POS took my steering wheel! How to prevent it?

darrko · 09-09-2020, 07:18 AM

Hi guys, just woke up to this terrible development. Was done early morning, hardly took 3 min for them to smash the window and make off with the steering. Car was parked right outside my house. The CCTV shows the car hazards blinking when they do it but I can't tell if there was an audible alarm, no one in the neighbouring houses heard anything.

The question is: was this preventable? Is there a louder alarm I can have installed? Steering lock, would that help? I'm gutted! Any idea what kind of expenses I'm looking at here? I'm in the UK.

Sweattdogg · 09-09-2020, 09:05 AM

Horrible. Sorry to see this

J11SEK · 09-09-2020, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrko

Hi guys, just woke up to this terrible development. Was done early morning, hardly took 3 min for them to smash the window and make off with the steering. Car was parked right outside my house. The CCTV shows the car hazards blinking when they do it but I can't tell if there was an audible alarm, no one in the neighbouring houses heard anything.

The question is: was this preventable? Is there a louder alarm I can have installed? Steering lock, would that help? I'm gutted! Any idea what kind of expenses I'm looking at here? I'm in the UK.

That's fecking disgusting!!

What is wrong with people these days...... So sorry this happened to you mate, and hope you get it rectified through insurance quickly

wallyman424 · 09-09-2020, 10:05 AM

Some of these options would definitely help.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news...vations/42044/

darrko · 09-09-2020, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J11SEK

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrko

Hi guys, just woke up to this terrible development. Was done early morning, hardly took 3 min for them to smash the window and make off with the steering. Car was parked right outside my house. The CCTV shows the car hazards blinking when they do it but I can't tell if there was an audible alarm, no one in the neighbouring houses heard anything.

The question is: was this preventable? Is there a louder alarm I can have installed? Steering lock, would that help? I'm gutted! Any idea what kind of expenses I'm looking at here? I'm in the UK.

That's fecking disgusting!!

What is wrong with people these days...... So sorry this happened to you mate, and hope you get it rectified through insurance quickly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweattdogg

Horrible. Sorry to see this

Quote:

Originally Posted by J11SEK

That's fecking disgusting!!

What is wrong with people these days...... So sorry this happened to you mate, and hope you get it rectified through insurance quickly

Cheers guys, spent the most of my morning cleaning up the glass as much as I could, there's loads down the window channel inside the door & under the seat that I can't reach.

BMW has quoted me around £2K for the damage, could be more once they take a look at it. Sucks so much!

A3ch · 09-09-2020, 03:32 PM

no insurance? Thats nuts. Sorry that happened

darrko · 09-09-2020, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A3ch

no insurance? Thats nuts. Sorry that happened

I do have insurance, you can't drive a car without one! I wanted to see what the cost would be for someone to attempt stealing the steering.

darrko · 09-09-2020, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallyman424

Some of these options would definitely help.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news...vations/42044/

I like the snake!

AlisterB · 09-09-2020, 08:29 PM

Very sorry to see that darrko. There's some sh!tty people out there.

Is your car parked out in the street at night?

Was it just the standard F10 M5 LCI steering wheel and airbag?

Aside from the missing components, is there much other damage to the car as a result of the broken glass (ie door, door trim, seat leather, centre console etc)?

Looks like they knew what they were after and how to get it. Not just a random smash and grab - definitely premeditated.

M5Rick · 09-10-2020, 03:26 AM

Only a steering lock that covers the wheel completely would prevent the crims from undoing the wheel. They probably removed it without opening door which may explain why the audible alarm didn't go off.Whereabouts in the Capital are you if you don't mind me asking.

M5Rick · 09-10-2020, 05:28 AM

>>Disclok seems to be the most armour plated one.

darrko · 09-10-2020, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlisterB

Very sorry to see that darrko. There's some sh!tty people out there.

Is your car parked out in the street at night?

Was it just the standard F10 M5 LCI steering wheel and airbag?

Aside from the missing components, is there much other damage to the car as a result of the broken glass (ie door, door trim, seat leather, centre console etc)?

Looks like they knew what they were after and how to get it. Not just a random smash and grab - definitely premeditated.

Yes on the street, but well lit area and surrounded by houses. Dead end street though. Standard M5 steering & bag. Not much visible damage apart from the obvious, will know more once BMW take a look. They were in and out in 3 min, def not their first job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Only a steering lock that covers the wheel completely would prevent the crims from undoing the wheel. They probably removed it without opening door which may explain why the audible alarm didn't go off.Whereabouts in the Capital are you if you don't mind me asking.

