[Lupeskew]

Originally Posted by Aalfred

I find it ironic that BMW literally sells a retrofit kit to protect the radar but wouldnt put them in the first place. Its crazy that to save $10 customers have to shell out $4K !!!

Not surprised at all from the same BMW that refuses to acknowledge an issue with their oil cooler placement being so easy to damage and expect us to pay for aftermarket oil cooler guards.

[BugKiller]

Originally Posted by aktif8

Also, look at replacing any bolts that hold it in with torx security bolts - much higher likelihood that thieves won't have those bits.

And fill in the heads with epoxy. I was worried about having my vanity plates stolen so I did that. When I traded the car in the dealer's shop mechanic cut slots with a Dremel tool to remove the plates to put them on my new car.

LPT. Vanity plates are cool. Any a-hole can rent an exotic to go to a school reunion. When you show up with vanity plates with your school nickname they remember why you were named 'first one to go to federal prison' in the yearbook.

[RustD0ntSle3p]

Thanks for posting this. Am considering a new G80 and had no idea this was a thing. Would have thought BMW would have considered ease of theft more in its design of this component.

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by RustD0ntSle3p

Thanks for posting this. Am considering a new G80 and had no idea this was a thing. Would have thought BMW would have considered ease of theft more in its design of this component.

Honestly, I wouldn’t even bother with the option that introduces that radar sensor. Not only does it throw off the front symmetry and look, but it also introduces a lot of unwanted interference and noise for radar detectors to have to filter out, so if you use such devices, driver aid systems shouldn’t be on your build sheet. Of course everyone has different priorities, but something to keep in mind along with this bs theft situation now too.

[G82 Jesse]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

Honestly, I wouldn’t even bother with the option that introduces that radar sensor. Not only does it throw off the front symmetry and look, but it also introduces a lot of unwanted interference and noise for radar detectors to have to filter out, so if you use such devices, driver aid systems shouldn’t be on your build sheet. Of course everyone has different priorities, but something to keep in mind along with this bs theft situation now too.

You know I thought this as well, especially your point on symmetry, but just last week there was a horrible traffic accident and a 3-lane wide road heading home was backed up for miles.

My car drove itself in start/stop creeping traffic for 45 minutes while I scrolled Instagram from the driver seat. My god was it a huge convenience - basically like having a Tesla autopilot feature.

[Mikeakazidane]

Originally Posted by rtaschengeld

Hello all

Unfortunately the front radar on my M3 Touring (still running it in but enjoying it so far...) was stolen during the night while it was parked outside my home in London.

Obviously this is incredibly annoying and disappointing but I worry that if I even replace it, there's nothing to stop it happening again. It seems far too easy to remove this piece of equipment given how expensive it is to replace (I've been quoted £2,400 by BMW just for the two parts I require). The BMW dealer I corresponded with said as much but also said there was no way to make them more secure.

I've seen a few references to aftermarket solutions to making them harder to steal but wondered whether anyone had any experience of them.

I'm trying to look on the bright side. At least there was no damage to the car, unlike when the wheel was stolen on my X5 M50d and that required quite a bit of repair.

Many thanks in advance.

p.s. I'm calling it the 'radar' but it's the sensor which is used by the driving assistant plus, the semi-autonomous driving, active cruise control, etc. See photos...

I had exactly the same thing happen to my M340i touring in Fulham last week. I think a gang or the same individual is taking loads at the moment. I'm going through insurance but like you I don't want it to happen again.

I saw on Next Door a lot of people having this happen at the moment in West London. It was a white guy in the video's and took him about 20 seconds to take it off a VW Golf.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by G82 Jesse

You know I thought this as well, especially your point on symmetry, but just last week there was a horrible traffic accident and a 3-lane wide road heading home was backed up for miles.

My car drove itself in start/stop creeping traffic for 45 minutes while I scrolled Instagram from the driver seat. My god was it a huge convenience - basically like having a Tesla autopilot feature.

Same. I will never buy another automatic, non sports car without adaptive cruise. It’s just too useful for where I live. Sports cars I can deal without.

