Failed burglary

[singularity]

Frustrated, but darkest tinted LLUMAR certainly did its job well.

I don't usually park in the neighborhood, but last night at around 00:30 I parked and went home to eat for an hour. Wife was sleep, I heard a car alarm but assumed it's someone's car alarm going on in the neighborhood. After half an hour I went downstairs, opened the car, closed the doors and felt something was wrong. Interior acoustic was unusual. It was very dark, I pushed rear-right window up in case I had left it open but it was closed anyway. I noticed dots on the right window, thought it rained and looked at other windows and noticed they were fine. I switched the car on, and as soon as I heard the exhaust note I knew there was a hole in the window. Looked to the rear-right and saw pieces of glass on the rear seat. First thing I did was I checked the documents, all were in place. Checked the iPad and it was still on the rear seat, too far from the window for burglars to reach.

They used a technique by pressing some heavy metal instrument on the frame to squeeze the glass and probably kept hitting it until it broke. I have to admit that protective film in the glass and LLUMAR tint prevented cretins from achieving their goal.

I've ordered a rear-right window glass from a regular 5 series F10 and waiting for its delivery. I'm pretty sure it's the same glass on regular 5 series and M5. Here are some photos. Very frustrated.

[E90Fleet]

It that just regular LLumar tint or their thicker safety tint ?

Here we get the thicker safety tint because of the number of "smash and grab" incidents at our traffic lights.
It takes many hits to break the glass with that on
Regular tint or without tint breaks with one hit with a spark plug

[singularity]

Just the regular ting, but even that one I think has protective qualities. Plus I think BMW window has some kind of protective lens inside. Maybe something which makes the window not brake from hits from outside (against burglary), but smashes when there's a hit from inside (passenger safety)?

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by singularity

Just the regular ting, but even that one I think has protective qualities. Plus I think BMW window has some kind of protective lens inside. Maybe something which makes the window not brake from hits from outside (against burglary), but smashes when there's a hit from inside (passenger safety)?

No, the BMW windows break just as easily from the outside as any other makes.

The BMW OEM suppliers for windows supply to many car makes.

[singularity]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

No, the BMW windows break just as easily from the outside as any other makes.

The BMW OEM suppliers for windows supply to many car makes.

Then only LLUMAR dark tint was the only thing that made these burglars fail, quite impressive.

[chudak18]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

It that just regular LLumar tint or their thicker safety tint ?

Here we get the thicker safety tint because of the number of "smash and grab" incidents at our traffic lights.
It takes many hits to break the glass with that on
Regular tint or without tint breaks with one hit with a spark plug

Never had a break in but I'm definitely getting this stuff!

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by chudak18

Never had a break in but I'm definitely getting this stuff!

Its pretty good.
Costs around the equivalent of US$310 to fit to a 5 Series here


They have a even stronger one for building glass ( too thick for Automotive use)

[PatrickC23]

I feel for you - few months back someone tried to steal my wheels at the mall and I didnt realize til I got home and noticed two bolts were missing. An additional two bolts snapped off wen i tried removing them also, so probably not the safest way to be driving. The world is full of idiots, but Im glad in our case they didnt get away with anything.

Im happy to see it was just glass and not any other part of the car. I will surely be getting Llumar safety for my car when I get it. Does it come in different shades just like any tint?

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Patsc23

I will surely be getting Llumar safety for my car when I get it. Does it come in different shades just like any tint?

Yes, available here in all the standard tints, including clear.

[cidair]

Oh man, this is terrible. I really feel sad for You.
Hope You get everything back in shape.

[audiobahn]

Wow singularity.
I am glad they didnt get to take anything.

You have the worst of luck, everything happens to you
lets hope this brings an end to your streak of bad luck

[datbimmerdoe]

damn, sorry this happened, could've been worse...

[wmontalt]

Will this stuff provide a sound insulating benefit as well? Also is anyone worried that if you were trapped inside the car you couldn't kick out the glass?

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by wmontalt

Will this stuff provide a sound insulating benefit as well? Also is anyone worried that if you were trapped inside the car you couldn't kick out the glass?

No sound insulation benefit.


As you see on the automotive video, the glass does still break, just takes longer, deterring criminals that want a quick easy break, but allowing escape if required.
I carry a small emergency glass breaker and seatbelt cutter (available from places like Amazon.com) which will aid in the event you need to break the glass.

The anti-Smash and Grab tint is the standard tint used here for many years and there have never been problems

[singularity]

Thanks for the concern guys. I managed to find a replacement glass from a regular 5 series and they're installing it at BMW service right now. I'm glad that I left the car at service since yesterday because I woke up early today and was drinking water near the refrigerator.

Heard a glass breaking sound and car alarm go off, I knew that someone had broken into a neighbor's car. It took me less than 5 seconds to run to the window but the thief had already broken the glass and ran away with whatever he grabbed, can't believe how fast they are. Later on I learned that 4 cars were broken into today in my neighborhood. Whatever comes, I know that I'll never leave the car in the neighborhood again.

Don't know about passenger safety in case of accident, but I sure hope it helps you guys with a shared bad experience that these Llumar tint tapes actually delay a window brake in and make it much more difficult.

[zltm089]

sorry to see this...hope the basterds die of aids soon.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by singularity

Later on I learned that 4 cars were broken into today in my neighborhood. Whatever comes, I know that I'll never leave the car in the neighborhood again.

.

Best thing is to never leave anything in the car they would want to steal.

[kv12]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Best thing is to never leave anything in the car they would want to steal.

+1

Sorry to hear that, certainly a shocking moment to see your car getting broken into.

Luckily the perp didn't scratch the door handles.

[GASauls]

Sorry to read about this. Hope everything is repaired quickly.

I would hate to have someone do that to my new M5... But the tint does work well.

Cheers

Gasauls

[singularity]

Got my new window and had it installed at BMW service. Going for a tint installation tomorrow. There is not a single scratch anywhere else.

Sometime in future I'll order gloss door frame panel and the rubber that holds the window because the burglar breaking the window open by nailing some metal in the frame and pulling it, M5 didn't budge but the gloss panel and rubber frame will have to be replaced

[GASauls]

That's good to hear, scratches would just be a heart breaker for a new car.

[mr_yogi]

Originally Posted by singularity

Thanks for the concern guys. I managed to find a replacement glass from a regular 5 series and they're installing it at BMW service right now. I'm glad that I left the car at service since yesterday because I woke up early today and was drinking water near the refrigerator.

Heard a glass breaking sound and car alarm go off, I knew that someone had broken into a neighbor's car. It took me less than 5 seconds to run to the window but the thief had already broken the glass and ran away with whatever he grabbed, can't believe how fast they are. Later on I learned that 4 cars were broken into today in my neighborhood. Whatever comes, I know that I'll never leave the car in the neighborhood again.

Don't know about passenger safety in case of accident, but I sure hope it helps you guys with a shared bad experience that these Llumar tint tapes actually delay a window brake in and make it much more difficult.

I was listening to a radio talk show (about consumer financial advice) and a caller was asking about car rental advice travelling to Slovakia. The talk show host mentioned how Slovakia (along with Croatia) is very prone to car thefts.

Glad you are safe and they didn't get away with anything.