Martin
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Stolen!!The other distribution senior manager got a 520d M Sport on the Monday after mine was delivered, it's silver grey and standard spec so nowhere near as mine.....but that's not the point of the story!
He called me yesterday morning first thing (6:30) and asked me whether I'd spoken to anyone from work since I'd got back. He then said that he's got a problem with his new car and my first question was whether he's smashed it up.....
It turns out that 8 days after he'd got it, with just over 1,000 miles on the clock, it was stolen from his drive! The thieves hooked the keys off a table that was just inside the front door...... Numpty!
The following evening it went through a speed camera and was spotted by a patrol car who keyed its registration in and found out it was stolen. They took chase and it ended with the BMW being driven over a couple of conrete posts which brought it to a half. Unfortunately they didn't catch the couple of young men that were in it, but they are hopeful of identifying one from the blood that was on the windscreen!
Apparently the airbags didn't go off and it's been looked over by a BMW dealer who says it only needs a new front bumper and some bits of trim. He will get it back next week.
I don't know how I would feel about getting it back, but he's just pleased that he doesn't have to wait for another one. He's got a brand new Avensis diesel and hates it with a passion. He always says that he doesn't care about cars, either how they drive or what they look like (which is why he got the M Sport rather then an SE of course!), but he's really missing his 520d.
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Gooner
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That sucks but he was a bit daft leaving the keys on the side by the door. I thought most people knew not to do this these days. I leave them on show in the living room so thieves can easily find them but that's as much help as I'll give them. Bad luck though.
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SpecB
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Twats. At least it will end well and no major damage done to the car.
I always put the keys in a safe place and when I go away set the car alarm and immobiliser to ignore the keyfob.
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Gooner
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| SpecB wrote: | Twats. At least it will end well and no major damage done to the car.
I always put the keys in a safe place and when I go away set the car alarm and immobiliser to ignore the keyfob. |
That's a very useful feature, I've never heard of a car being able to do that before. I presume that you then open it with the key instead?
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SpecB
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| Gooner wrote: | | SpecB wrote: | Twats. At least it will end well and no major damage done to the car.
I always put the keys in a safe place and when I go away set the car alarm and immobiliser to ignore the keyfob. |
That's a very useful feature, I've never heard of a car being able to do that before. I presume that you then open it with the key instead? |
That's right (which sets the alarm off), then you need the PIN number for the hidden control panel for the alarm system in order to reset the system. Once the PIN is entered the alarm switches off and reverts to normal settings.
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Martin
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I told him he was lucky that they could get them and they didn't break in!
He was very lucky actually, as his wife usually leaves her keys on the same table and on her key ring was a house key and keys for his 520d, his C200 CDI (he opted out in his last job) and her company 320d (E90). They would have been on the phone to their mates and got off with all three!!
Lesson learned I think and the piss taking has been more severe than the loss itself
I have just been sympathetic, because the thought of it makes me feel sick!
I'm not sure whether the Subaru system is clever or too complicated!!
It's reminded me of my Peugeot 407, which needed a pin number entered into a keypad to start the car. Every time....
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SpecB
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I remember those Peugeot systems.
The Subaru system is dead easy. Press the button on the key and a single number on the pad to enable "Super Guard". Use the key to unlock the car and enter PIN.
Everything back to normal.
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Gooner
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Didn't Peugeot first introduce the PIN function on the mid 90's 306. I didn't think they still used such a primitive system.
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Matt
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They removed it from the 306 with the '97 facelift, although some still got through the net with the dreaded system. Fortunately mine didn't.
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Martin
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Mine was a very early 407 Estate
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Boxer6
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| SpecB wrote: | I remember those Peugeot systems.
The Subaru system is dead easy. Press the button on the key and a single number on the pad to enable "Super Guard". Use the key to unlock the car and enter PIN.
Everything back to normal. |
I'm not sure if mine has that - is it standard?
(Note to self - read the bloody handbook!!)
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SpecB
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| Boxer6 wrote: | | SpecB wrote: | I remember those Peugeot systems.
The Subaru system is dead easy. Press the button on the key and a single number on the pad to enable "Super Guard". Use the key to unlock the car and enter PIN.
Everything back to normal. |
I'm not sure if mine has that - is it standard?
(Note to self - read the bloody handbook!!) |
When you got the car you should have been given a PIN number for the keypad (in the fusebox). To set super guard all you do is turn the ignition on, press 9 on the keypad and then lock the car using the fob as normal but you will get eight flashes instead of the usual four.
You can change the PIN but you need to know the old one. The original was given to me on a really small piece of silver paper with the alarm docs. It is useful if the battery on the fob goes flat or you get wireless interference as you can always use the number to switch off the immobiliser.
Someone put a proper manual on the Legacy forum which I can email you if you wish.
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Frank Bullitt
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| Martin wrote: | | Mine was a very early 407 Estate |
One...day...he'll...realise...that...he...didn't...have...a...407... 