[davidmct-M3]

Originally Posted by jro

Looks like you were also caught out by the mass theft of BMW radar sensors in SW London that happened on Monday night - welcome to a pretty unhappy club. As part of the £4k replacement for parts/labour I'm getting part 66315A336F7 fitted - "Retrofit Kit Theft Protect.front Radar" which seems to consist of a new mount, proper security bolts and some deterrent stickers. Not sure there's much more that can be done.

Very tempting. How much is the install? Do they need to remove bumper?? Does the radar just pull off studs?

[rtaschengeld]

Originally Posted by jro

Looks like you were also caught out by the mass theft of BMW radar sensors in SW London that happened on Monday night - welcome to a pretty unhappy club. As part of the £4k replacement for parts/labour I'm getting part 66315A336F7 fitted - "Retrofit Kit Theft Protect.front Radar" which seems to consist of a new mount, proper security bolts and some deterrent stickers. Not sure there's much more that can be done.

Thanks for the tip on the kit. I am indeed in SW London (this happened Tue/Wed night).

I think I'll hold off replacing it for a bit. I couldn't bear for it to be simply taken again - it's just too infuriating.

[rtaschengeld]

Originally Posted by hinckley

OMG, that's crazy! First hearing a story like that. Unfortunately means there's a new trend out there. Headlights . . . catalytic converters . . . now radar units. Just wow.

Tangentially, I'm always blown away by the beautiful/expensive/exotic cars I see parked on the streets of London. You never seen anything like that anywhere else in the world.

I have to admit, I hesitated quite a bit before pulling the trigger on the M3 because of concerns about parking it on the street. Then I thought, you only live once...

I'm trying not to worry about it, even if I inevitably do.

Oddly enough, the insurance on the M3 is considerably cheaper than my previous car (X5 m50d - so still desirable I think). Less than 40% in fact. I think SUVs are more often stolen.

[rtaschengeld]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

Is that a reflection on the edge of the front grill kidney bumper section above your M emblem or is it scratched?

All that said, WTF do they plan on accomplishing with the radar head? Bad news is once replaced, you’ll most likely need to get it realigned and calibrated, so expect a cost for that to happen. Might as well do an alignment on it if you were looking to do one to kill two birds with one stone since that same recalibration is necessary for that procedure as well. If the part and install/calibration is higher than an alignment, get the part, install it yourself and then just get an alignment, if it’s cheaper that way. Just evaluate it, but know that so you can play the game if needed.

Good spot on the potential scratch - I checked it and it just wiped off, thankfully. It might be some sort of wax residue or something. Phew. That would have not helped my mood...

[rtaschengeld]

Originally Posted by RustD0ntSle3p

Thanks for posting this. Am considering a new G80 and had no idea this was a thing. Would have thought BMW would have considered ease of theft more in its design of this component.

Totally agree. It just shows that if something isn't nailed down, it immediately becomes a target for theft.

Incidentally I looked at getting an M340i and would have specced the Driving Assistant Plus on that too, so in all likelihood it would have happened to me anyway. Not that this helps, of course.

[Mike02z]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Same. I will never buy another automatic, non sports car without adaptive cruise. It’s just too useful for where I live. Sports cars I can deal without.

Same. I used to do multiple trips per year from SC to PA and having Driver Assist Pro was a godsend. Unfortunately I found the auto boring in every other way so I sold my M4C and went with a manual. I don’t have to drive back and forth anymore so not a big deal.

I think it’s sad that people suggest skipping an option for fear of it being stolen. I get why but if we follow that logic why not just buy a Prius and skip the 90k+ BMW?

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

I think it’s sad that people suggest skipping an option for fear of it being stolen. I get why but if we follow that logic why not just buy a Prius and skip the 90k+ BMW?

I actually skip on those driver aids because they’re useless to me and cause more interference with radar countermeasures than anything else. If I’m stuck in bumper to bumper, I continue to make my way through it, I’m not going to check out and scroll Instagram or whatnot. I get it that it can make people’s lives easier behind the wheel, but at the end of the day, you’re driving, so drive. That’s why I suggested that and the other visual meh aspect of having that head in the grill also messes up the look. Theft was at the bottom of that list and up until this thread, I hadn’t even considered that aspect.

