I have too much money into this car to have her stolen- what alarm should I get?

[dhcg86]

I need to make sure my car doesn't get stolen. Insurance might give me $4k, but I have spent almost $8500 in past few months...

What can I do besides a removable steering wheel to make sure she doesn't get stolen (besides with a flatbed)

thanks in advance

ps- I would get collectors insurance but I think a 2013 DUI disqualifies me

[pbonsalb]

What about a simple, cheap kill switch?

[jclausen]

Yup

[gdavid]

Swap to an auto, that will kill any thief's interest

[pbonsalb]

The obd2 328 probably has EWS so only a chipped key will start the car unless you have a tune that disabled EWS.

A visual deterrent like no steering wheel has advantages. It might deter someone from breaking in and prying the ignition lock.

Serious thieves can lift a car out if a parallel parking space and then pull it onto a flatbed and drive away within about 2 minutes. And they can thwart most alarms except perhaps those with hidden backup batteries.

[dhcg86]

Is LoJack a waste?

[blckstrm]

You might also consider a cellular connected OBD data port / tracker so you can locate the car if it IS stolen. Use a passthrough / extension cable and hide the device under the kick panel and a thief would almost certainly overlook it until it was too late.

There are a number of solutions out there. I've actually been developing a startup that provides automatic notifications for CELs and other data based notifications. It's a pain to set up individually, but now that I have everything set up I could probably offer it to forum members for not too much monthly.

I hadn't really thought about it for individuals, we've been focused more on developing it for dealers to provide for the kind of people who don't pay much attention to their cars. We'd have to do a little bit of extra development, but it shouldn't be too much trouble.

[spyderg0d]

the key is the best bet. everything else is a waste of time unless your in inner city. then the best bet is to just not park there or buy a new car.

[dhcg86]

Ordered a new key. BMW tech didn’t know if the key had a chip in it. He said it has a flashlight but it doesn’t have a remote in it. Cost was $150

does this seem right?

part number 51-21-8-205-442

[spyderg0d]

Ordered a new key. BMW tech didn’t know if the key had a chip in it. He said it has a flashlight but it doesn’t have a remote in it. Cost was $150

does this seem right?

part number 51-21-8-205-442

This is why dealerships are garbage..
This "tech" didnt take 5 minutes to look up how to tell if you had a chipped key or not, and just let you spend $150 like that.. Security chip is NOT a radio for door locks or trunk. Its read by the ignition, otherwise the car wont start without the keychip and the key being present.
If your car is 95 to 99.. Yes.. It has a key chip.
If its 92 to 94 it wont have a key chip and your blank will work fine after being cut appropriately.

[angny]

I have Viper SmartStart installed on mine with real time GPS locator. Works great.

https://www.viper.com/smartstart/

[gc325is]

My 95 had a option for a key with light. (not worth the extra $60 for bulb and battery back then), $30 for a reg. No EWS or remote like yours OBD II will have. Common thieve cannot drive a manual car, BMW thieves want the 5 speed but they really want is the M3 version. Put a Kill switch in a unique spot. GPS locator. and an alarm with big light to deter. How far we have come when all you needed was a cassette tape in the dash to prevent break-ins...

[dhcg86]

This is why dealerships are garbage..
This "tech" didnt take 5 minutes to look up how to tell if you had a chipped key or not, and just let you spend $150 like that.. Security chip is NOT a radio for door locks or trunk. Its read by the ignition, otherwise the car wont start without the keychip and the key being present.
If your car is 95 to 99.. Yes.. It has a key chip.
If its 92 to 94 it wont have a key chip and your blank will work fine after being cut appropriately.

i tried to explain it to him and he looked at me like I was speaking gibberish. Is there anyway the key will not have the EWS system ? It’s a 97 328

- - - Updated - - -

LoJack seems like the best and fastest way to get police to recover my vehicle. I don’t care if she gets stolen, I care if she gets stripped or totaled. Ok so I guess I do care if she gets stolen.

lojack doesn’t have any monthly fees and I feel like cops will place a priority on my call if I have LoJack installed. I’d still like an inside alarm with a light though

[pbonsalb]

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/a...7&d=1280275099

The OP has EWS2 or EWS3 depending on the month of production of his 97 328.

