Did someone try to steal my car?

MB London · 02-08-2010, 12:44 PM

I went to my car on Saturday morning to find the indicator on the drivers side front wing hanging out of the car. My first thought was that someone had hit it, so I quickly prepared myself for some proper gut churning.

However on closer inspection it appeared the car hadn’t been hit, there was not a single mark on the car – it had defiantly not been hit??

I spoke to a few golfing buddies that morning and a couple of them suggested that the alarm and immobiliser can be accessed via that whole in the car, and that maybe someone had attempted to nick it! Has anyone heard of anything like this before? Can the alarm and immobiliser be accessed this way?

I have managed to clip the indicator back in and all seems fine although it is a bit loose. Could it have popped out by hitting a pot hole or something?

greatbm · 02-08-2010, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB London

I went to my car on Saturday morning to find the indicator on the drivers side front wing hanging out of the car. My first thought was that someone had hit it, so I quickly prepared myself for some proper gut churning.

However on closer inspection it appeared the car hadn’t been hit, there was not a single mark on the car – it had defiantly not been hit??

I spoke to a few golfing buddies that morning and a couple of them suggested that the alarm and immobiliser can be accessed via that whole in the car, and that maybe someone had attempted to nick it! Has anyone heard of anything like this before? Can the alarm and immobiliser be accessed this way?

I have managed to clip the indicator back in and all seems fine although it is a bit loose. Could it have popped out by hitting a pot hole or something?

When you say indicator do you mean the small repeater in the wing ? very small hole to gain access to anything and alarm siren is at the rear. Years ago I heard it was known to short the indicator wiring and trigger the alarm to blow the fuse or alarm unit and disable alarm, don't know if it worked though and even then they would still have to beat the immobiliser . My side repeater is a good fit in the wing and no way would it fall out.

MB London · 02-08-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatbm

When you say indicator do you mean the small repeater in the wing ? very small hole to gain access to anything and alarm siren is at the rear. Years ago I heard it was known to short the indicator wiring and trigger the alarm to blow the fuse or alarm unit and disable alarm, don't know if it worked though and even then they would still have to beat the immobiliser . My side repeater is a good fit in the wing and no way would it fall out.

Yeah, thats what I am referring to - the repeater in the wing.

The passenger side is a very firm fit, so I can only assume that drivers side was too (until it came out). I am really puzzled as to how it came out

jrah · 02-08-2010, 01:15 PM

When I brought my 320si last year I noticed the drivers side indictor was loose. (I.E. Could be taken out) Could the same attempt have happened to me? I think is strange that two E90 3 Series drivers side indicators have fallen off.

Tunna_uk · 02-08-2010, 02:34 PM

No you can't steal it like that. Sounds like its been loose for some reason, maybe had work done in that area before, or someone tried to nick the indicator for some reason....
My guess.....

Dave_3 · 02-08-2010, 02:37 PM

Well ..... It was shown in "Gone in sixty seconds" where they used the bulb holder to short a circuit and steal the classic car.

Wouldn't work on a modern BMW. Unless someone has wired your alarm through the indicator circuit.

Do your indicators still work ?

D.

MB London · 02-08-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_3

Well ..... It was shown in "Gone in sixty seconds" where they used the bulb holder to short a circuit and steal the classic car.

Wouldn't work on a modern BMW. Unless someone has wired your alarm through the indicator circuit.

Do your indicators still work ?

D.

Perfectly

Hotcoupe · 02-08-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB London

Perfectly

If you know that, you should'nt be driving a BMW, 'real' BMW drivers don't even know where the indicator stalk is!

SoYank · 02-08-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

If you know that, you should'nt be driving a BMW, 'real' BMW drivers don't even know where the indicator stalk is!

Well, knowing where the stalk is and knowing how to use it are two distinctly different things, Ian.

Dr Dave · 02-08-2010, 03:57 PM

Sounds like it just popped out. Nothing to worry about MB.

JonD · 02-08-2010, 04:06 PM

Using the indicator to de-activate the alarm is an old wives tail, it use to work on realy cheap aftermarket alarm about 20 years ago, it's likely just to have come lose and fallen out.

