New merc's security

[sexyboy_msm]

Recently I posted regarding an new facelifted SLK 280 i was ordering. Thanks to everyone here, it made my decision easier and the car will be ready in may time.

My next question is about security of the vehicle. Somebody today was telling me that I should consider getting a tracker fitted. I have been toying with the idea and researching about the system.

But shouldnt the SLK come with a good alarm and imboliser system. Other owners have told me that it is virtually impossible to nick the car without the keys (and i always keep control of the keys.) I very much doubt that newer mercs can be hotwired? I wont ever park the car somewhere dodgy in public and when at home its in the drive way.

Anybody have any suggestions regarding this...

Cheers guys.

 

[IanA2]

yep, save your hard earned.....do a search of this forum, you'll find trackers have been covered quite a bit. hth

 

[glojo]

My thoughts are,
Unless your insurance company insists on it being fitted, or you get a discount that makes it financially viable, then why? Would you be anxious to get the car back? If yes then go for it, if no, then think about it.

The actual risk of someone actually starting and driving away your pride and joy without the correct key is extremely remote.

Good luck with the decison
John

 

[sexyboy_msm]

So basically if I look after the keys, theres pretty much no way to start and take the car without me knowing. What kind of system does mercs use with its key and ignition?

 

[rf065]

Save the money from the tracker and use it to make sure your house security is up to scratch. Any modern up market car stolen now, is usually by breaking into the house to get the keys first.

Russ

 

[Diesel Benz]

Save the money from the tracker and use it to make sure your house security is up to scratch. Any modern up market car stolen now, is usually by breaking into the house to get the keys first.

Russ

I guess this is true but one could interpret that the MB Drive Authorisation System was equally good as on other cars. It isn't, it is way more secure.

MB may not be alone abut some cars have a lot shorter security key, some do not even have a rolling code, and most cars signal the key authorisation via radio when MB is doing it with IR.

This is for starting the car, I'm not sure how other cars compare for the security to open the doors but since one can always break glasses etc, the DAS is the most relevant part.

Of course any car can be flat bedded.

 

[Sp!ke]

Two things spring to mind.

Theft using a low loader or swapping the cars ECU so the thief can use his own keys.

In both cases, a tracker could increase the chances of recovering your car.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Two things spring to mind.

Theft using a low loader or swapping the cars ECU so the thief can use his own keys.

In both cases, a tracker could increase the chances of recovering your car.

Swapping the ECU does not allow new keys. EIS would need to be changed too. And all are theft related parts, MB parts guys should look after where these go.

 

[glojo]

Two things spring to mind.

Theft using a low loader or swapping the cars ECU so the thief can use his own keys.

In both cases, a tracker could increase the chances of recovering your car.

Surely if these thiefs were that determined\clever, they would know where to look to locate the tracker, I think there are onlky a small number of pacest can be located? I know a car that has been taken away twice by Mobilo for repairs and on both occasions tracker has not activated, the tracker is the middle of the range option, not the basic, cheap one and not the top of the range option.

Regards
John

 

[Sp!ke]

Really? I've heard them being taken this way - maybe the newest generation of security has got around this means.

I wonder how difficult it would be in reality to order a replacement set of keys anyway.

Armed with photoshop skills, some careful choice of paper, a decent scanner and printer, I think you'd be able to muster up something good enough to fool the parts department into ordering a spare set.

When I ordered a set for my car the parts guy didnt seem to be checking my documents very thoroughly.

 

[maddog]

Its not as if MB have stopped being stolen there is still huge market for stolen Mercs over seas and thats where most go.

In most cases they are stolen with the keys but they dont need to be , if a proper car thief is after your car as opposed to a joyrider , there will get it no matter what security you have.

