Security?

[sgt3966]

Having never owned a car with keyless/comfort access entry, I was talking to another Z4 owner who told me that thieves like to hang around parking lots and wait for you access your car and steal your wireless code. He told me that there is something that you can install in the car that blocks the code from being stolen? Anyone know what he was talking about?
Thanks.

[jparnes1]

There are bags that block rfid transmission. In fact they sell wallets with this technology too. If you're concerned, buy a bag and carry your key fob in it in your pocket (or bag if you're a female).

[sgt3966]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

There are bags that block rfid transmission. In fact they sell wallets with this technology too. If you're concerned, buy a bag and carry your key fob in it in your pocket (or bag if you're a female).

Thanks but from what I was told from another owner, they sometimes sit in a parking lot and wait for you to use your FOB to open or lock the car and they grab it somehow then. He told me he heard of something that owners are installing in their cars to prevent this. Just wondering if anyone else heard of this?

[Lurcher]

Isn't this what insurance is for? After looking at a new 4 series this weekend, thoughts go though my head

[distinctperson]

OP, just remember that locking your car is only a deterrent not a preventive measure -- hence why you don't leave valuables in your car

[Mick70]

They cannot "steal" the wireless code as it's a rolling code. But they can use a simple repeater technology to make your car believe that you are standing next to your car:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...0-000-BMW.html

We have had an enormous amount of car theft here in Germany using this technology. So I have used Carly to completely switch off keyless entry

[sgt3966]

Originally Posted by Mick70

They cannot "steal" the wireless code as it's a rolling code. But they can use a simple repeater technology to make your car believe that you are standing next to your car:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...0-000-BMW.html

We have had an enormous amount of car theft here in Germany using this technology. So I have used Carly to completely switch off keyless entry

WOW! Interesting article. Anyone else turn off their key-less entry with Carly?

[NoQuarter]

How my car is stolen is the least of my concerns.

Too many better things worth worrying about

[Tangent]

Originally Posted by Mick70

They cannot "steal" the wireless code as it's a rolling code. But they can use a simple repeater technology to make your car believe that you are standing next to your car:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...0-000-BMW.html

We have had an enormous amount of car theft here in Germany using this technology. So I have used Carly to completely switch off keyless entry

They actually can steal rolling codes but it's more complicated. They start with using a signal jammer so your remote doesn't work. Most people will then press their remote unlock button several times which lets them capture the rolling code algorithm. It's just like how you program a rolling code garage door opener to the Homelink buttons. So if you ever go to lock your car and it doesn't work the safest course of action is to use the physical key to lock the car.

[sgt3966]

Originally Posted by Tangent

They actually can steal rolling codes but it's more complicated. They start with using a signal jammer so your remote doesn't work. Most people will then press their remote unlock button several times which lets them capture the rolling code algorithm. It's just like how you program a rolling code garage door opener to the Homelink buttons. So if you ever go to lock your car and it doesn't work the safest course of action is to use the physical key to lock the car.

Thanks.

[fmorelli]

Have you started worrying yet about all the ways that a burglar can get in your house? It's like hundreds of choices. If you're worried about your car, maybe you should first secure your house.

Filippo

[NoQuarter]

Originally Posted by fmorelli

Have you started worrying yet about all the ways that a burglar can get in your house? It's like hundreds of choices. If you're worried about your car, maybe you should first secure your house.

Filippo

Right. More likely to get jacked by a thug with a gun than some high-tech caper

[Mick70]

Tangent
I know that reengineering a rolling code is theoretically possible but at least here in Germany I have never heard of any case that one tried to. A thief could just to get into the car with it, but he couldn't steal the car itself with this method - the immobilizer works differently. Additionally, I think that it is much easier to get into a car by waiting till a driver simply doesn't realize that his key fob is jammed...

On the other hand, we really have a lot of car theft using repeater technology. At least they caught several thieves with the necessary equipment. Afaik thieves then can even program a new key with a repetaer as the car then thinks that a legitimate old key is present.

fmorelli
Neither my car nor my house are Fort Knox. My approach: If it's only a bit easier to steal my neighbour's car, they won't take mine. If it's only a bit easier to break into my neighbour's house, they won't break into mine. Four older and much less interesting BMWs have been stolen in the immediate neighbourhood last year and we had quite a lot of burglary around. We never were affected, although we live quite secluded. So I think my approach is not completely wrong