Autowatch Ghost Install – A Masterclass in Chaos

[Abzynthe]

So, I decided to get an Autowatch Ghost fitted to my GLE53, expecting a straightforward install like the one I had on my BMW 440i—quick, painless, job done.

Oh, how wrong I was.

The installer showed up at 9:30 AM yesterday, and thanks to my CCTV, I had a front-row seat to the unfolding disaster. Initially, things looked fine, but then I noticed him struggling with the boot. Key fob, latch, driver’s door button, nothing worked. After an hour of crawling through the car to access the emergency release multiple times, he tried disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes with still no luck.

By 1PM, he finally threw in the towel and let me know the system wasn’t working. No real apology, no urgency, just a vague promise that a “better tech” would come at some unknown time. I had to call the company myself to find out that the guy might not even be coming until 7 PM tonight. So here I am, left with a car I’ve owned for less than a week, effectively transformed into an immobile metal sculpture.

Not one to sit idly by, I did some poking around myself. Within 10 minutes, I discovered the problem. The installer had somehow forgotten to plug back in the power plug to the rear module. It’s baffling because he had to unplug it in the first place, install the Ghost, realise it wasn’t working, remove the Ghost, and yet still not plug it back in.

Plugged it in. Everything works. Boot, lights, the lot.

Now, here’s my dilemma:
1. Do I ‘break’ it again so the next tech “fixes” it and learns from this oversight?
2. Do I just tell him I fixed it and get the Ghost installed properly?

Would love to hear your thoughts. Ultimately, I’m just glad it’s not a serious problem and I realise that mistakes happen, so won’t be taking it any further once the ghost is installed.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Id still want an installer to come back and make sure its 100%...whilst you tell he what an idiot the first one was of course!!! If he missed something so simple I like it checked by someone more proficient.......you dont want to not be able to start the car a 100 miles from home.

 

[Abzynthe]

Id still want an installer to come back and make sure its 100%...whilst you tell he what an idiot the first one was of course!!! If he missed something so simple I like it checked by someone more proficient.......you dont want to not be able to start the car a 100 miles from home.

Yeah, that’s a valid point I think even if I say I’ve plugged it back in, I would ask him to still give it a check over.

 

[badgx]

Sorry to hear about problem experienced, definitely sounds like an inexperienced installer, not the product

Might be a bit late but would you consider Pandora, it's got tracking and anti hijack facility although a bit dearer.

 

[ALFAitalia]

....and its insurance (Thatcham) approved......unlike the Ghost. The Ghost is still a great bit of kit though. My mate has them on all his cars....never had a problem.

 

[Abzynthe]

Sorry to hear about problem experienced, definitely sounds like an inexperienced installer, not the product

Might be a bit late but would you consider Pandora, it's got tracking and anti hijack facility although a bit dearer.

It is a little late now as I have the ghost already, it just needs fitting now
We may look at Pandora for the E53 at some point though.

 

[Abzynthe]

....and its insurance (Thatcham) approved......unlike the Ghost. The Ghost is still a great bit of kit though. My mate has them on all his cars....never had a problem.

My insurance has the immobiliser down on the policy, but just as an immobiliser and not thatcham. But I think it still helps with my premium.

 

[ALFAitalia]

That's good.....my friend does it for piece of mind....which is a good enough reason. He gets nothing off the insurance but still decided to tell them in case they classed it as modification.

 

[John N]

So, I decided to get an Autowatch Ghost fitted to my GLE53, expecting a straightforward install like the one I had on my BMW 440i—quick, painless, job done.

Oh, how wrong I was.

The installer showed up at 9:30 AM yesterday, and thanks to my CCTV, I had a front-row seat to the unfolding disaster. Initially, things looked fine, but then I noticed him struggling with the boot. Key fob, latch, driver’s door button, nothing worked. After an hour of crawling through the car to access the emergency release multiple times, he tried disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes with still no luck.

By 1PM, he finally threw in the towel and let me know the system wasn’t working. No real apology, no urgency, just a vague promise that a “better tech” would come at some unknown time. I had to call the company myself to find out that the guy might not even be coming until 7 PM tonight. So here I am, left with a car I’ve owned for less than a week, effectively transformed into an immobile metal sculpture.

Not one to sit idly by, I did some poking around myself. Within 10 minutes, I discovered the problem. The installer had somehow forgotten to plug back in the power plug to the rear module. It’s baffling because he had to unplug it in the first place, install the Ghost, realise it wasn’t working, remove the Ghost, and yet still not plug it back in.

Plugged it in. Everything works. Boot, lights, the lot.

Now, here’s my dilemma:
1. Do I ‘break’ it again so the next tech “fixes” it and learns from this oversight?
2. Do I just tell him I fixed it and get the Ghost installed properly?

Would love to hear your thoughts. Ultimately, I’m just glad it’s not a serious problem and I realise that mistakes happen, so won’t be taking it any further once the ghost is installed.

I bow to you being so patient with the installer, but I would not have let him leave without a clear explanation as to what and when the next move is to be!

I would also be calling the firm asking for the same and them to send someone with at least some "Grey Matter" between their Ears!

 

[SmartAmg]

That's good.....my friend does it for piece of mind....which is a good enough reason. He gets nothing off the insurance but still decided to tell them in case they classed it as modification.

They probably would, even though it's actually helping them.

 

[Wearsthefoxhat]

Id still want an installer to come back and make sure its 100%...whilst you tell he what an idiot the first one was of course!!! If he missed something so simple I like it checked by someone more proficient.......you dont want to not be able to start the car a 100 miles from home.

I would want his boss and top installer to be the one checking it over.

 

[chic0821]

I would "break it again" If he finds it quickly, you will know he knows his stuff. If he does not find it, you can always say, what's this unplugged thing, why don't you connect this up, then you can decide if he is continuing or not
I have a Ghost on my Range Rover, it's still on the drive, I think.