That is really rough but the same thing has happened to two people I know so it's not uncommon.

As far as the tracker goes, if it's just a case of the police calling BMW to activate it I think I would be going down the local station and standing there until it was done.

When a friend of ours had his new Audi RS7 stolen in the same way the thieves actually caused a lot of damage trying to disable all the security features. The car was found but by then he didn't really want it back anyway. Similarly the other friend had her Range Rover Evoque stolen from the driveway on Christmas Eve. It turned up over a year later hundreds of miles away.

I think it's very unlikely that your dad will get the car back. As far as I know most insurance companies will pay the full price of a car which is less than a year old. Not 100% sure but I think that's the case. It doesn't help with the stress of it but at least he should get his money back.

 

Things like this really get my goat. No doubt your dad earned his corn to enjoy the car and some twat nicks it.

From what I understand from the police, the wretches that stole the car will most likely have it hidden away somewhere so they can find the tracker and disable or remove it. High-end cars such as BMWs, Mercs etc. end up being broken up and sold as parts, either here or most likely overseas, so the thieving gits make more money that way.

In you shoes, I'd do what Chris has advised - go to the police and have them talk BMW there and then to get the tracker activated asap.

 

Sorted out tracking with police now after sending some sort of consent form. Hopefully something will come of it, but I am not hopeful. The police also said they will not investigate it as there is nothing to investigate for them :mad "if it turns up, we will let you know".

Really?

 

What have the police said about this? Surely its just a quick phone call for them to make? I can't see why they would drag it out even though a stolen motor is hardly a priority for them.

Time is of the essence and the first few hours are critical.
The longer they have the car, the more time they have to remove and destroy any security devices including trackers.
The scum that did it will know this and I'd suspect they've already started taking it apart so it's unlikely you will ever see the car again.

I totally agree with your feelings about keyless security, there have been known loopholes for quite a while now that clearly BMW haven't addressed so additional security measures are clearly needed!

 

The Police have now asked BMW in Munich to activate a tracker after signing a consent form. I am guessing its too late now anyway and the car is in bits or underground somewhere. They don't seem to care all that much and have just said they wont investigate as there is no point. Just gave me a crime number and said go to the insurance, as if it was a £200 mobile phone! They have basically said, if we find it, we'll call you! Crazy.


If BMW know this is an issue and do nothing, surely they are partly responsible? A good way to sell more cars in some ways.

 

Sorry to hear this, it's awful but keyless car theft has been around for years and there will always be scumbags that exploit security floors. It's BMW that are to blame and no one else. You should take the keys back to the dealership and return it under the sale of goods act as not fit for purpose.

 

I know this is an appalling situation to be in and so sorry this has happened to your dad.....

... but the thought of showing up at the BMW garage with just the keys to return it under the sale of goods act had my tea coming out of my nose

 

As laughable as it sounds. The car's security features are inadequate, @rob-ldn's dad, at this juncture has nothing to lose and stranger things have happened.

 

Sorry to hear about your days car, horrible story but certainly not uncommon these days. The thing is though, do you really want it back? I watched a Traffic Cops episode the other night and a brand new BMW M3 had been recovered by finding it with a tracker. In all honestly, I think I'd rather the car disappeared after seeing that and what they had done to it. They had caused much damage simply trying to find the tracker let alone how much they will have thrashed it, I'm sure the same will have happened to your dads 7 series. It just wouldn't feel the same to me driving it knowing some scumbag had been sat in the drivers seat of my car, I'd rather wait, take the insurance payout and order another one. Chances are there will be £1000's in damage so you will be making an insurance claim anyway so either way your premium is going to go up! I get a brand new M240i on Friday and I am concerned about it getting stolen as I don't have a garage. Physical security has seen a surge in sales lately due to the flaws in electronic security which ironically is what made devices such as steering wheel locks almost obsolete in the first place. I'm buying a Disklok for mine when its on the drive, it might be a bit cumbersome but it takes some getting off and its practically impossible without power tools. Sure its not going to stop the most determined thief but it might make them think twice, or if they do attempt they might make enough noise for me to notice. Really hope you get sorted out one way or another. Best result I would hope for would be if they found it in a ditch burnt out with the thieving Cxxts still in it :shifty:

 

Sorry to hear this. I did some research and the only thing that stops signal boost theft ( or just BMW) is the rfid bags you can get. Or a tin mug.

Best of luck not finding it and hope the insurance gets the replacement he deserves.

 

Thanks for all your help, I am trying to reply but the site is not letting me as it seems on saying i am being moderated.

 

Hi Rob I have approved your posts now sorry for the delay if you get this happen again just send me a message and I will sort it ASAP for you

 

You cant really give back a product without having the product.

All I can say is steer well clear of Comfort Access - this is the exact reason for which I did not spec it on my car.

Hope your dad has no problems with insurance mate, by now, the car is either in bits in a dock somewhere in Basildon or even further away, deep into Europe.

 

When I ordered my 240 they were going on about comfort access..."yeah it's great you just walk up to your car and it opens without taking your keys out and pressing a button"......eh? Is it really so much of a bind taking your keys out? I politely declined, just sounded a total waste of money to me and unsecure, glad I left it out now.