New Here - Anti Theft Advice ?
Moderator: martauto
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MyOtherCarIsAnE30
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 61
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2019 8:32 pm
Hi all, I decided to finally register after browsing topics for many hours. I was wondering if anyone had any good tips/anti theft devices that they would recommend. Recently, someone decided to try to help themselves to my pride and joy. They ended up stealing my cover but lucky I have the car clamped at the wheel and steering. Ive moved it now due to worries they may come back with a angle grinder.
Ive thought about investing in a dash cam which detects movement, an alarm may also be a possibility.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks,
Tim
Ive thought about investing in a dash cam which detects movement, an alarm may also be a possibility.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks,
Tim
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ah
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 2518
- Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: surrey
First ,welcome to the zone, if your trying to stop the opertunist scrum,you need them to take a look at your pride and joy and think it's going to take far to long to take it,as in slow them down as much as possible,as for the scum keeping an eye on your car ,they tend to watch a pattern in the cars movements,is it parked in the same place, is it driven to the same place ect,so change your routine.hope this helps
Last edited by ah on Sun May 26, 2019 2:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Born on the 23 April 1990 320i Alpinweiss ll kabriolett! (SOLD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN !)
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Foe
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 615
- Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: South Wales
Sterring lock is a good start, old school, but work well. I know some people have their dash cam hooked up perminantely and records via Bluetooth to your laptop.
How about a tracking device, maybe expensive though
How about a tracking device, maybe expensive though
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Foe
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 615
- Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: South Wales
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MyOtherCarIsAnE30
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 61
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2019 8:32 pm
Thanks for the responses Ah and Foe. The above link is very helpful.
I might give tracker a call, I know their subscription is expensive but its a small cost in the grand scheme.
I think a dash cam, as recommended above would be beneficial and could also be useful for insurance purposes.
Alarm/Immobilisers seem like a good option. The only problem I face is of wiring, i dont really want my wiring messed with or cut up, saw a guy installing a black box in a car and he was chopping all sorts.
My car has etched glass but I really doubt that would deter a thief.
I know some people will think im going OTT but id rather be safe than sorry.
I might give tracker a call, I know their subscription is expensive but its a small cost in the grand scheme.
I think a dash cam, as recommended above would be beneficial and could also be useful for insurance purposes.
Alarm/Immobilisers seem like a good option. The only problem I face is of wiring, i dont really want my wiring messed with or cut up, saw a guy installing a black box in a car and he was chopping all sorts.
My car has etched glass but I really doubt that would deter a thief.
I know some people will think im going OTT but id rather be safe than sorry.
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martauto
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 6207
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: leeds
Welcome to the zone mate, as for anti theft......buy a REALLY big black dog
Mart.
Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
Just got too old.
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MyOtherCarIsAnE30
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 61
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2019 8:32 pm
Thanks for the suggestion Mart
I'd be too worried about what the dog could do to the interior and paint
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martauto
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 6207
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: leeds
Hello Brian !!!!!! (mr Moore) this guy can help with a very simple fix but I can`t remember what it is now, but he will.MyOtherCarIsAnE30 wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 3:20 pmThanks for the suggestion MartI'd be too worried about what the dog could do to the interior and paint
Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
Just got too old.
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flybynite
- E30 Zone Squatter

- Posts: 1698
- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:00 pm
I remember people used to just pull things like the rotor arm , I my old man always had the rotor arm in his pocket if we left the car anywhere and the cars always had clean engine bays so things could be pulled without getting your hands dirty.
Used to do it myself until cars stopped having distributors but the theory still applies to most cars . Lots that can be easily taken that will stop it going
Used to do it myself until cars stopped having distributors but the theory still applies to most cars . Lots that can be easily taken that will stop it going
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johnmaccow
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 351
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Gateshead
Fitting detachable wheel on mine and when I leave it in garage I put it to full lock.
If I'm leaving it for a while il be taking a wheel off as well and battery
If I'm leaving it for a while il be taking a wheel off as well and battery
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mmaavverick
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon May 25, 2020 9:19 am
GPS is the most suitable anti-theft device for BMW I can think of, especially hidden GPS. For now, spytec is one of the most popular trackers, as well as landairsea. Hidden GPS is suitable for placement in any hidden corner.
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flybynite
- E30 Zone Squatter

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But they come tooled up with detectors these days that detect the tracker signals. They can pinpoint where the transmitter is on the car and can normally find it pretty quickly given the position these things need to be to send a signal.mmaavverick wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2020 4:28 amGPS is the most suitable anti-theft device for BMW I can think of, especially hidden GPS. For now, spytec is one of the most popular trackers, as well as landairsea. Hidden GPS is suitable for placement in any hidden corner.
The only way would be to have a GPS logger that is completely passive until it is woken and then only send the position in a short burst. Not many do that. The 'real-time-tracking' would be easily found and defeated.
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Satan
- Old Skooler

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- Location: Formally SexyLady and Diable
If they want it badly they will take it, it will just get dragged on to a low loader.
For the opportunist it a steering wheel lock, if a manual a gear lever to handbrake lock, fake sticker with "Tracker Fitted" and or "DashCam fitted 24hr Recording"
I have stories from Poland on how they used to steal cars and even ransom them back to the owners if it was only covered by 3rd party insurance.
For the opportunist it a steering wheel lock, if a manual a gear lever to handbrake lock, fake sticker with "Tracker Fitted" and or "DashCam fitted 24hr Recording"
I have stories from Poland on how they used to steal cars and even ransom them back to the owners if it was only covered by 3rd party insurance.
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Bonymaenjack
- E30 Zone Regular

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flybynite
- E30 Zone Squatter

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- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:00 pm
Winched into the back of a box van that hides it from view and blocks the tracker signal. Only thing left is the remains of the gallon of oil sloshed in front of the back wheels
