[Antialxx]

Went with amber DRLs to match KO interior and to match my Raptor DRLs. Very happy with the outcome.

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

I would just get under there and see where the wires go. Is it leased or did you buy it?

Bought it. Will call this morning to find out more.

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Thats most likely what it is. When I worked for a dealer, they put them on every car, in hopes that they could sell the system to the customer, in finance. I live in Sac, and I don't know a dealer in NorCal that doesn't automatically install them.

If upselling was part of the plan, they missed the opportunity since it never came up! Main thing is I don't want anything like it in my car anywhere, even if it's not activated.

[GolfCoyote]

Originally Posted by christianb5s4

If upselling was part of the plan, they missed the opportunity since it never came up! Main thing is I don't want anything like it in my car anywhere, even if it's not activated.

Just pull the fuse, should kill whatever it is if you’re concerned.

[BRJ1243]

Finally lowered on H&R Super Sports!

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by GolfCoyote

Just pull the fuse, should kill whatever it is if you’re concerned.

In the interim, yes, but I’d still trace the wires and pull the box out myself, so u know it’s truly out.

[geko29]

Originally Posted by christianb5s4

If upselling was part of the plan, they missed the opportunity since it never came up! Main thing is I don't want anything like it in my car anywhere, even if it's not activated.

No you don't. BMW of San Fran is owned by Lithia Motors. In looking to see if they install GPS trackers, I've found evidence that at least some of their Hyundai dealerships do, so it wouldn't surprise me if they all do as a matter of corporate policy. For example, Victory Auto Group installs Elo GPS on every new car at all of their dealers.

That's bad enough, but at least the ELO "just" hijacks the OBD II port, and doesn't require any wires to be cut or spliced. Yours looks like it has independent power from somewhere, likely by cutting into the factory wiring harness somehow. This can be done reasonably well, or you could find something like what this unlucky bastard found on his Ram pickup:



There are a bunch of brands of these, but I'm guessing when you trace it you will find one of these trackers from Spartan Automotive:



That was from a GR86 purchased new at an unspecified Toyota (but likely Lithia Toyota) dealer in NorCal.

[SwankPeRFection]

If there’s nothing buried in their sales contract about a tracker (enabled or not) installed on a vehicle you’re purchasing from any dealer, they’re leaving themselves vulnerable for a lawsuit. Anyone finding trackers like this on their cars should at the very minimum burn these dealerships on Google Maps with a shit review and pics of what they found. These days, people don’t like finding undocumented trackers on anything they own.

[GolfCoyote]

Got my Quickjack set up and got the M3 ready to go to swap in my AST springs

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

In the interim, yes, but I’d still trace the wires and pull the box out myself, so u know it’s truly out.

I would do that, but who knows what this is all tied into and I'd rather not take that risk.

Originally Posted by geko29

No you don't. BMW of San Fran is owned by Lithia Motors. In looking to see if they install GPS trackers, I've found evidence that at least some of their Hyundai dealerships do, so it wouldn't surprise me if they all do as a matter of corporate policy. For example, Victory Auto Group installs Elo GPS on every new car at all of their dealers.

That's bad enough, but at least the ELO "just" hijacks the OBD II port, and doesn't require any wires to be cut or spliced. Yours looks like it has independent power from somewhere, likely by cutting into the factory wiring harness somehow.

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

If there’s nothing buried in their sales contract about a tracker (enabled or not) installed on a vehicle you’re purchasing from any dealer, they’re leaving themselves vulnerable for a lawsuit. Anyone finding trackers like this on their cars should at the very minimum burn these dealerships on Google Maps with a shit review and pics of what they found. These days, people don’t like finding undocumented trackers on anything they own.

I connected with the service department and they confirmed it's a tracker installed pre-delivery. It was never mentioned nor disclosed during purchase (I will re-read the paperwork), don't care about lawsuits but just want it removed and obviously not driving up to SF for them to fix their 'mistake'.

They said a service manager will reach out but haven't heard anything since this morning. Shocker. Will share updates when I do connect because I'll follow up until I get answers.

I'm only sharing so that it might help anyone else now and in the future by being aware.

[dazed2day]

Originally Posted by christianb5s4

I would do that, but who knows what this is all tied into and I'd rather not take that risk.





I connected with the service department and they confirmed it's a tracker installed pre-delivery. It was never mentioned nor disclosed during purchase (I will re-read the paperwork), don't care about lawsuits but just want it removed and obviously not driving up to SF for them to fix their 'mistake'.

They said a service manager will reach out but haven't heard anything since this morning. Shocker. Will share updates when I do connect because I'll follow up until I get answers.

I'm only sharing so that it might help anyone else now and in the future by being aware.

I assume this is different than whatever provides you with your car's location in the BMW app??

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by dazed2day

I assume this is different than whatever provides you with your car's location in the BMW app??

Correct, the app collects through the cellular antenna integrated into the car. This is separate.

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by christianb5s4

I would do that, but who knows what this is all tied into and I'd rather not take that risk.





I connected with the service department and they confirmed it's a tracker installed pre-delivery. It was never mentioned nor disclosed during purchase (I will re-read the paperwork), don't care about lawsuits but just want it removed and obviously not driving up to SF for them to fix their 'mistake'.

They said a service manager will reach out but haven't heard anything since this morning. Shocker. Will share updates when I do connect because I'll follow up until I get answers.

I'm only sharing so that it might help anyone else now and in the future by being aware.