[Mike02z]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

I actually skip on those driver aids because they’re useless to me and cause more interference with radar countermeasures than anything else. If I’m stuck in bumper to bumper, I continue to make my way through it, I’m not going to check out and scroll Instagram or whatnot. I get it that it can make people’s lives easier behind the wheel, but at the end of the day, you’re driving, so drive. That’s why I suggested that and the other visual meh aspect of having that head in the grill also messes up the look. Theft was at the bottom of that list and up until this thread, I hadn’t even considered that aspect.

Uh, I didn’t even notice your post so my comment was not directed to you on anyone else in this thread. I have heard people say “avoid the CF exterior package if you live in a bad area” as well as laser lights etc. all for fear of being stolen.

It’s sad that this is the world we live in. I live in a very good area but still paranoid about leaving my car out of the garage. Of course I have one of the best anti theft devices now. A MT6😂

[SwankPeRFection]

^^^^ It’s all good, no worries.

[RustD0ntSle3p]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

I actually skip on those driver aids because they’re useless to me and cause more interference with radar countermeasures than anything else. If I’m stuck in bumper to bumper, I continue to make my way through it, I’m not going to check out and scroll Instagram or whatnot. I get it that it can make people’s lives easier behind the wheel, but at the end of the day, you’re driving, so drive. That’s why I suggested that and the other visual meh aspect of having that head in the grill also messes up the look. Theft was at the bottom of that list and up until this thread, I hadn’t even considered that aspect.

Agreed. Useless to me too. I can see why people appreciate these kinds of things for saving effort or attention, but I see them as just another complexity to add/break/replace/get annoyed at, not to mention cause interference. Plus relying on all these driver aids would get me feeling too comfy and cause me to drop my guard. Which, as we all know, is when all the bad things start to happen...

I can imagine future versions of this and other hardware will be more seamlessly integrated into automakers' overall designs, but at least in this case, we're not there yet.

Hopefully BMW addresses this quickly.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by aktif8

Also, look at replacing any bolts that hold it in with torx security bolts - much higher likelihood that thieves won't have those bits.

Wouldn’t help. The only thing holding this on are extremely tight ball sockets as you can see in the photo. Someone must have seriously yanked it off to get it off. It doesn’t just pop off with a tiny tug.

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by RustD0ntSle3p

Agreed. Useless to me too. I can see why people appreciate these kinds of things for saving effort or attention, but I see them as just another complexity to add/break/replace/get annoyed at, not to mention cause interference. Plus relying on all these driver aids would get me feeling too comfy and cause me to drop my guard. Which, as we all know, is when all the bad things start to happen..

Oh and I forgot the additional cost associated with doing an alignment when you have any kind of radar based cruise control or any system like that. Alignments done cost almost twice as much because they say they also have to do the recalibration for that and that takes additional steps and time. 🙄

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by rtaschengeld

I have to admit, I hesitated quite a bit before pulling the trigger on the M3 because of concerns about parking it on the street. Then I thought, you only live once...

I'm trying not to worry about it, even if I inevitably do.

Oddly enough, the insurance on the M3 is considerably cheaper than my previous car (X5 m50d - so still desirable I think). Less than 40% in fact. I think SUVs are more often stolen.

I hear ya! And good for you, although M3s are relatively low-rent compared to some of the cars I see on the streets of Kensington, Knightsbridge and Belgravia!

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

Uh, I didn’t even notice your post so my comment was not directed to you on anyone else in this thread. I have heard people say “avoid the CF exterior package if you live in a bad area” as well as laser lights etc. all for fear of being stolen.

It’s sad that this is the world we live in. I live in a very good area but still paranoid about leaving my car out of the garage. Of course I have one of the best anti theft devices now. A MT6😂

Only the theft targets have changed. When I was a kid in days of Disco, my grandmother would stop before she got to our neighborhood and remove all her hub caps. It worked for a while but eventually her nice car (some Buick or something...) got broken into. They got the hub caps out of her trunk and stole her fancy AM/FM 8-track stereo.

[SwankPeRFection]

^^^^ I remember having a removable faceplate on the CD player I installed in my first car. I would pop it off and take it with me. Lol