It's the old 'let them see the keys and nick it so my family are safe' or 'keep the keys safe so the fuckers don't even bother'.
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Turbonutter
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| Matt wrote: | | They removed it from the 306 with the '97 facelift, although some still got through the net with the dreaded system. Fortunately mine didn't. |
Citroen had it for a bit on the Saxo as well didn't they?
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Big TC
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Re: Stolen!!Interesting story, and the guy was indeed lucky that nothing further was taken. Oh how glad am I to be living in an area of really low car crime.
The following paragraph I find to be interesting, though:
| Martin wrote: | | I don't know how I would feel about getting it back, but he's just pleased that he doesn't have to wait for another one. He's got a brand new Avensis diesel and hates it with a passion. He always says that he doesn't care about cars, either how they drive or what they look like (which is why he got the M Sport rather then an SE of course!), but he's really missing his 520d. |
As Martin has alluded to, if the guy doesn't care about cars why go for the sporty option? I would further ask why did he choose a BMW at all? For the same wedge, surely he could have got something with a much higher 'toy' content? Now, I know Martin is a motoring enthusiast and he made his choice based on a number of factors about the car itself - which is as it should be.
This guy? Seems to have chosen a BMW because its a BMW? Another example of BMW's slick marketing machine doing its job, I suppose.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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It shows the dangers of debadging - I wonder if the thieves were pissed off when they realised it wasn't a 530i ...
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Martin
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His wasn't de-badged!! You can go on the run for a lot longer in a 520d for a start.....
The badge definately was the main reason for getting the 520d, as his strategy was to go in to the BMW garage with the car list and ask them to show him what he could have..... Toys don't seem to matter as he could have had an SE business edition (so Sat Nav, leather, bluetooth etc) and after nearly 10 years of driving an Auto, he could have had an SE Auto so his choice baffles me.
However, as someone who has bought a BMW for the badge, at least he now appreciates how good it is to drive!
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Martin
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| Frank Bullitt wrote: | | Martin wrote: | | Mine was a very early 407 Estate |
One...day...he'll...realise...that...he...didn't...have...a...407...
It's the old 'let them see the keys and nick it so my family are safe' or 'keep the keys safe so the fuckers don't even bother'. |
I don't think I've confused my 406 for a 407 before...... One was a great car in its day, the other is a 407 
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"him"
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| Turbonutter wrote: | | Matt wrote: | | They removed it from the 306 with the '97 facelift, although some still got through the net with the dreaded system. Fortunately mine didn't. |
Citroen had it for a bit on the Saxo as well didn't they? |
Mine has it...
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gonnabuildabuggy
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| Martin wrote: | | Frank Bullitt wrote: | | Martin wrote: | | Mine was a very early 407 Estate |
One...day...he'll...realise...that...he...didn't...have...a...407...
It's the old 'let them see the keys and nick it so my family are safe' or 'keep the keys safe so the fuckers don't even bother'. |
I don't think I've confused my 406 for a 407 before...... One was a great car in its day, the other is a 407 |
So it was a 406?
Not a dark blue metallic LX estate I was thinking as I had one when I joined Argos (great car, not what I would choose but as a non choice car for 6 months actually not bad) but then I guess yours would have been whilst you were with homebase?
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Boxer6
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| SpecB wrote: | | Boxer6 wrote: | | SpecB wrote: | I remember those Peugeot systems.
The Subaru system is dead easy. Press the button on the key and a single number on the pad to enable "Super Guard". Use the key to unlock the car and enter PIN.
Everything back to normal. |
I'm not sure if mine has that - is it standard?
(Note to self - read the bloody handbook!!) |
When you got the car you should have been given a PIN number for the keypad (in the fusebox). To set super guard all you do is turn the ignition on, press 9 on the keypad and then lock the car using the fob as normal but you will get eight flashes instead of the usual four.
You can change the PIN but you need to know the old one. The original was given to me on a really small piece of silver paper with the alarm docs. It is useful if the battery on the fob goes flat or you get wireless interference as you can always use the number to switch off the immobiliser.
Someone put a proper manual on the Legacy forum which I can email you if you wish. |
Had a look about - found the keypad where you said (no surprise there!) and also, after much cursing, the PIN and the relevant section in the handbook. So, sorted.
Martin - every time I see this thread in the list, the thought flashes through my head that it was indeed your car that was nicked! Git!!
After all the agonies you inflicted on s about spec, colour etc..... I don't think I could bear it!
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Martin
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| Boxer6 wrote: | Martin - every time I see this thread in the list, the thought flashes through my head that it was indeed your car that was nicked! Git!!
After all the agonies you inflicted on s about spec, colour etc..... I don't think I could bear it! |
You couldn't bear it! The very thought makes me feel sick, especially as it has now passed the magic 1200 mile mark
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