[blckstrm]

i tried to explain it to him and he looked at me like I was speaking gibberish. Is there anyway the key will not have the EWS system ? It’s a 97 328

- - - Updated - - -

LoJack seems like the best and fastest way to get police to recover my vehicle. I don’t care if she gets stolen, I care if she gets stripped or totaled. Ok so I guess I do care if she gets stolen.

lojack doesn’t have any monthly fees and I feel like cops will place a priority on my call if I have LoJack installed. I’d still like an inside alarm with a light though

Out of curiosity, what does LoJack cost?

[spyderg0d]

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/a...7&d=1280275099

The OP has EWS2 or EWS3 depending on the month of production of his 97 328.

Ewslll wasnt on e36 until 1999. They kept ewsll until end of production of normall e36, with exception of the e36 z3 sport i think, that went on past 1999 for a yr or 2 that had the ewslll.

[dhcg86]

From the lojack dealer, prices include installation-

Basic Lojack system is $895.00

For an additional $250 you get the early warning feature which basically means if the vehicle moves and you don’t have your Lojack key fob close by, Lojack will notify you via text, email or phone call typically within 15-30 mins of the vehicle moving.
All of these prices include installation.

[zellamay]

Ordered a new key. BMW tech didn’t know if the key had a chip in it. He said it has a flashlight but it doesn’t have a remote in it. Cost was $150

does this seem right?

part number 51-21-8-205-442

New key was $85 from non-dealer BMW garage here in Tempe.

Also, use a locking steering wheel bar, like a Club. they are cheap and easy to use, plus, Police say thieves will simply go on to another car.

[blckstrm]

From the lojack dealer, prices include installation-

Basic Lojack system is $895.00

For an additional $250 you get the early warning feature which basically means if the vehicle moves and you don’t have your Lojack key fob close by, Lojack will notify you via text, email or phone call typically within 15-30 mins of the vehicle moving.
All of these prices include installation.

Dang - almost $1000? More if you count the early warning thing?

That's crazy. Seriously, you can find a plug and play OBDII solution that will deliver 95% of that functionality for less than $100.

New key was $85 from non-dealer BMW garage here in Tempe.

Also, use a locking steering wheel bar, like a Club. they are cheap and easy to use, plus, Police say thieves will simply go on to another car.

I think a removable race wheel (since OP mentioned it) would be 1000x better than that and be a great fit for the car.

[spyderg0d]

It deff needs a chipped key..

I would probably do a secondary immobalization relay.. Basically a kill switch that keeps an important part from operating like fuel pump or spark.. Hidden.. That way you wont have to reset the clocks everytime and other probs that battery kill switches do.

[ChuckDizzle]

What about a simple, cheap kill switch?

That's probably the most effective and least expensive method.

[samy01]

people steal e36 ?

[zellamay]

people steal e36 ?

"People" stole a Dodge Neon with my nice 300ZXTT sitting right next to it. I guess they go for cars that are common and easy to part out.

[blckstrm]

This whole conversation is just funny. As if a removable steering wheel wouldn't stop 99.999% of thieves? As if any kind of thief these days would have the necessary tools to be able to get past EWS to then get stumped by the hidden kill switch?

I've debated putting in a euro fog light switch to be the perfect in-plain-sight kill switch for the trigger to the fuel pump relay. But it's just not going to happen. To much work for dubious value for any real thief.

A new corolla is worth way more guaranteed money, and is way less trouble.

I mean, unless you're in a crazy rough neighborhood where it'll be stolen and stripped by morning, I think this a bit overkill. And none of the solutions we've discussed would prevent that anyway...

[R Shaffner]

I restored a 1960 Triumph TR-3. Convertible. Impossible to lock securely. Real easy to steal.

So I installed a hidden kill switch that no one knew about. No one ever tired to steal it, but they wouldn't have gotten far without a multi-meter and a lot of effort.

Personal opinion: BMW got way too anal about all this EWS stuff. Like protecting missile launch codes. I don't think you car can be driven away without the right key.