MB London · 02-08-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Sounds like it just popped out. Nothing to worry about MB.

That's what I'm hoping

sheps · 02-08-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonD

Using the indicator to de-activate the alarm is an old wives tail, it use to work on realy cheap aftermarket alarm about 20 years ago, it's likely just to have come lose and fallen out.

It used to work on Moss alarms, circa 1990 vintage.

RagingKileak · 02-08-2010, 04:34 PM

Mine did this in France - Drove for a day down to St Tropez and went to sleep.

When I woke up it was hanging out...

Dealer fixed it for free as it would no longer stay in... but when I tried to fix it, it was quite apparent that it was never very tight in the first place... they just slot in...

Someone could have caught it with a light bag, their jeans etc and I would guess they pop out!

I wouldn't worry.

Matt

JonD · 02-08-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheps

It used to work on Moss alarms, circa 1990 vintage.

Yes that's right

creepy coupe · 02-09-2010, 03:36 AM

I expect some Pisshead was hanging off it during the early hours.

Neil McRae · 02-09-2010, 06:59 AM

on the old e46 it was possible lever the boot up and send 9v down the line that was boot open button in the passenger footwell. Not an easy job to do but in quiet place takes about 15 minutes. You then have access to the main part of the car through the boot but BMW's are very hard to steal without the keys.

willhollin · 02-09-2010, 07:02 AM

Sounds like someone tried to steal your indicator.

dxb335d · 02-09-2010, 07:38 AM

Who here has ever stolen a car?

SiKkBaSs · 02-09-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Who here has ever stolen a car?

simples · 02-09-2010, 03:26 PM

someone nicked the small indicator light from my vw OSF wing afew years back, so i rang the dealer and asked how much it was for a replacement. 60 quid !! i just hung up, went to the local scrappy with my mate and screwdriver in hand and got my replacement for, free

. the vw indicator is just a clip on once u pop it out, i guess someone tried to nick yours but could not unclip it.

foxy-367 · 02-13-2010, 06:52 AM

It could have been someone trying to nick the indicator, chavvy boyracers went through a phase of putting Ford focus repeaters on their Novas et al. May be something similar, its not a standard style of repeater.

I wouldn't worry about it to access through that hole you'd either have to be a worm or have extraordinarily thin arms!!!!

