricks!

I have one of those Master Lock steering wheel bars on it. Even if you start the car, you can't turn the steering at all without hitting the seat or the windscreen after breaking the locking mechanism. And you can't fit a wrench to take the steering wheel off because it goes past the center of it... Plus you would have to cut the steering wheel in at least four places to get it off, rendering the thing useless to drive away.

Well worth the investment. The only time some one broke into my car (a while ago, on my first E30 on a trip to Holland), they only nicked my radar detector and some coins lying in the ashtray. They had done such a clean job that there wasn't a scratch! Must have been some old thiefs from the 90's used to nicking that type of car. It was top of the list back then! That and VW Golf GTI and such.

They even locked the door on their way out. I was amazed, and thankful they didn't smash the window...

CarbTuner wrote:The only time some one broke into my car (a while ago, on my first E30 on a trip to Holland), they only nicked my radar detector and some coins lying in the ashtray. They had done such a clean job that there wasn't a scratch! Must have been some old thiefs from the 90's used to nicking that type of car. It was top of the list back then! That and VW Golf GTI and such.

They even locked the door on their way out. I was amazed, and thankful they didn't smash the window...

So you were in Holland.......... You sure you just didn't forget driving it?

Swapped the radar watsit for more purple haze?

Hahaha, you wish!

I just might have forgotten to lock it up, come to think of it... hehehe

Fuel pump relay/wiring is the one, beauty of it is even if they know about you can cut into at any place and hide the bypass anywhere

Sometimes that can backfire though, know of a Saab 9000 Aero being broken into, couldn't start it so then popped the bonnet to quickly realise the cylinder head was missing...... then proceeded to slash the seats and generally trash the car so effectively writing it off........

Been looking into steering wheel locks a bit more, seen a lot of people rate these ;



Looks the real deal, think it would be a pain in the arse. I'm not to sure on the bar locks though as I've seen people just cut the steering wheel to release them. Carbtuner is this the one you've got?

Disklok was always well rated back in the day. It's down side was the fact when not in used it was massive and took up a spare seat to itself!

E30_KIID wrote:Been looking into steering wheel locks a bit more, seen a lot of people rate these ;



Looks the real deal, think it would be a pain in the arse. I'm not to sure on the bar locks though as I've seen people just cut the steering wheel to release them. Carbtuner is this the one you've got?

Yes, the second one is the one I use.

Bit of a pain in the arse though a big steering lock , and i seen some vids on youtube before showing how to unlock one type with a pen (type with a round key hole ) .

My dad had a bar type one on his xr2 when i was a kid, came out the house to go to school one morning and there was no car and the steering lock stuck in the middle of the garden like a little triumphant flag pole.

some trick in the wires is the only real way to go that will take a long time to sus out , mine had 2 alarm/ immobilizer`s when i got mine both were just cut into the wires i had both out within ten minuets.

Im still at a bit of a loss for good security on mine as its got a fuel cell in the boot with the pump and battery both in the boot too . I have a multi lock on the gear stick but they can still escape all be it slowly .... Well not at the moment its in the garage on stands with no wheels on.

I always liked the idea of a snap off steering wheel boss but dont want to use an after market steering wheel

pac1982 wrote:I always liked the idea of a snap off steering wheel boss but dont want to use an after market steering wheel

the keen thief will just bring some mole grips and a bit of a nightmare to carry a steering wheel around unless you just put it in the boot like everyone else .

Death penalty for car thieves would be a nice deterrent

I have a disklok. It fits nicely in the foot well behind the passenger seat and only takes 20 seconds to fit or remove once your used to it.

rrs wrote:I have a disklok. It fits nicely in the foot well behind the passenger seat and only takes 20 seconds to fit or remove once your used to it.

Same here, most opportunist thieves would take one look and walk away, if not then a 120db siren with backup battery fitted inside the car is a good reason for them to go away

Tracker?

It can be an expensive option but a least you are guaranteed to get the car back fairly quickly if they have bypassed any other security you might have chosen. For the sake of maybe £700 to fit and activate it's an option, although there is an annual charge to keep it active.

This should bring down your insurance a bit too if you're lucky so maybe off set cost againt that.