Keyless Entry Theft

[ktsennaf1]

I haven't done any research yet.

i am driving a 14 year old Golf Mk 4 now. Cheap and cheerful for now.

 

[AMGeed]

Completely agree.

My dreams of owning a Mercedes were shattered when my car was stolen and the Mercedes veneer of "class and engineering" has been eroded away after this experience and their attitude to car crime is disappointing. They say it's the police's problem but they can't walk away from this issue completely if the system is prone to abuse.

My car had many extras such as head-up dispaly, air suspension, 360 camera, disctronic plus and premium plus interior. i could buy a similar car again with the moeny from the insurance but i'm not convinced these cars have safe security systems and the messages from Mercedes aren't exactly reassuring.

Mercedes are in the business of selling as many cars as possible and from a business perspective I understand that, but it shouldn't just be all about profit. They have a responsibility to produce a product which can withstand most of the techniques available to criminals.

The police officers who dealt with my case told that manufacturers aren't doing enough to combat the problem. They said the easier it is to do means more cars are taken each day.

My case will go to the motoring ombudsman for adjudication as I wrote Mercedes UK head of customer services about 5 weeks and not had a single response. Embarrassing and very insulting.

Is this the way a large multinational company should behave?? Disgusting.

I understand your shock and anger at your car being stolen but, have you been living in the middle of nowhere for the past few years and not turned on a TV or read a newspaper?

Theft of cars through KG is not a new phenomenon, its been going on for a long time and its well documented. How about you didn't have KG and you locked your car with the fob? That is no safer when someone nearby has a laptop and cheap software to read your locking code.
Would you be annoyed MB didn't tell you this could happen too? It's no different to the KG scenario.

Putting your keys in a pouch where the signal is blocked is the cheap option to defeat this at under £10.
The other and preferrable method that has been mentioned here many times is to install Autowatch Ghost. Only a sequence of controls pressed in your car and known only to you will allow the car to be started. Unless the thief has a tow truck waiting your car is going nowhere.

Car manufacturers are always working on security and are trying to stay one step ahead of thieves. To blame a system for the theft is wrong and I think you have wasted your time with expecting a response from MB customer services. I doubt the motoring ombudsman will see it your way either.

Again, I reiterate I understand you are very disappointed, but don't blame Mercedes for not warning you KG, like a doorlock and alarm system can be overcome by determined and tech savvy thieves.

If I were in the nice position to afford a brand new car, the first thing I'd be looking at is security, especially if you live in an area known for car theft. (Not saying you do)
Have a tracker fitted if you want it back. Buy a £10 Faraday pouch to keep the keys in and finally fit Ghost so the car is going nowhere. If all that fails, that is when insurance should compensate your loss, especially if you have GAP insurance.

 

[Jaunty]

Car opened by someone but no message from Mercedes Me?

My wife rang me earlier today to say the C300h was open and had been gone through. Nothing of value I can think of in there, and no apparent damage. No alarm going off. User manual stolen but the actual V5 is retained at work.

The car was left locked. I have been leaving my keys in a tin at home but the wife forgets to always do so. I can only guess this is how they gained access, boosting her signal? But could they not have driven the car away?

Even if she left the car open in error, what I don't understand is why I had no warnings from the Mercedes Me app the car was open? When the car was in for service the other day I had loads of regular messages that the car was open and did I want to lock it - why not this time??!!

Cheers all.

 

[whitenemesis]

Is it a geo-fencing thing? The car being 'at home'?

 

[timskemp]

All cars can be stolen, and remarkably easily. Every time you park it on a street or public car park all that needs to happen is a fake recovery or impound truck comes and lifts it away. Best defence is to not have a desirable car, though that is not without its risks.

If you have keyless go, I'd recommend a small metal key cabinet.

 

[whitenemesis]

Or a Rottweiler with a fire extinguisher?

(see post #60)

 

[artyman]

Perhaps more punitative justice would be a better deterrent. Ist Offence 6months in a harsh regime, hopefully an experience that would put you off returning, 2nd offence 5 years, 3rd offence, life and means life. We are too soft.

 

[AMGeed]

Perhaps more punitative justice would be a better deterrent. Ist Offence 6months in a harsh regime, hopefully an experience that would put you off returning, 2nd offence 5 years, 3rd offence, life and means life. We are too soft.

Exactly. But the hand wringers will be crying that their "Human Rights" are being infringed, make a court case, and get compensation in our mad PC world.