02-08-2010, 12:44 PM	#1
MB London Come as you are 140 Rep 1,404 Posts Drives: M4 SSll Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Did someone try to steal my car? I went to my car on Saturday morning to find the indicator on the drivers side front wing hanging out of the car. My first thought was that someone had hit it, so I quickly prepared myself for some proper gut churning. However on closer inspection it appeared the car hadn’t been hit, there was not a single mark on the car – it had defiantly not been hit?? I spoke to a few golfing buddies that morning and a couple of them suggested that the alarm and immobiliser can be accessed via that whole in the car, and that maybe someone had attempted to nick it! Has anyone heard of anything like this before? Can the alarm and immobiliser be accessed this way? I have managed to clip the indicator back in and all seems fine although it is a bit loose. Could it have popped out by hitting a pot hole or something?
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02-08-2010, 01:15 PM	#4
jrah Captain 83 Rep 621 Posts Drives: M340d Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Buckinghamshire iTrader: (0)	When I brought my 320si last year I noticed the drivers side indictor was loose. (I.E. Could be taken out) Could the same attempt have happened to me? I think is strange that two E90 3 Series drivers side indicators have fallen off. __________________ M340d - Brooklyn Grey - Cognac
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02-08-2010, 02:34 PM	#5
Tunna_uk Captain 75 Rep 797 Posts Drives: BMW 320d Le Mans Blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Teesside UK iTrader: (0) Garage List E90 BMW 325i M Sport [0.00]	No you can't steal it like that. Sounds like its been loose for some reason, maybe had work done in that area before, or someone tried to nick the indicator for some reason.... My guess.....
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02-08-2010, 02:37 PM	#6
Dave_3 Brigadier General 661 Rep 3,447 Posts Drives: G22 M440D Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: CH / SCO iTrader: (0) Garage List 1973 Escort RS2000 MK1 [10.00]	Well ..... It was shown in "Gone in sixty seconds" where they used the bulb holder to short a circuit and steal the classic car. Wouldn't work on a modern BMW. Unless someone has wired your alarm through the indicator circuit. Do your indicators still work ? D. __________________ Escort Mk1 RS2000 (2.1 2x44IDFS, BVH, Kent FR32, 5spd, 180 BHP) : M440D ¦ Previously : F32 435D : F32 430D M Sport sDrive, 335D E92 2006
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02-08-2010, 03:57 PM	#10
Dr Dave Zummerzet Zyder Drinker! 117 Rep 5,541 Posts Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somerset iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 330d M Sport [0.00]	Sounds like it just popped out. Nothing to worry about MB. __________________
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02-08-2010, 04:06 PM	#11
JonD Major 208 Rep 1,149 Posts Drives: 1 Series Coupe, M Sport Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Using the indicator to de-activate the alarm is an old wives tail, it use to work on realy cheap aftermarket alarm about 20 years ago, it's likely just to have come lose and fallen out.
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02-08-2010, 04:34 PM	#14
RagingKileak Brigadier General 206 Rep 4,655 Posts Drives: M3 CS Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (2)	Mine did this in France - Drove for a day down to St Tropez and went to sleep. When I woke up it was hanging out... Dealer fixed it for free as it would no longer stay in... but when I tried to fix it, it was quite apparent that it was never very tight in the first place... they just slot in... Someone could have caught it with a light bag, their jeans etc and I would guess they pop out! I wouldn't worry. Matt
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02-09-2010, 03:36 AM	#16
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1831 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	I expect some Pisshead was hanging off it during the early hours.
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02-09-2010, 06:59 AM	#17
Neil McRae BMW Motorsport 246 Rep 2,227 Posts Drives: BMW ///M4 F82 / BMW ///M5 F10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Surrey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2020 BMW M5 CP [0.00] 2015 BMW M4 [10.00]	on the old e46 it was possible lever the boot up and send 9v down the line that was boot open button in the passenger footwell. Not an easy job to do but in quiet place takes about 15 minutes. You then have access to the main part of the car through the boot but BMW's are very hard to steal without the keys. __________________ -- Neil J. //McRae -- Alive and Kicking -- neil at DOMINO.ORG --///M ARMY M5 CP Alpine White -- M2 LBB -- M4 DCT CP Alpine White
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02-09-2010, 07:02 AM	#18
willhollin Major General 275 Rep 9,914 Posts Drives: VW T5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Worcestershire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW E92 330d SE [10.00] 2010 Transporter T5 ... [0.00]	Sounds like someone tried to steal your indicator. __________________
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02-09-2010, 07:38 AM	#19
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 1040 Rep 29,344 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Who here has ever stolen a car? __________________ 997.2 GT3
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02-09-2010, 03:26 PM	#21
simples Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 274 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: london iTrader: (0)	someone nicked the small indicator light from my vw OSF wing afew years back, so i rang the dealer and asked how much it was for a replacement. 60 quid !! i just hung up, went to the local scrappy with my mate and screwdriver in hand and got my replacement for, free . the vw indicator is just a clip on once u pop it out, i guess someone tried to nick yours but could not unclip it.
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02-13-2010, 06:52 AM	#22
foxy-367 Lieutenant 6 Rep 448 Posts Drives: 320d M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	It could have been someone trying to nick the indicator, chavvy boyracers went through a phase of putting Ford focus repeaters on their Novas et al. May be something similar, its not a standard style of repeater. I wouldn't worry about it to access through that hole you'd either have to be a worm or have extraordinarily thin arms!!!! __________________ Now - E90 320d M Sport, Le Mans Blue, sun protection glass, Auto lights and wipers, 193M, a big grin Previous - Seat Leon FR, Golf Gttdi (x2), Mk3 Fiesta SI, E30 318i Peugeot 205 Roland Garros, Mk2 Fiesta Ghia (it had a rev counter!!!!)
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