My new used car (2004 BMW) doesn’t have an alarm system. This wouldn’t be a concern, but the key won’t lock or unlock the door (for Bimmer people, the clown nose doesn’t flash - it should do so even without a security alarm). I may just need a new BMW key remote, but I’m not in the mood to drop $300 and find out it won’t work. I’m not sure the key I have is genuine.
So, I’m looking for a really, really cheap-ass way to secure the car. I don’t want to fool around with wires, is there a battery/wireless something that would make noise if a door is opened? Like a motion sensor? The stereo does have a blinking red light and looks a bit alarmy.
The obvious answer is to get a removalable steering wheel or integrate a hidden kill switch. But you seem to want a quick dirty fix.
I have a friend who sells cars. When he recieves a high theft vehicle like an Acura GSR he just removes the starter fuse until he wants to drive it.
Granted BMW may be a bit more complex electronically than a Honda but if your security system is already disabled I believe this is your best solution. (It will be one of the largest fuses in your fusebox just consult your manual)
My car used to be a used beater I bought for $400 and was missing the passenger seat. I left nothing in it and in fact left the doors unlocked because my car before that got it’s driver-side door lock fucked up by somebody trying to Jimmy it with a screwdriver.
After eight months of ownership somebody still stole it and stripped it for parts.
We live in a good area, but my other car was burgled last year – my fault, I left my GPS and radar detector on the dash, fell asleep early, and forgot to lock/set alarm.
I am taking everything out of the newer car every night, it’s just that I’ve never had a car without a security system and I feel vulnerable. I do leave my CDs in the car, they’re the 8-tracks of today.
Some comedian:
I parked in a bad neighborhood so I left a note on the dash: No radio in car. I come back. The side window’s smashed and there’s another note: Get one.
Is your concern protecting the car, or its contents?
I used to use “The Club.” Figured it would slow down anyone stupid enough to want to steal a 62 Corvair.
Hmmm, good question. The car is one of the most stolen of BMW models, but BMW theft is far down the list of stolen cars in general. I can park it in front of the secured X3 in the driveway when at home and get a club for elsewhere.
However, I made a discovery that may be the answer! What I assumed was a loud door beep alert is actually coming from the stereo, which also has a flashing security light. The system is an expensive installed CD/nav/DVD unit that folds out of the dash (then folds back in). I’m looking up the model to see if I can make the beep louder.
I guess I’m most concerned about the stereo if I keep the car empty of other stuff. But do people still pry dash-installed entertainment systems out of dashes?
I’ve had several remote key units that were easily fixed in a few minutes at one of the "key fob"kiosks at nearby malls. They open it up, examine it for damage or corrosion, fix simple things, replace the battery, and hand it back to you. Usually costs about $20. It’s relatively easy to reprogram a BMW key fob from that era, if you can find one. You can often replace the entire inner circuit board, so you don’t need to re-key.
Also, there are lots of inexpensive “mock” alarms that just flash an LED on your dash. Not much point getting more than that, since (as mentioned by others) a thief usually just breaks glass, grabs, and goes.
It’s a newer Kenwood (an expensive one). It doesn’t have a faceplate, it’s the “foldy” kind – as in, it looks like a regular dash-installed unit with a button that unfolds a 7" monitor screen with DVD/nav/Bluetooth/equalizer/etc controls. I have Harmon Kardon speakers, which are also top of the line.
In other words: the seller put in a sweet after-market system, certainly more than I would ever spend on a car audio system. I can feel my hair fly back when I crank it up, it’s beautiful!
If your concern were the car being taken, I’d suggest a Disklok for the steering wheel, but it appears the stereo system may be more valuable than the car :).
Let a homeless person sleep in the back seat to protect it? NRA bumper sticker?
Seriously, I got nuthin’.
If you want to prevent it going away on an adventure, a battery disconnect would be an option. But as far a break-ins go, I don’t think there is anything to prevent it, and damn little to discourage it.
I remember when I lived in L.A., alarms were simply ignored as a nuisance. And what are you going to do if it goes off? Dash out and confront a junkie hard-up enough to perpetrate “smash and grabs”? Probably couldn’t even get a cop to come out.
Leave it unlocked, so at least you don’t have to replace the glass.
Yeah, the car was $4000 and I reckon the system cost is not much less than half that so if I blow the engine, at least I have a nice place to sit and blast music. It’s the most kickass car audio I’ve ever had, including my 2014 X3 system (which is the BMW factory set-up – do they still use Blaupunkt?)
Yeah, I had two cars broken into in San Diego – both were alarmed and the alert was ignored by nearby folk. In one case it was the FIRST and ONLY time I didn’t pull out the receiver unit (remember those?) and it was taken. The second time they stole my vintage Doc Marten boots that were in the backseat and CDs. The cost of window replacement was steeeeeep.
so if I blow the engine, at least I have a nice place to sit and blast music. It’s the most kickass car audio I’ve ever had, including my 2014 X3 system (which is the BMW factory set-up – do they still use Blaupunkt?)