BMW Offers Fix to Prevent Key Cloning Thefts

[red-sauerkraut]

BMW needs to fix this world wide...!!!

Who wants a car that is so easy to steal..? The thieves do, that's who.

[nhinnhuckyduc]

If the U.K thieves outsource their ways to U.S. Then steals a 1M from someone, i think that person should raise hell on BMW for being so narrow on this fix. Make them make you a personal 1M. If it's stolen the chances of you getting another one is slim

[E60orBust]

So UK only bulletin basically is a broadcast to all other markets on how to steal a bimmer... Great call BMW.

And in other news, BMW's have shot to number one spot on the most stolen list.

[rkcruiser]

I don't know how it is in Europe. I live in the U.S. and #1 if some one tried to take something from our drive way you probably will get shot. All states have a castle doctrine and there are states where you can shoot if they are in your drive or property. And yes most Americans have guns.

[snsedov]

Could you please post BMW UK bulletin number.
Thanks!

[satish_141]

Guys in watchdog they said all BMW between 2006 and 2011 are vulnerable to this, but when I ran BMW customer services they said I will not get a software upgrade as my car is 2006 model, is this correct? has anyone else tried and got this free software upgrade? thanks.

[alpina527]

Originally Posted by satish_141

Guys in watchdog they said all BMW between 2006 and 2011 are vulnerable to this, but when I ran BMW customer services they said I will not get a software upgrade as my car is 2006 model, is this correct? has anyone else tried and got this free software upgrade? thanks.

Pre 07 cars are worth less, so they simply go to the bottom of the pile.

[satish_141]

Originally Posted by alpina527

Pre 07 cars are worth less, so they simply go to the bottom of the pile.

I think they are less worthy

[smyles]

Originally Posted by rkcruiser

All states have a castle doctrine...

Dude, you're way wrong with this statement.

</threadjack>

[smyles]

Originally Posted by carl_d

In Europe the OBD port was "opened up" for non-BMW dealers/shops to service our cars. This was driven by EU legislation to promote a competitive car servicing market (thanks for that EU). So this must be a European-wide problem! Not sure if the US market has opened up OBD in the same way - I think you guys have but not sure if it went this far?

There's a lot of X5/X6 (other models too) privately imported from US to Europe, esp. to Russia, so it would be rather easy to check. But judging by the fact that they are just as easily stolen, I assume the US cars are no different... unless the change occurs when these cars get re-programmed to EU settings.

[rudyv1]

Has there been any update to this re-programming process for US/Canadian owners?

[WangTa]

When is this available for the US?!?!?!

Holy crap - I just watched the 1M and M3 videos. Scary stuff. What a bunch of dirtbags.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by smyles

There's a lot of X5/X6 (other models too) privately imported from US to Europe, esp. to Russia, so it would be rather easy to check. But judging by the fact that they are just as easily stolen, I assume the US cars are no different... unless the change occurs when these cars get re-programmed to EU settings.

Why would you need to check? How do you think US cars get "privately" imported in the first place?

[dotmit]

Has anyone actually had this done yet?

[alpina527]

Originally Posted by dotmit

Has anyone actually had this done yet?

I've done my own, but it's only a 20 minute job at the dealers.

[dotmit]

Originally Posted by alpina527

I've done my own, but it's only a 20 minute job at the dealers.

20 minutes to update the OBC software?? When I had the OBC software updated on my E46 it took 2 hours! Are you sure it's the same kind of fix you've applied?

[alpina527]

Originally Posted by dotmit

20 minutes to update the OBC software?? When I had the OBC software updated on my E46 it took 2 hours! Are you sure it's the same kind of fix you've applied?

Yes, it's only a Cas update not the full car

[dotmit]

Cheers - just that someone in the navigation thread told me the update should also update the navigation software! Never mind

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by dotmit

Has anyone actually had this done yet?

Yup, my 135i was done by my dealer 2 weeks ago.

[raj55]

Just got a letter from BMW Sweden with a lame reply that the software update for OBD port was only for BMW UK and it was something that the BMW UK had come up with on their own and BMW AG (Germany) was not involved, so in short no such update is planned for Sweden. Looks like they are waiting for the thieves to migrate to Scandinavia, before they get off their asses and do some thing about it.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by raj55

Just got a letter from BMW Sweden with a lame reply that the software update for OBD port was only for BMW UK and it was something that the BMW UK had come up with on their own and BMW AG (Germany) was not involved, so in short no such update is planned for Sweden. Looks like they are waiting for the thieves to migrate to Scandinavia, before they get off their asses and do some thing about it.

From the info that's been available here......it seems this is because this is largely a RHD issue (so Australia, NZ, South Africa, Japan and Cyprus could be affected though) in that BMW didn't re-design the security system, and specifically the interior alarm & break glass sensors for RHD cars, leaving a 'blind zone' on the drivers side of the car allowing the scum to access the OBD location more easily.

[mythek]

Originally Posted by JB135MDCT

just add a switch to the obd write line.

that sounds like a really good idea, how do I locate the OBD write line? thanks for your time.