 

[ibrar]

For the money you have spent, it would be silly not to. Also consider gap insurance

 

[merc man]

any car is stealable, all one has to do is get in to the car and this can be done without the keys and without breaking the window, there is such tools available that enable the car to be opened remotely, then you need to access the diagnostic port, where the correct software, often the manufactures software which is modifyed gives access to the security system, either switch off or put in a diffrent mode (testing) or bypass mode/s and off you go with out any alarms ect, i have seen it done on my fiesta st, as both keys were lost and my dad, ex ford manager got one of his ford contacts to pop round, they accessed the car without tampering with it, switched off the security, and started the car with a special key and it did not even need to have the chip that is on the fords keys, from that day on i know that it can be done with the correct hardware.

tracker is a ok device but it can be removed so simply, if like my mates evo 9 its in the roof all you need to do is use a cutter and cut it out from the roof, the best systems are hard wired to the major ECU and other electrical connections so that its not only one connection that controls the tracker like my dads E55! we spent 3 days installing it.

 

[glojo]

any car is stealable, all one has to do is get in to the car and this can be done without the keys and without breaking the window, there is such tools available that enable the car to be opened remotely, then you need to access the diagnostic port, where the correct software, often the manufactures software which is modifyed gives access to the security system, either switch off or put in a diffrent mode (testing) or bypass mode/s and off you go with out any alarms ect, i have seen it done on my fiesta st, as both keys were lost and my dad, ex ford manager got one of his ford contacts to pop round, they accessed the car without tampering with it, switched off the security, and started the car with a special key and it did not even need to have the chip that is on the fords keys, from that day on i know that it can be done with the correct hardware.

tracker is a ok device but it can be removed so simply, if like my mates evo 9 its in the roof all you need to do is use a cutter and cut it out from the roof, the best systems are hard wired to the major ECU and other electrical connections so that its not only one connection that controls the tracker like my dads E55! we spent 3 days installing it.

I have never seen or heard of the latest modern Mercedes being driven off without the thief having the keys. I have visited quite a few sites where folks put forward technical arguements that suggest it is posssible, plus I know of a laboratory that has managed to duplicate a key, but.... they needed the original. I am not saying it cannot be done but the usual methods are either a straight lift as in the CEO's top of the range S-class, car jacking or breaking into a dwelling to steal the keys.

The problem with someone trying to order a duplicate key is that they cannot walk into a dealership, part with some cash and walk out the door with a key. Okay it wa an entertaining piece of fiction but was it a film called Gone In 24hrs where some expert car thieves had to steal a number of prestige cars? The Mercedes was the one that flummaxed them.

Who would want a stolen vehicle back?

Regards
John

 

[DansSlk]

Nothing's completely impossible and if somebody wants your car they will take it most probably with the use of a flatbed since thats the easiest way to get them.

There is however virtually no way somebody can steal your SLK using the traditional in via the window method, the system is totally network based so you cannot hotwire it, it also uses IR so you can't force anything into the barrel to make contact, it will want codes from the key to go to start enable and even with a DAS you wont be driving it away.

Unless they insist on using a Tracker / similar then don't bother any thief who knows his stuff will have it eating the pavement in no time at all while your car goes on a little trip.

 

[television]

As far as I know the MB is still the only car that cannot be cracked.
Sure with star you can re program the keyless go part, now this takes one hour to re program and would require a very good battery to do the process.

Is a thief going to sit in the car for an hour and try, a hard question

 

[Ade B]

It would be interesting to do a quick poll to see how many on this forum have had cars stolen. I'm sure that the perceived threat is far higher than the actual stats (touch wood)...

Media and insurance companies like us to be fearful. I had an alarm/immobiliser fitted to the bike as it was the only viable way to insure it - had this not been the case, I would take my chances.


Ade

 

[robert.saunders]

Yes, had car stolen

 

[barneybeardsall]

Yes had my E W211 stolen... but took the keys from my house to get the car..

 

[robert.saunders]

Mine was an old Sierra lol - in and away no key required, took all of seconds apparently. How things have changed