The alarm did go off, a neighbor told me but they managed to silence it within seconds. The blinkers can be seen going off in the CCTV footage. I think its the interior motion sensors that triggered it, or possibly the jerk from wrenching off the steering. I'm in Chiswick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

>>Disclok seems to be the most armour plated one.

I looked it up, definitely zero points for looks but perhaps thats the point? I'm definitely considering it after this.

M5Rick · 09-10-2020, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrko

Yes on the street, but well lit area and surrounded by houses. Dead end street though. Standard M5 steering & bag. Not much visible damage apart from the obvious, will know more once BMW take a look. They were in and out in 3 min, def not their first job.

The alarm did go off, a neighbor told me but they managed to silence it within seconds. The blinkers can be seen going off in the CCTV footage. I think its the interior motion sensors that triggered it, or possibly the jerk from wrenching off the steering. I'm in Chiswick.

I looked it up, definitely zero points for looks but perhaps thats the point? I'm definitely considering it after this.

You should do,it's the small 39cm size you want for the M size after measuring it,I have the lci one too. I'm ordering one myself as they pulled it off yours within minutes.

darrko · 09-10-2020, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrko

Yes on the street, but well lit area and surrounded by houses. Dead end street though. Standard M5 steering & bag. Not much visible damage apart from the obvious, will know more once BMW take a look. They were in and out in 3 min, def not their first job.

The alarm did go off, a neighbor told me but they managed to silence it within seconds. The blinkers can be seen going off in the CCTV footage. I think its the interior motion sensors that triggered it, or possibly the jerk from wrenching off the steering. I'm in Chiswick.

I looked it up, definitely zero points for looks but perhaps thats the point? I'm definitely considering it after this.

You should do,it's the small 39cm size you want for the M size after measuring it,I have the lci one too. I'm ordering one myself as they pulled it off yours within minutes.

Yeah you should, recovery truck driver told me he picked up 7 BMWs just last week from the Chiswick/Richmond area, all with smashed window and steering taken. Unbelievable! Whereabouts are you?

M5Rick · 09-10-2020, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrko

Yeah you should, recovery truck driver told me he picked up 7 BMWs just last week from the Chiswick/Richmond area, all with smashed window and steering taken. Unbelievable! Whereabouts are you?

I'm in Surrey unfortunately still in the Croydon catchment area but want to sell soon as the place is racked with 'property developers' (POS)

Sounds like there's an active smash and grab gang over there...maybe ought to check out the ads for a sudden influx of M steering wheels for sale!

darrko · 09-10-2020, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

I'm in Surrey unfortunately still in the Croydon catchment area but want to sell soon as the place is racked with 'property developers' (POS)

Sounds like there's an active smash and grab gang over there...maybe ought to check out the ads for a sudden influx of M steering wheels for sale!

Sounds like something the Met ought to be doing! I am just going to sit in the shadows close by with a baseball bat in my hands......and wait for them to try it again

Noggie · 09-10-2020, 03:29 PM

They were after the airbag.
Huge market for used airbags, specially in eastern parts of Europe.

Few years ago organized groups were operating in Scandinavia, targeting BMW's stealing Airbags, iDrive's and Navigation systems, in some cases headlamps and other modules/controllers too.
Some vans where stopped on the Norwegian and Swedish borders, loaded to the ceiling with BMW parts.

darrko · 09-10-2020, 03:38 PM

So pretty much nothing we can do, huh? What about louder/tamper proof alarm systems? Do those exist? At least make lots of noise, wake up the entire neighborhood!

M5Rick · 09-10-2020, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrko

So pretty much nothing we can do, huh? What about louder/tamper proof alarm systems? Do those exist? At least make lots of noise, wake up the entire neighborhood!

Not a lot neighbours could do even with louder alarm if it only takes the gang 3 minutes to do the business and I can't see anyone in a nightgown challenging them.

TLK · 09-10-2020, 05:07 PM

OK, so it's the airbag they want. I was reading this trying to figure why anyone would want to steal a steering wheel. Sorry to hear about this crime. Hope you get it fixed up soon.

AlisterB · 09-10-2020, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noggie

They were after the airbag.
Huge market for used airbags, specially in eastern parts of Europe.

They were after the airbag AND steering wheel. If they just wanted the airbag that's all they would have taken.

There is considerable value in a F10 LCI steering wheel, even more so when combined with the appropriate airbag.

A3ch · 09-11-2020, 10:51 AM

thank god i park in a garage. I only asked if you had insurance because you asked about cost...plus with being in the UK wasnt sure if the rules were different. Here in America you can drive without insurance and risk a ticket and liability (A lot of people do this especially in cities where insurance is ridiculous). For us it would only be paying the deductible and thats it.

