How secure is your car?

[Mickyh7]

Does that mean no cars were ever stolen before we went to keyless?

Yes it does, as we are talking about house to car scanners!

 

[BIGDOG]

Baffling thread.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Does that mean no cars were ever stolen before we went to keyless?

Clearly not....cars were even easier to steal back then. No scanner or laptop required.

 

[Pontoneer]

Yes. All the key does is give you a button to press, instead of touching the door handle with the keyless fob in your pocket.
Thrives can bypass this.

My keys don’t have buttons ; my cars have proper locks that you put the keys into , both to unlock the doors and to start the car .

 

[Pontoneer]

Mines inaccessible one side (8 feet high wall), has the A Class in front of it. No keyless entry or start. A Milenco steering lock fitted and self activating dash cam as a deterrent. And if they nicked it, its only worth about four grand with the wind behind it.....which is probably the reason I don't worry about it! I must admit that its one of the joys of owning older cars.....I just don't worry about it (as much!!)......When I owned newer cars....and ran brand new company cars and demos, I used to be constantly worrying about it, where it was parked etc, especially when we were out especially at night....even when I didn't actually own it!!
Just to reassure you newer car owners.....no matter what you do if a pro wants it he will have it.....next to nothing you can do about that!!!!.....luckily lots are just opportunists amateurs ....

I’d never worry about a works car - as long as I’d locked it and have the key - I’m in the clear .

 

[Pontoneer]

Clearly not....cars were even easier to steal back then. No scanner or laptop required.

Different skills required , which the current generation of delinquents most likely don’t have .

As long as you aren’t relying on Wilmot-Breeden FS keys which anyone can open with a whittled down wooden lollipop stick !

 

[BIGDOG]

My keys don’t have buttons ; my cars have proper locks that you put the keys into , both to unlock the doors and to start the car .

We know this, you live in the past.

We don’t need reminding so often.

 

[MSG2004]

As a addition to the above and to be super safe , take your keys or put them in a safe and leave a "dummy" key in an obvious spot for them to find as the scum will destroy the house looking for the keys if they cant find them.

K

Brillian idea - thanks - I have a brand-new key from my old c class that looks exactly like the key for the gle - I think I will start leaving that key on the bottom of the staris at night time though we always turn on the alarm - when we are away - I will leave it in the main draw where it is easily spotted - thank you.

 

[Pontoneer]

We know this, you live in the past.

We don’t need reminding so often.

I don’t , many people don’t drive easily stolen cars . Or ones the thieves are after.

I’ve never had a car stolen in my life.

Once had someone mess with my Triumph Herald , because the bonnet didn’t lock.

Still wasn’t stolen .

Incidentally saw a Herald 1200 in Kilmarnock yesterday, just like mine . Very much doubt it was stolen - the driver and I waved to each other when I passed him in my W124 going the opposite direction . Had there been time I’d have stopped for a chat .

Mine was ESG 878C

Wilmot-Breeden FS keys , so could easily have been stolen.

Unlike Mercedes-Benz of the day with Neimann or Huf keys , which were far more secure .

 

[John N]

If they want a non-keyless entry vehicle then the keys are only a break-in or a mugging away.

Best thing is to make it as awkward as possible , my 440 is close to the garage with at least two cars in front of it but i take a different approach with the Porker , its a bit of a faff in the morning fitting the wheels before work but good luck in getting that away.



K

Excellent idea, but I would be worried that some "Bright Spark or two" would push it over, just for badness!

 

[KennyN]

Excellent idea, but I would be worried that some "Bright Spark or two" would push it over, just for badness!

If they are strong enough to push over a 2.25T vehicle then i am not going argue with them.

K

 

[del320]

Wilmot-Breeden FS keys , so could easily have been stolen.

Reminds me of the occassion, fifty-odd years ago, when my friend returned to her red Ford Escort parked in Queen Street, Edinburgh.

She had jumped in, started the car and was about to pull away, when she noticed a bag in the passenger footwell.

Correct! It wasn't her car - which was parked two along...

 

[Flyinspanner]

Disc lock “Gold”.

It deters theives, as it would be a pfaff to remove it.
They can jog on and find an easier target.

Especially as you were talking about the average D head - as they probably aren’t carrying an industrial cordless disc cutter around at night.

 

[MSG2004]

Disc lock “Gold”.

It deters theives, as it would be a pfaff to remove it.
They can jog on and find an easier target.

Especially as you were talking about the average D head - as they probably aren’t carrying an industrial cordless disc cutter around at night.

Just had a look, its good but expensive - as my car is old, had since new and wise decision and opted not to go for the 'keyless start' I think
I'll give that miss but I am now thinking about the lock that car second in the AutoExpress test

Best steering wheel locks 2025 | Auto Express

Thieves know how to beat electronic security systems, so one alternative is an old-fashioned lock

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[HappytalkAgain]

Does that mean no cars were ever stolen before we went to keyless?

Yes it does………

 

[TrueSpirit]

For peace of mind, all my cars have a ghost immobiliser. Even my old bmw m3 which doesn't have the keyless entry pack. What thieves do is they disconnect the immobiliser by taking out a tail light and they have dealership software which can program a new key on the spot and they code it and drive off with the car then break it up for parts. https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/stolen-lp60abf-melbourne-red-e93.274443/ even though it is such an old car, I figured if it was stolen, the real world cost to me would be far greater than the outlay of £450 for the ghost. Any effective deterrent is worth investing in. The main downside of ghosts is forgetting to disarmed them as I tend to do quite often. As a ghost uses the CAN data circuit, they are not susceptible to OBD port exploitation.

Even cars without keyless start can be stolen quite easily by thieves with the right tools as they can use the OBD port etc. As soon as I picked my newest benz up, it went directly to get a ghost fitted on the same day. There's too many cars getting jacked near where I live

 

[Pontoneer]

For peace of mind, all my cars have a ghost immobiliser. Even my old bmw m3 which doesn't have the keyless entry pack. What thieves do is they disconnect the immobiliser by taking out a tail light and they have dealership software which can program a new key on the spot and they code it and drive off with the car then break it up for parts. https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/stolen-lp60abf-melbourne-red-e93.274443/ even though it is such an old car, I figured if it was stolen, the real world cost to me would be far greater than the outlay of £450 for the ghost. Any effective deterrent is worth investing in. The main downside of ghosts is forgetting to disarmed them as I tend to do quite often. As a ghost uses the CAN data circuit, they are not susceptible to OBD port exploitation.

Even cars without keyless start can be stolen quite easily by thieves with the right tools as they can use the OBD port etc. As soon as I picked my newest benz up, it went directly to get a ghost fitted on the same day. There's too many cars getting jacked near where I live

I don't have either CAN or OBD2 !

 

[TrueSpirit]

I don't have either CAN or OBD2 !

You're in a different bracket luckily. Can your car's be hotwired ?

 

[Pontoneer]

You're in a different bracket luckily. Can your car's be hotwired ?

I’m sure someone with the know how could easily do that , but not so many of today’s criminals would likely know how , because different methods are used to steal more recent cars .

 

[Mickyh7]

You quoted part of my post?
Do you work for the Sun or the Star newspaper?
Or just looking for an argument?
Pretty immature either way!