What was their reasoning for the install? If it wasn’t disclosed it’s a major breech of privacy. Once removed you really should report them. This sort of thing can be used on so many different levels of good vs evil in terms of just a simple track and recovery by bank should there be a default on a lease, but can also be maliciously used to find the car and steal it if someone at the dealership is so inclined to do (ie inside job). There’s so many thefts happening with these cars, the last thing you need is someone else with a hand in your pocket knowing where your car is. I know you said no to the lawsuit thing, but if there is nothing in your paperwork, you at the very minimum owe it to your fellow BMW enthusiasts to do something about it. Dealers shouldn’t be allowed to do this without full disclosure and your up front knowledge. Pretty sure you wouldn’t have bought and driven the car off the lot if you knew this was on there. You got lucky just stumbling across it.

Perhaps more people on here should take a peek under their dashes and see what’s up.

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

What was their reasoning for the install? If it wasn’t disclosed it’s a major breech of privacy. Once removed you really should report them. This sort of thing can be used on so many different levels of good vs evil in terms of just a simple track and recovery by bank should there be a default on a lease, but can also be maliciously used to find the car and steal it if someone at the dealership is so inclined to do (ie inside job). There’s so many thefts happening with these cars, the last thing you need is someone else with a hand in your pocket knowing where your car is. I know you said no to the lawsuit thing, but if there is nothing in your paperwork, you at the very minimum owe it to your fellow BMW enthusiasts to do something about it. Dealers shouldn’t be allowed to do this without full disclosure and your up front knowledge. Pretty sure you wouldn’t have bought and driven the car off the lot if you knew this was on there. You got lucky just stumbling across it.

Perhaps more people on here should take a peek under their dashes and see what’s up.

I didn't get an answer from the service guy, he just took my information and punted to the manager who would 'call me back in minutes'. That didn't happen. I'm going to review the paperwork later and see what I can find.

To your last point, I totally agree. I wouldn't have known unless I went searching for the rattle which ironically, was this fuse block dangling in there unattached.

[Salex123]

Resonator delete (both) with a standard x pipe from Shop. I kept the secondary cats but was really not pleased with the sound for the cost of $350 (Los Angeles)

I just ordered a valve controller and will see if that helps.

I cut out the secondary cats in my last car, a C7 and that helped but it also was a v8

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by christianb5s4

I didn't get an answer from the service guy, he just took my information and punted to the manager who would 'call me back in minutes'. That didn't happen. I'm going to review the paperwork later and see what I can find.

To your last point, I totally agree. I wouldn't have known unless I went searching for the rattle which ironically, was this fuse block dangling in there unattached.

Well not only was it NOT disclosed during purchase, there is zero mention of tracking in the purchase or finance agreement and it's also not included on the page itemizing charges.

The service advisor I spoke to confirmed the service department did install atracking device upon delivery to the dealership, so I started asking questions and he said he needed to talk to a manager and never called me back.

[M4Tejas]

Originally Posted by Rotherd31

Cleaned and detailed my wheels with my Adams wheel cleaning stand that got here yesterday. Packaged very well, no scratches, etc. Went together easily and works like a champ!

that will come in handy

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by christianb5s4

Well not only was it NOT disclosed during purchase, there is zero mention of tracking in the purchase or finance agreement and it's also not included on the page itemizing charges.

The service advisor I spoke to confirmed the service department did install atracking device upon delivery to the dealership, so I started asking questions and he said he needed to talk to a manager and never called me back.

Honestly dude, if they’re giving you the runaround, I wouldn’t trust them to take it out. If you don’t want to do it yourself (it should just be a box tied into power and ziptied or tucked up in your dash somewhere) I’d get someone else to do it. They’re liable to try and hide it better if it was going to be used nefariously. I’d call or go in and ask to speak to the GM, not the bullshit service manager.

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

Honestly dude, if they’re giving you the runaround, I wouldn’t trust them to take it out. If you don’t want to do it yourself (it should just be a box tied into power and ziptied or tucked up in your dash somewhere) I’d get someone else to do it. They’re liable to try and hide it better if it was going to be used nefariously. I’d call or go in and ask to speak to the GM, not the bullshit service manager.

Right there with you, that's the plan. I just want clarity for clarity's sake at this point. Will share a resolution.

Just prefer to not pull it out myself not knowing what and how they tied it into wiring.

[SwankPeRFection]

FYI, if you were to have looked deeper when you found that red wire with the fuse is that wire is usually just tapped into a power wire somewhere. Could be a clean tap, could be bullshit, but that’s it. The other side goes to the GPS tracker box. There are no other connections tied in. It’s like hard wiring a radar detector, except the goons tapped a hidden power wire to hide it instead of tapping into the fuse panel.

[Mike02z]

Ceramic coating complete. Is raining here now so no outside pictures yet…

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

FYI, if you were to have looked deeper when you found that red wire with the fuse is that wire is usually just tapped into a power wire somewhere. Could be a clean tap, could be bullshit, but that’s it. The other side goes to the GPS tracker box. There are no other connections tied in. It’s like hard wiring a radar detector, except the goons tapped a hidden power wire to hide it instead of tapping into the fuse panel.

Confirmed I can bring it to a local dealer and have it removed. I am handy but I'm not going to mess with it. But at least there's a resolution for others who might run into this.

If the car is leased, it's not allowed to be removed per the dealership FYI.

[purplem3sjetskis]

Heritage floating center caps and rear brake clips on.