hacking/stealing a BMW: worried? fix?

monkeyboy · 09-13-2012, 04:41 PM

There have been reports that there is now an easy way to steal BMW's within 3mins by simply tricking the car's computer into allowing a blank key.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006...eft-technology

Quote:

A device exists which allows anyone to access the on-board computer and programme a blank key. It's so easy to use and the process takes little more than three minutes.
The device was actually designed and marketed for garages and recovery agents etc, so they could use it over and over again on different vehicles. Unfortunately, the same could also apply to criminals.
Amazingly, the blank keys and the device are both available to buy at a bit of a price on the internet.
But, as it works on many models of BMW – and as it can be used repeatedly - the criminals are happy to pay.
Police in Warwickshire are so concerned they released a press release in April, warning BMW owners to take extra precautions because of the high number of cars being stolen.

Anyone worried about this? the URL above seems to suggest that there may be a firmware fix (my BMW is a 2007 328xi), is there?

mob17 · 09-13-2012, 07:40 PM

Read the "Watchdog" thread in the UK section. Im not sure if it affects US cars, i would assume it does.

If you want to add security measures theres an excellent sticky in the UK section on this.

Yeoman · 09-13-2012, 08:03 PM

Good thing there is insurance..

drevil2k2 · 09-13-2012, 08:04 PM

My buddy still uses "The Club" on his M5

Ehwnnc · 09-13-2012, 09:39 PM

i find this kind of hard to believe. I just wonder how they get in the car. They dont go into much detail on that. most bmw's have motion detection so getting in there would pose a problem.

chromisdesigns · 09-13-2012, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ehwnnc

i find this kind of hard to believe. I just wonder how they get in the car. They dont go into much detail on that. most bmw's have motion detection so getting in there would pose a problem.

Do you know ANYONE that pays attention to car alarms anymore? They just bust a window and lean in, the OBD port is easily reachable.

mob17 · 09-14-2012, 04:07 AM

Alarm has a blind spot so someone can reach the OBD port

J02 335i · 09-14-2012, 04:27 AM

Makes me also wonder about the OBD port, because you have to have key on power there to make things work. So I not sure how anything will work you plug in there without the keys??? I'm not buying it.

mob17 · 09-14-2012, 04:49 AM

Lol it does mate.

mob17 · 09-14-2012, 04:50 AM

Well in the UK it does. OBD port is live without keys and with the alarm on!!

shaginwagon13 · 09-14-2012, 05:50 AM

"The device was actually designed and marketed for garages and recovery agents etc, so they could use it over and over again on different vehicles. Unfortunately, the same could also apply to criminals..."

If this device actually does exist someone really didn't think this through...

mob17 · 09-14-2012, 06:05 AM

If you haven't already i would relocate your OBD asap and put a dummy port in

ndog14 · 09-14-2012, 06:43 AM

Insurance. Take my car, I want an E46 M3 or GTO (look at thread).

mob17 · 09-14-2012, 08:03 AM

Having read a few posts i think that only RHD vehicles have that blind spot. You in the US should be okay!

roadkillrob · 09-14-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drevil2k2

My buddy still uses "The Club" on his M5

That adds about 2 seconds to the theft - club is pretty strong, so they just cut the steering wheel with bolt cutters and pop off the club - doesn't even slow thieves down!

ken1137 · 09-14-2012, 08:37 AM

Not concerned since i have a garage and dont own an M3 or 1M. A 1M owner posted his security video (1Addicts) showing thieves stealing his car in under 3 minutes. They used the device you are describing to code a key fob, and used the infamous blind spot to access the OBD. By the way, the key Fob coder is sold on eBay for about $900.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...ghlight=Stolen

pjm · 09-14-2012, 08:43 AM

One of the best theft deterrents is a manual transmission.

luv135i · 09-14-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeoman

Good thing there is insurance..

This.

Potty_Pants · 09-14-2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

That adds about 2 seconds to the theft - club is pretty strong, so they just cut the steering wheel with bolt cutters and pop off the club - doesn't even slow thieves down!

I have two clubs...

one for the steering wheel....

and one for the guy trying to steal my car

ppp

ibo · 09-15-2012, 12:26 AM

How bout Rixster boost gauge v2? Mine plugs into OBD port and I can't plug it in or unplug it without unscrewing the 2 philips head screws that hold the kick panel down and pulling the panel outward

.

Dark_Knight_335 · 09-15-2012, 11:30 AM

Two steps to this:
STEP 1: Full comprehensive insurance.
STEP 2: Live life.
That's all there is to it really..

bmwforme · 09-15-2012, 12:30 PM

there is always insurance.. and in this day and age with VIN's and all.. unless you live in a Port City such as Miami.. I wouldn't worry to much. I can't see your average joe car thief robbing your BMW by tapping into it with a method described in that article.

haha reminded me of this ! SKIP TO 6:09!