 

[Jaunty]

Is it a geo-fencing thing? The car being 'at home'?

Thanks for the thought. Geofencing not set up and I don't think it affects whthwr you are told the car is left open.

They pest to have entered via the boot (estate car) then opened a door from inside. No alarm or signal from the Mercedes Me app. Ordered some rfid pouches which may be more user friendly than a tin.

 

[GeeJayW]

Ours bleats that it's unlocked when sitting on the drive if the key isn't nearby.

 

[Deletedmember130310]

I have to agree with this, MB have designed an insecure system that we shouldn't be accepting or trying to defending because it keeps the thieves out of your house. We might as well all leave the keys in. Just think it will save wear an tear on the steering lock - another bit of kit with failure designed in. These things are not an improvement on what went before just because they offer convenience. Until they are designed to work reliably and securely they are a retrograde step.

Do you believe the mechanical locks are any more secure?

 

[Jaunty]

Ours bleats that it's unlocked when sitting on the drive if the key isn't nearby.

Ours had the door open and obviously unlocked but no alerts at all!

 

[190]

Do you believe the mechanical locks are any more secure?

They are compared to handing an electronic key to the thieves on a plate.

Yes we all know professional thieves will have the car if they want it but why make it easy for them. Cars security has improved enormously which must be a major factor in the number of car thefts falling steadily for 20 years. The advent of push button start has stalled and is set to reverse that trend because they are now easier to steal. How can the manufacturers defend that position.

I rather agree with Honest Johns view: "Button starters must surely be the most pointless innovation ever added to a car"

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/l...2-08/button-start-car-thefts-on-the-increase/

 

[whitenemesis]

Weren't all cars button start originally?

 

[190]

Weren't all cars button start originally?

I remember the original mini being push button start which activated the starter solenoid directly. That will have been done for simplicity and low cost.

Perhaps button start on modern cars is a retro fashion. The worst example was when BMW first introduced button start but you had to put the key in first before pressing the button. If that wasn't an example of a ridiculous fashion statement I don't know what is.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Weren't all cars button start originally?

No..they had a crank handle ! Some engines used an explosive charge (bit like a shotgun cartridge) to get them turning over.

I think the push button start is a fad, a thing that was seen on some race/high performance cars and became a 'must have'...doesn't quite explain why it exists on my mother in laws old Toyota Yaris though.

 

[219]

Do you believe the mechanical locks are any more secure?

Short of causing wanton destruction to the doors and ignition lock ( old British cars with Wilmott Breeden locks excepted ; the German Huf , Ymos and Niemann locks were and are far superior ) cars with traditional mechanical locks are more secure - no electronic key codes flying through the ether , no stupidly expensive electronic fobs to replace , just well engineered and secure locks .

Without the keys , you'd have at the very least to break glass to gain entry ; then to defeat the ignition/steering/transmission locks you'd have to physically destroy the ignition barrel , potentially doing other damage in the process .

With proper keys you put into a lock , turn and see all the buttons go down , you KNOW the car is locked , and no radio code for some nearby thief to 'grab' .

And that's without any additional alarms or other security measures an individual owner may have added .

Today's neds just don't have the skills to bypass these things , so OUR cars actually are more secure . Oh , and the cars of yesteryear were , in real terms , much more expensive and less commonplace than the ones seen every day on the roads now .

 

[219]

Weren't all cars button start originally?

Starting 'on the key' probably became widespread after the war , although my Ponton and its siblings retained push buttons , with key start for MB only coming in with W110/111/112/113 generation . I'm fairly sure my dad's 1950's Jaguars and Rovers were button start , as were trucks and buses of the era .

Fitting it to newer cars is just a ' retro/fashion ' fad .

 

[219]

No..they had a crank handle ! Some engines used an explosive charge (bit like a shotgun cartridge) to get them turning over.

I think the push button start is a fad, a thing that was seen on some race/high performance cars and became a 'must have'...doesn't quite explain why it exists on my mother in laws old Toyota Yaris though.

Crank handles continued into the 60's at least : both my Triumph Herald and Hillman Minx could be crank started ( think my dad's Series 1 Land Rover could too ) .

Coffman starters were mainly used in aviation and military applications - can't think of any cars which used them ...

 

[GeeJayW]

My first car was an Austin A40. That had the option for crankhandle starting. Used it in the winter months too. Much more reliable starting than cranking a stone cold engine using the key and expecting to get a decent spark from whatever is left of the battery power.