Car broken into

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DrivingTopless

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[bigcry] So, I walked out to my car this morning to find that it had been broken into. The weird thing is they took NOTHING (CD changer, CDs, radar detector, etc). They went through everything in the glove box and trunk. Do you think they were looking for spare keys???

Also no signs of forced entry. They must have gone in through the door lock. No smashed windows or cuts in the convertible top.

2 major problems as a result. The asswipe that did this smashed my rearview mirror and pulled some of the wiring down from the windshield header. Second, my key fobs no longer work. I'm assuming since they used something in the door lock, the computer no longer recognizes my keys as the primary keys.

Any ideas of how to reprogram the key fobs so I at least have that function again?

Thanks! [B)]
 
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William330

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They were looking for the valet key, which some dealers leave in the owner manual upon vehicle delivery.

My car was broken into last year, they pulled the driver door cylinder, opened the glove box, didn't find the valet key, and moved on to another car (they stole an Audi, I was told by the police).

My current strategy is to open the glove box, arm rest, and console compartments, every time I park. That way, they can see there is no key left behind.

Sad, but such is the world we live in...
 
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William330

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Oh, it's a testament to BMW's computerized key that crooks will simply
abandon the car if they can't find the key.

No key, no start.
 
jrt67ss350

jrt67ss350

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It may be a testament to BMW's computerized key system that thieves will give up if there is no key in it, but it is definitely not a testament to BMW's design of the lock cylinders that the thieves can get into the locked car so easily.
 
Tom

Tom

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Ouch sorry to hear, I guess on the bright side they didn't steal anything.

Key Programming:
Definitions: button 1 on the keys is the one closest to the metal part of the key (this is the door open button); button 2 is the middle button (the door close button).

1. Open the car doors using the remote function of your working key.

2. Get in and close (don't lock) all the doors.

3. Put the key in the ignition and switch momentarally to position 1 which is the first position when you turn the key clockwise. This is the accessory position. Don't stay in position 1 longer than 5 seconds; then turn the key back to the off position.

4. Remove the key.

5. On the key transmitter, press and hold button 2. Press and release button 1 three times within 10 seconds while still pressing button 2.

6. release button 2.

7. The system indicates re-programming by locking and immediately unlocking the door locks.

8. If you want to do more remotes, you must do each within 30 seconds of step 7 for the preceeding key. You just need to repeat steps 5 through 7 for each key after the first.
 
tazza0712

tazza0712

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I find it almost criminal that BMWs dont come standard with an alarm system. The dealer tried to talk us out of getting one for the 5 series, but we did anyway. Even if the car can't move anywhere, the damage that can be done can still easily run into the thousands, especially with BMWs use of computer wizardry at every corner. Great, just great. Sorry to hear about your car Driving Topless, hope it all works out for ya.
 
D

DrivingTopless

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Thanks, Adrian.

Tom, it failed to work. I think where I have my issue is with Step 1... I have no working key to unlock the car remotely. The car is unresponsive to both Master Key's remotes. Looks like a possible job for the stealership.
 
MrElussive

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jrt67ss350 said:
It may be a testament to BMW's computerized key system that thieves will give up if there is no key in it, but it is definitely not a testament to BMW's design of the lock cylinders that the thieves can get into the locked car so easily.
Click to expand...
A good car thief can get into any car easily. One time somebody broke into my uncle's 745 by ripping out the door lock or something along those lines. At least it's not like Audi's...before the new B7 A4's/S4's, all a thief had to do was destroy/remove the door lock; this automatically deactivates the alarm AND the theft deterrent system (for starting the car).
 
codex57

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DrivingTopless said:
Sort of discouraging that it is so easy to pick a lock on our cars. But I guess they could've smashed a window as an alternative.
Click to expand...
That's how I see it. You can always take out the cylinder and buy the replacement part that covers it from like bimmian.com or something. Always use the remote anyways so if missing the door lock, it's not necessarily a big deal.
 
T

TheBry

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Wow... what a bummer. At least they didn't cut through the convertible top -- that could cost more than replacing the lock. Do you have a factory alarm on the car? I considered not getting that option, but the dealer threw it in as part of the deal. All it really does is make the "clown nose" flash when set, and it's a noisemaker when a door (or trunk lid) is opened. Also, how did they get into your glove box? Did they smash the lock? My glove box automatically locks when I lock the doors... I'm guessing yours does too.

Thieves suck. We work so hard for our money -- and the things we buy with it -- what makes them think they can just come and steal it?
 
D

DrivingTopless

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TheBry said:
Wow... what a bummer. At least they didn't cut through the convertible top -- that could cost more than replacing the lock. Do you have a factory alarm on the car? I considered not getting that option, but the dealer threw it in as part of the deal. All it really does is make the "clown nose" flash when set, and it's a noisemaker when a door (or trunk lid) is opened. Also, how did they get into your glove box? Did they smash the lock? My glove box automatically locks when I lock the doors... I'm guessing yours does too.

Thieves suck. We work so hard for our money -- and the things we buy with it -- what makes them think they can just come and steal it?
Click to expand...
The glove box was not broken. They were able to probably use the central lock button to open up everything, including the trunk. But if i had used the key to manually lock the box, then they would've no doubt just pried it open and ruined that too.
 
W

William330

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There's no way to keep a thief out of the car, as a typical
entry method is to simply throw a rock through the passenger
window (so the thief doesn't have to sit in the broken glass as
they drive away).

And a lock puller will yank any cylinder out in less than
three seconds. But it's easier to find a rock to smash a window,
than carry around a lock puller.

Your biggest theft enemy are pro thiefs with a flatbed truck, where
they'll just drag the whole car away, and ship it off to Saudi Arabia in
a cargo container. When parking at the mall, park in the deck, where
flatbeds cannot fit.
 
S

southpaw

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The broken rear view mirror is why your remote locks do not work. In the convertibles the mirror has the antenna for this where as in a sedan it is in the rear window glass grids.
 
T

TheBry

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southpaw said:
The broken rear view mirror is why your remote locks do not work. In the convertibles the mirror has the antenna for this where as in a sedan it is in the rear window glass grids.
Click to expand...
Awesome revelation. I had no idea that's where the antenna was for the remote -- I often wondered but never knew. Thanks for the insight.
 
C

CaveDweller

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Some of you may not know, but you can order motion sensors for the interior of the convertible. They are pricey, but I was able to buy the two SDR units, rear housing, and template from Pacific BMW. It took about an hour to put them in and dremel out the section for the rear unit. The hardest part was getting the front unit into place since it is halfway under the gearshift console.

It gives at least some notice if I leave the top down in a parking lot or in my driveway and someone sticks thier hand inside. The range is about 2 feet from the radar unit so it doesn't extend beyone the passenger area.
 
tazza0712

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I thought the alarm itself is a motion sensor? The dealer tried to talk us out of getting one as Ive already posted on this thread, but said it was a good idea for a convertible because of the motion sensor aspect of it, which in a sedan wouldn't exactly be completely necessary. Made sense, but still got it. I tried it by waving my arms in the car when it was armed and the windows were down and it went off, which is pretty cool I guess.
 
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