09-13-2012, 07:40 PM	#2
mob17 Major General 400 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East Midlands, UK iTrader: (5)	Read the "Watchdog" thread in the UK section. Im not sure if it affects US cars, i would assume it does. If you want to add security measures theres an excellent sticky in the UK section on this.
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09-13-2012, 08:03 PM	#3
Yeoman Second Lieutenant 79 Rep 225 Posts Drives: 2019 M5 Comp Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	Good thing there is insurance..
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09-13-2012, 08:04 PM	#4
drevil2k2 Lieutenant 7 Rep 410 Posts Drives: 2019 B9 A4 Join Date: May 2012 Location: GTA iTrader: (4)	My buddy still uses "The Club" on his M5 __________________ Organized crime is alive and well: It's called auto insurance
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09-13-2012, 09:39 PM	#5
Ehwnnc Second Lieutenant 99 Rep 243 Posts Drives: 11 335i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	i find this kind of hard to believe. I just wonder how they get in the car. They dont go into much detail on that. most bmw's have motion detection so getting in there would pose a problem.
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09-14-2012, 04:07 AM	#7
mob17 Major General 400 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East Midlands, UK iTrader: (5)	Alarm has a blind spot so someone can reach the OBD port
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09-14-2012, 04:27 AM	#8
J02 335i Lieutenant Colonel 39 Rep 1,558 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ontario iTrader: (1)	Makes me also wonder about the OBD port, because you have to have key on power there to make things work. So I not sure how anything will work you plug in there without the keys??? I'm not buying it. __________________ Sport pack, JB3, Dci, factory oil cooler, 18" M3 reps, Michelin PSS, painted trim, black grills, smoked side markers, LED plate lights, H&R coils, Borla catback
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09-14-2012, 04:49 AM	#9
mob17 Major General 400 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East Midlands, UK iTrader: (5)	Lol it does mate.
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09-14-2012, 04:50 AM	#10
mob17 Major General 400 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East Midlands, UK iTrader: (5)	Well in the UK it does. OBD port is live without keys and with the alarm on!!
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09-14-2012, 05:50 AM	#11
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant 64 Rep 970 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	"The device was actually designed and marketed for garages and recovery agents etc, so they could use it over and over again on different vehicles. Unfortunately, the same could also apply to criminals..." If this device actually does exist someone really didn't think this through...
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09-14-2012, 06:05 AM	#12
mob17 Major General 400 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East Midlands, UK iTrader: (5)	If you haven't already i would relocate your OBD asap and put a dummy port in
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09-14-2012, 06:43 AM	#13
ndog14 Banned 52 Rep 1,746 Posts Drives: E90 328xi 6MT Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Insurance. Take my car, I want an E46 M3 or GTO (look at thread).
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09-14-2012, 08:03 AM	#14
mob17 Major General 400 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East Midlands, UK iTrader: (5)	Having read a few posts i think that only RHD vehicles have that blind spot. You in the US should be okay!
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09-14-2012, 08:37 AM	#16
ken1137 Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,732 Posts Drives: BMW S1000XR Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 e90 335i [6.40]	Not concerned since i have a garage and dont own an M3 or 1M. A 1M owner posted his security video (1Addicts) showing thieves stealing his car in under 3 minutes. They used the device you are describing to code a key fob, and used the infamous blind spot to access the OBD. By the way, the key Fob coder is sold on eBay for about $900. http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...ghlight=Stolen __________________ BMWCCA member
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09-14-2012, 08:43 AM	#17
pjm Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 230 Posts Drives: women wild Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Albany, NY iTrader: (0)	One of the best theft deterrents is a manual transmission.
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09-15-2012, 12:26 AM	#20
ibo Private First Class 19 Rep 190 Posts Drives: '09 BSM 335xi e90 LCI M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Norcal iTrader: (2)	How bout Rixster boost gauge v2? Mine plugs into OBD port and I can't plug it in or unplug it without unscrewing the 2 philips head screws that hold the kick panel down and pulling the panel outward . __________________ COBB Stage 2+ \| Alpina B3 TCU Flash \| ER FMIC & CP \| Tial Q \| Injen CAI \| VRSF DP \| BMS OCC \| KW V3 \| M3 Rear SFB / Sway Bar / Susp Bits / Strut Brace \| Megan Racing Toe Arms \| HPA Swaybar Endlinks \| Apex EC-7 \| Michelin PSS \| MH 75mm Stud Conv \| OEM Perf Grills and Diffuser \| Exotics Tuning Front Lip \| LUX H8 \| Luminics Krypton JDM Yellow \| LLumar 35%
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09-15-2012, 11:30 AM	#21
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1112 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Two steps to this: STEP 1: Full comprehensive insurance. STEP 2: Live life. That's all there is to it really..
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09-15-2012, 12:30 PM	#22
bmwforme Lieutenant 257 Rep 557 Posts Drives: 2023 X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	there is always insurance.. and in this day and age with VIN's and all.. unless you live in a Port City such as Miami.. I wouldn't worry to much. I can't see your average joe car thief robbing your BMW by tapping into it with a method described in that article. haha reminded me of this ! SKIP TO 6:09! __________________ NYC Main: 2023 X3 M40i Brooklyn Grey Secondary: 2020 X1 xDrive28i M Sport Alpine White
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