Anyway that sucks either way....thieves deserve death. I can't imagine how angry you are. Such a violation.

09-09-2020, 07:18 AM	#1
darrko Lieutenant 63 Rep 575 Posts Drives: 2016 M5 Comp. Ed. Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: London iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 BMW M5 [0.00]	POS took my steering wheel! How to prevent it? Hi guys, just woke up to this terrible development. Was done early morning, hardly took 3 min for them to smash the window and make off with the steering. Car was parked right outside my house. The CCTV shows the car hazards blinking when they do it but I can't tell if there was an audible alarm, no one in the neighbouring houses heard anything. The question is: was this preventable? Is there a louder alarm I can have installed? Steering lock, would that help? I'm gutted! Any idea what kind of expenses I'm looking at here? I'm in the UK. Attached Images __________________ Current: 2012 520d 2016 M5 Comp. Ed. 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S (retired) 2023 X5 xDrive45e
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09-09-2020, 09:05 AM	#2
Sweattdogg Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 269 Posts Drives: 08 e90 M3/09 e90 335d/13 f10M5 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (2)	Horrible. Sorry to see this
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09-09-2020, 10:05 AM	#4
wallyman424 Private 40 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 2014 CP M5 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Some of these options would definitely help. https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news...vations/42044/
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09-09-2020, 03:32 PM	#6
A3ch Private First Class 69 Rep 189 Posts Drives: 16 X5 M, 14 BMW M5 Join Date: May 2020 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	no insurance? Thats nuts. Sorry that happened
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09-09-2020, 08:29 PM	#9
AlisterB First Lieutenant 171 Rep 349 Posts Drives: F10 M5 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Very sorry to see that darrko. There's some sh!tty people out there. Is your car parked out in the street at night? Was it just the standard F10 M5 LCI steering wheel and airbag? Aside from the missing components, is there much other damage to the car as a result of the broken glass (ie door, door trim, seat leather, centre console etc)? Looks like they knew what they were after and how to get it. Not just a random smash and grab - definitely premeditated.
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09-10-2020, 03:26 AM	#10
M5Rick General 60018 Rep 19,527 Posts Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Southern England iTrader: (0)	Only a steering lock that covers the wheel completely would prevent the crims from undoing the wheel. They probably removed it without opening door which may explain why the audible alarm didn't go off.Whereabouts in the Capital are you if you don't mind me asking.
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09-10-2020, 05:28 AM	#11
M5Rick General 60018 Rep 19,527 Posts Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Southern England iTrader: (0)	>>Disclok seems to be the most armour plated one.
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09-10-2020, 03:29 PM	#17
Noggie Captain 285 Rep 634 Posts Drives: E31 850i,i3s Join Date: May 2014 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	They were after the airbag. Huge market for used airbags, specially in eastern parts of Europe. Few years ago organized groups were operating in Scandinavia, targeting BMW's stealing Airbags, iDrive's and Navigation systems, in some cases headlamps and other modules/controllers too. Some vans where stopped on the Norwegian and Swedish borders, loaded to the ceiling with BMW parts. __________________ _____________________________ -14 Imola Red M5 Competition Pack (sold) -90 BMW 850i Supercharged -20 i3s -20 Ducati Diavel 1260s
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09-10-2020, 03:38 PM	#18
darrko Lieutenant 63 Rep 575 Posts Drives: 2016 M5 Comp. Ed. Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: London iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 BMW M5 [0.00]	So pretty much nothing we can do, huh? What about louder/tamper proof alarm systems? Do those exist? At least make lots of noise, wake up the entire neighborhood! __________________ Current: 2012 520d 2016 M5 Comp. Ed. 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S (retired) 2023 X5 xDrive45e
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09-10-2020, 05:07 PM	#20
TLK First Lieutenant 112 Rep 385 Posts Drives: '14 M5 CP, '12 550i, '04 545i Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: SF Bay, CA iTrader: (0)	OK, so it's the airbag they want. I was reading this trying to figure why anyone would want to steal a steering wheel. Sorry to hear about this crime. Hope you get it fixed up soon.
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09-11-2020, 10:51 AM	#22
A3ch Private First Class 69 Rep 189 Posts Drives: 16 X5 M, 14 BMW M5 Join Date: May 2020 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	thank god i park in a garage. I only asked if you had insurance because you asked about cost...plus with being in the UK wasnt sure if the rules were different. Here in America you can drive without insurance and risk a ticket and liability (A lot of people do this especially in cities where insurance is ridiculous). For us it would only be paying the deductible and thats it. Anyway that sucks either way....thieves deserve death. I can't imagine how angry you are. Such a violation.
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