Used AMG with undocumented Ghost Immobiliser fitted

[TW666]

Mercedes Dealer is trying to get documentation for the Ghost Immobiliser From previous owner/Autowatch Ghost manufacturer.
Does anyone have experience of this eg how easy is it to register new owner and get all Ghost instructions and Emergency Reset Card ?
Also understandably the Ghost Immobiliser itself is excluded from the AMG 2 year used car warranty, however the dealer reassures me any warranty complications eg for any car electrical problems is very unlikely.
Any feedback appreciated.

 

[AMGeed]

Whichever company fitted the Ghost, they will have the record of the code and over ride code. The previous owner should know who that was.
Put up an email address if you want the instructions on how to use Ghost once you know which buttons are used for the start sequence.
Which model is it fitted to?

 

[TW666]

Thanks. It’s a c63s.

 

[AMGeed]

I imagine the fitter used the ************ buttons for the Ghost "code"
But then you need the sequence, and # of presses to get the code right.
Only the previous owner will know this apart from the original fitter who should have the details stored.

Edited for security

 

[TW666]

I imagine the fitter used the volume up and down buttons for the Ghost "code"
But then you need the sequence, and # of presses to get the code right.
Only the previous owner will know this apart from the original fitter who should have the details stored.

Ok thanks. Would you recommend keeping the Ghost on the car, have you experience of its reliability ?

 

[AMGeed]

Mine was totally reliable. Bit of a faff to input the code every time you start it but its an extra layer of security.
BTW, there are two ways to start it and get going.
.
DELETED AT REQUEST OF POSTER

 

[TW666]

Thanks for the information.

 

[whitenemesis]

There must be a master reset code? Obviously only known to Ghost themselves and you would need to take it to a designated installer with definitive proof of ownership etc..

 

[Petrol Pete]

Why did the previous owner just set the ghost to a default setting before selling the car ?

Are we saying that the car can be driven as normal , but the OP knows it has ghost fitted and would like to use it ?

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi ,

Get the supplying dealer to sort out the problem.

It is a security system after all.

 

[Petrol Pete]

" Undocumented ghost " . How does it become 'undocumented' ?

We are all being told that Ghost is the 'go to' system to stop your car being stolen , bar none .

Maybe thats all a load of marketing bollocks from Ghost themselves ?

Could be why JLR refuse to acknowledge it as a legitimate deterrent to the current off the scale theft (and insurance companies refusing to insure Range Rovers) despite the fact that it has an excellent recovery rate .

Very confusing.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Most insurance companies wont give you a penny off for having a Ghost as it was never put forward for testing and so is not Thatham Approved at all.
But of course it is an extra layer of security.

 

[ToeKnee]

Most insurance companies wont give you a penny off for having a Ghost as it was never put forward for testing and so is not Thatham Approved at all.
But of course it is an extra layer of security.

I wonder why they never had it Thatcham tested? Does anyone know why?

 

[Germgh0st]

A call to Autowatch will get you the master code for £29.99. At least that's what it cost last time I checked. They need things like VIN and proof of ownership (V5 I think) before they will issue it to you.

There is no 'default' setting for a Ghost PIN and there is no way to change it without knowing what it was to start with.

I had a Ghost on my C43 and I have one on my my M340i. Totally worth the money in my opinion, total peace of mind. There's no way my car is being stolen without actually lifting it.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Difficult but certainly not impossible....there are several recorded cases of cars with Ghosts being stolen. There's usually a way around technology.

Stolen - Ghost Installed

www.focusrsoc.com

More worrying is the number of failures that brick the car even to the owner.

 

[zipdip]

Well I was thinking why has a dealer got a C63 in stock without all the details of the Ghost system fitted,I would ask them where they got it from,to my mind it screams snatch back and owners who have that happen are not the best people to look after a car,but anyway a interesting topic and one I don't think has been on the forum before.

 

[ArnisK]

I am in very similar situation, just bought W212 E63 and only found out that it has ghost when I went to collect it.

No paperwork provided as to what the system actually is or where it was installed

And due to me not being used to the ghost, sometimes I do it wrong and it just causes car to throw alarm, ignition and transmission codes when scanned afterwards.

I am actually considering trying to get approved installer to take the ghost out of the car, as in my opinion it's good when the car is parked in public car park or something like that.
But while it's on my drive, it's actually just another invitation for any potential thief to try get in the house. I'd rather if anyone tries to steal it be successful at it, and not put family at risk but hey that's only my opinion.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Bingo ! Arnisk .

Anti hijack system is probably better than Ghost for personal safety if a desirable car is parked on your drive . They know where the keys are ..in the house somewhere.

Better they steal it and the engine dies ten minutes later , they are a 10 minute drive away sitting in a dead car. Gives you time to think of an escape plan.

 

[ToeKnee]

Duplicate, for some reason??

 

[Germgh0st]

Difficult but certainly not impossible....there are several recorded cases of cars with Ghosts being stolen. There's usually a way around technology.

Stolen - Ghost Installed

www.focusrsoc.com

More worrying is the number of failures that brick the car even to the owner.

These happened due to a flaw in the iOS app as far as I'm aware, which was fixed a long time ago. Lesson there is don't be lazy and use the PIN not your phone. I've never heard of one failing like that, and it's easily resolved (if a little inconvenient to the owner) by the installer removing it - there's no actual damage to the car as it doesn't integrate into any systems.

Bingo ! Arnisk .

Anti hijack system is probably better than Ghost for personal safety if a desirable car is parked on your drive . They know where the keys are ..in the house somewhere.

Better they steal it and the engine dies ten minutes later , they are a 10 minute drive away sitting in a dead car. Gives you time to think of an escape plan.

Or maybe better home security - CCTV, security lights, anti-bump anti-snap locks, solid wooden doors. Car security isn't all about the car. I sleep well at night knowing nobody is getting into my house quicker than I can have the police here.