[Broken1]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Forget the slim jim. Considering how weak our front windshields are, just get a small rock and break into it. There are ways to steal a car no matter what it is. Only way to prevent is having a security with a big bazooka by your car 24/7, 365 days.

Even then, the security guard might steal the car.

[SteveMD]

So then my question is, why buy an alarm? I seldom leave valubles in any car but if the car can't be started and driven away...

I realize that someone could haul it onto a flatbed but that has to be rare.

[Craigar]

Originally Posted by M3ti Compact

To drive off without the key, it'd be hard...I'd be easier for the theif to jump you

The easy way to steal your car.

[kt157]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

So then my question is, why buy an alarm? I seldom leave valubles in any car but if the car can't be started and driven away...

I realize that someone could haul it onto a flatbed but that has to be rare.

if someone really decide to haul your car off on a flatbed, then they really want your car and they pretty much planned everything out. your car would be stripped or shipped somewhere where it wouldnt be found again.
so basically u get a new car

[visor]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

So then my question is, why buy an alarm? I seldom leave valubles in any car but if the car can't be started and driven away...

I realize that someone could haul it onto a flatbed but that has to be rare.

Good question.
Maybe that's why BMW offers it only as an option.
There have been many threads about this in the past, with no solid answers. If someone wants your car or something in your car bad enough, they'll get it no matter whether you have an alarm or not.

[London320d]

The standard(in the UK) BMW alarm will activate if the car is jacked up to steal the wheels, or the car lis lifted. Also the ultrasonic sensor inside will activate if somebody breaks a window and leans in to check out the contents of the glovebox or steal whatever coins you have left in the car for parking machines etc....

It'll probably save you the hassle of replacing the runflat bricks that your car will be left standing on, or the broken window....

PS - I suggest that the specifics about how the locks may be cirumvented is removed from the thread above

[ward]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Forget the slim jim. Considering how weak our front windshields are, just get a small rock and break into it. There are ways to steal a car no matter what it is. Only way to prevent is having a security with a big bazooka by your car 24/7, 365 days.

have you ever broken a windshield???? side windows shatter, fronts don't

[hotsand5]

the only point of an alarm is for the audible sound, which is useless if you are in an urban area because car alarms go off all the time. People do not pay attention to them anymore. Aftermarket alarms and some factory ones go as far as disabling the fuel line, or does not let the starter to crank. If the e90's alarm goes that far, then an alarm MIGHT be worth it. Then again, the ignition is not accessable through the steering column like the older cars where you can just break it and jam a flathead in there and start the car, they would have to buypass the ignition completley, and if there is fuelcut off they cannot start the car after the alarm is triggered. Maybe someone know if that feature is offered on the e90 alarm. If not, then it is a waste of money.

[hotsand5]

By the way, if you are worried about someone just towing your car away, then park with the front of your car facing wherever the towtruck can pull your car from. We have rear wheel drive, and if it's not a flatbed they won't be able to drag your car because the rear wheels are locked. It takes a normal modern tow truck less than a minute to pick up your car, where they can drive slow a mile or so away, then strap it in securely later. A flatbed takes almost 5 min or so to be able to hook up to your frame and they have to have enough space to be parallel to your car, otherwise they have to drag it out of the parking space, which takes even more time. Just another way to make your car less attractive to that would be thief; however, if somebody wants it really bad, your car is going to dissapear.

[ynotony]

I know that in my e36, it is impossible to start the car when it has been locked. Even if you are in the car with the key. If you lock the doors while someone is inside, they will be stuck in there unless they break a window. It is a fun trick when you have someone in the car, they can't figure out how to open the door.

That is probably why bmws are never stolen. You just can't get in them. I am sure e90 is at least as secure, if not more so, than the e36

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

So then my question is, why buy an alarm?

Pre-caution measure. You will prevent those amature theives.
but when the real one comes and decide to steal your car, they will.

Chances are, you'll be fine. don't get paranoid. Its the hondas you have to worry about getting stolen.
My honda has been stripped once. It wasn't even funny. Car was standing on bricks. Had a full alarm system with motion sensor, glass sensor, battery back up, hidden brain unit, blah blah blah. one of the main reason I don't want to stay with honda scene anymore. I don't want to worry about my car getting stripped by some punks.

[haigaz3]

i dont have any experiance with the e90 yet but my dumbass locked my keys in my x5. AAA couldn't help and when they called a specialist he just told me to break a window. i refused after 45 minutes of attempting to open the car they were finally able to do it. so unless there is a flatbed i dont think the thieves are going to spend 45 minutes breakin into my X5. And about the flatbed thing MBZ is pretty good because they have a button inside to which you have to release in order to tow the car in any way

[findtom]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

So then my question is, why buy an alarm?

So they'll steal the next car over that doesn't have an alarm.

[visor]

Originally Posted by findtom

So they'll steal the next car over that doesn't have an alarm.

Yeah, so true... now that the clown nose ONLY blinks with the alarm installed.

[Dizzy330i]

Originally Posted by haigaz3

i dont have any experiance with the e90 yet but my dumbass locked my keys in my x5. AAA couldn't help and when they called a specialist he just told me to break a window. i refused after 45 minutes of attempting to open the car they were finally able to do it. so unless there is a flatbed i dont think the thieves are going to spend 45 minutes breakin into my X5. And about the flatbed thing MBZ is pretty good because they have a button inside to which you have to release in order to tow the car in any way

How did they do it? Slim jim?

[haigaz3]

dizzy330i,

first they tried by placing a sac btween the top part of the door and the inside part. Then they filled the sac with and air pump. this way they were able to run a long metal line inside the the car. with the metal wire they tried pushin the central locking button located near the shifter. that did not work.

Then the expert that was called ( i think he has been in the car stealin business for a while). He pulled out a set of slim jims with many other wires and began running the wires on the inside and outside part of the window. He gave up and told me to just break a window.. and just at that moment as he pulled out his wires, the car opened and my alarm went off. he was pleasently suprized because he just got paid

[haigaz3]

love the rimes btw

[jimf15e]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

I always hear about Toyota Camry's and Honda Civics being stolen.

I wonder why the 3-series is not one of the more frequently stolen cars.

Volume, Volume, Volume. Luckily, E90's aren't as numerous as Camrys and Civics. I don't know if the stats would be the same if you compared rates of theft, however. But then you should also consider why such cars, esp. Civics, are stolen. Think "The Fast and the Furious".

[Tierfreund]

Originally Posted by visor

Ask Tierfreund.

I seem to recall he may know.

My e46 was stolen. My E90 ist still with me

The E90 is no different than any other car. With enough know-how, it can be stolen. Besides any car can be trailered...

[3some]

Give any guy a 9mm and he would steal your E90/ Porche/Ferrari / Fuck any car you could think off.

[vladinecko]

my insurance wouldn't give me a discount for having BMW assist's theft-recovery feature because they said they just don't get stolen. good enough for me...