[mrbrett]

I ask this because today I went out to my car today and the car would not unlock, and it's behavior was really strange. I've had issues where the key fob doesn't immediately unlock the car, but this was 30 seconds of me pressing all the buttons moving around and trying to touch the handles and the trunk button on the car.

I live in a nice neighborhood with nice cars and there has been a wave of car thieves of late (my friends TRX was stolen) and I am worried someone was reading my fob signal. I could be just paranoid, but wondering how hard it is to steal a modern BMW and if there is anything I can do to be proactive, just in case.

The car is garaged but it's detached from the house so hard to monitor and the garage door is the only entry into the garage, so I can't lock it from the inside.

[Habber]

Originally Posted by mrbrett

I ask this because today I went out to my car today and the car would not unlock, and it's behavior was really strange. I've had issues where the key fob doesn't immediately unlock the car, but this was 30 seconds of me pressing all the buttons moving around and trying to touch the handles and the trunk button on the car.

I live in a nice neighborhood with nice cars and there has been a wave of car thieves of late (my friends TRX was stolen) and I am worried someone was reading my fob signal. I could be just paranoid, but wondering how hard it is to steal a modern BMW and if there is anything I can do to be proactive, just in case.

The car is garaged but it's detached from the house so hard to monitor and the garage door is the only entry into the garage, so I can't lock it from the inside.

Everything is super easy to steal. It’s all signals that can be copied so don’t think BMW is any different.
If they want it, they will take it.

Unless it’s a manual….. 😜

[mfitzger16]

The TRX and all other late model Hellcat vehicles are impossibly easy to steal. Smash the window, plug in to the computer, and code a new key in 30 seconds using a programmer easily bought on Amazon. Thieves know this and target these vehicles specifically.

I gave up and traded my TRX in on the M4 after two theft attempts on it.

Any keyless car is vulnerable to a signal booster attack - you can keep your fobs in a faraday bag to prevent that. But once they theoretically drive off with your car, they still don’t have a key and it’s useless once they turn it off. Why would anyone bother with that when there are plenty of Kias, Hyundais, and Hellcat vehicles that can be stolen permanently?

[ShiftHpns]

Originally Posted by Habber

Everything is super easy to steal. It’s all signals that can be copied so don’t think BMW is any different.
If they want it, they will take it.

Unless it’s a manual….. 😜

It can’t be THAT simple that the car would be vulnerable to a simple replay attack right? Do they have no app security people working for them?

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by Habber

Everything is super easy to steal. It’s all signals that can be copied so don’t think BMW is any different.
If they want it, they will take it.

Unless it’s a manual….. 😜

The only real difference that's been introduced relatively recently is car fobs that stop transmitting after a bit after you set them down vs. older ones that were transmitting constantly. Thieves just need better timing with fobs that shut off, though. OBD hacks exist, along with so many other tricks such as corrupt folk at dealerships ordering keys for thieves, and some companies are really weak with their key ordering procedures.

Some days it feels like nothing has improved since the screwdriver-in-the-keyhole days, but it probably is a little harder than it was in 1975. A little.

[harperium]

Get a Faraday cage like this.

The BMW fobs have a motion sensor and turn off after still for awhile, but you can put your fob in a Faraday cage when not in use. This is what I do...

Granted it won't prevent you from getting carjacked. For that, you need a Smith & Wesson

[Habber]

Originally Posted by harperium

Get a Faraday cage like this.

The BMW fobs have a motion sensor and turn off after still for awhile, but you can put your fob in a Faraday cage when not in use. This is what I do...

Granted it won't prevent you from getting carjacked. For that, you need a Smith & Wesson

Isn’t this the same as the boxes they sell? My neighbor had his Rover stolen recently and he had his key in one of the faraday boxes.
I’m assuming this individual blocker is the same as the box?

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by Habber

Isn’t this the same as the boxes they sell? My neighbor had his Rover stolen recently and he had his key in one of the faraday boxes.
I’m assuming this individual blocker is the same as the box?

There are other issues with Range Rovers, OBD port tricks. Mark McCann posted some good YouTube videos on the issue recently.

[Mike02z]

Originally Posted by Habber

Isn’t this the same as the boxes they sell? My neighbor had his Rover stolen recently and he had his key in one of the faraday boxes.
I’m assuming this individual blocker is the same as the box?

You have to test it. Put your fob into a Farady case and walk up to your car. If the car unlocks it’s not doing its job. I had to buy and return 2 supposed Farady cases that did not work. I wound up going with the below.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPPKH15H...p_mob_ap_share

[eugenebmw]

Originally Posted by Habber

Everything is super easy to steal. It’s all signals that can be copied so don’t think BMW is any different.
If they want it, they will take it.

Unless it’s a manual….. 😜

Yep, I don't even lock my car

[Mike02z]

This^^^^

[kgelfen360]

There has been several M3/M4 stolen in New York/New Jersey/Newark area. So clearly people who were doing this have a method and targeting specific cars.
But as other have stated here there are much easier cars to steal so it’s probably more targeted theft then random like with Kia or Hundai

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by eugenebmw

Yep, I don't even lock my car

Oh wow… I have the same security system.

I upgraded and had the dealer install 3 pedals to make it more difficult and confusing to drive.

[Adler11th]

I would change the key battery first to see if issue resolved. Also if you have key case that may interfere with signal. As noted by other bmw keys go to sleep when put down after few minutes. There are number of safety systems implemented in the car to prevent or deter theft, they are listed in the owner manual. But anything can be hacked/bypassed one way or another.

[Jim B]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

This^^^^

My car has one of these, too.

[utsteve98]

You’re giving people way too much credit on trying to scan your code. All they gotta do to steal your car is hold you at gun point at the gas station. Happened here a few times already and is the easiest way to steal a car.

[Ibiza]

Digital Key plus is all I use for my ‘24 X5 M60. Do the LCI’s have this feature with the updated MGH22 unit with iDrive 8.5, hoping so. Have the thieves been successful cracking the UWB chip?

[jrhav]

Originally Posted by Jim B

My car has one of these, too.

Definitely spec'ing my new '25 build with this anti-theft option - thanks! BMW should really consider including this option as standard on all of their cars to address this situation.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Digital Key plus is all I use for my ‘24 X5 M60. Do the LCI’s have this feature with the updated MGH22 unit with iDrive 8.5, hoping so. Have the thieves been successful cracking the UWB chip?

Pretty sure they don't. It's only on full iDrive 8.5/9 vehicles for now, and these being some weird iDrive 8/8.5 hybrid, I doubt it'll get it. But nothing confirmed aside from the cars not being on the list of supported cars.

[forcefed]

In Toronto around a dozen were carjacked in the last few months. Only happened at night and in certain areas.

[AP]

If you don’t have one already, get a steering lock.
Whilst it’s possible to probably saw through it or the wheel, it would make a lot of noise and slows down the thief so hopefully putting them off

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Pretty sure they don't. It's only on full iDrive 8.5/9 vehicles for now, and these being some weird iDrive 8/8.5 hybrid, I doubt it'll get it. But nothing confirmed aside from the cars not being on the list of supported cars.

From the 04/23/2024 press release “The precision of UWB also ensures that the risk of relay attacks, where the radio signal is jammed or intercepted, is virtually eliminated.” Should be available on iDrive 8.0 and above. My current ‘22 G83 is on iDrive 7, as I’m expecting to have Digital Key + for my new G8x build in 10 months with the M skinned iDrive 8.5.