List of the most STOLEN Luxury Cars in US
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List of the most STOLEN Luxury Cars in US
I red in a website (http://www.forbes.com/2007/04/18/car...ml?partner=rss) that one of the most stolen Luxury Cars is the S-Class. Sure, definitely its nice its a statement and all that. That doesn't bother me, what bothers me is that, the S-Class (BMW 7) or just say most (probably all) MB and BMW have LASER CUT Transponder key. I mean how do you steal a car which uses this kind of key? I just don't understand. Maybe most of us here watched Gone in 60 Seconds. The only way they stole the MB's was to get the key and as far as I can recall, they stole Ferrari's, Porsche and all that but no BMW as well. Can't really understand how unless you point a gun towards the person driving an MB and BMW, stealing the keys but per say, no key no nothing, how could a thief possibly steal those cars?
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223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
I did not find the story telling what happens to those MBs, unless they were stolen with the key. Should be quite useless except for parts, but who would buy W221 parts from some suspicious source?
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The people that steal cars for a living can get around ANYTHING...they had a special years backs on 20/20 or something where they interviewd and eventually asked a young african kid in NYC to get a certain mercedes car with a certain color combo etc...and within the hour the kid had boosted the car and brought it to them
Laser cut keys = don't do sh*t to stop the pros from taking your car if thats their objective
Laser cut keys = don't do sh*t to stop the pros from taking your car if thats their objective
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well im not so sure that mercs are one of the easiest,but on "bimmerforums.com" this guy shut his keyfob in the right place of the trunk not to damage but hold the lock button down,phone is practically dead,wife is about to give a presentation to B.O.D.,spare key at home,his locksmith found him and and said he had a "previous career", so theres this device that looks like a palm with a key,and he opened the M5,so that probably why
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well im not so sure that mercs are one of the easiest,but on "bimmerforums.com" this guy shut his keyfob in the right place of the trunk not to damage but hold the lock button down,phone is practically dead,wife is about to give a presentation to B.O.D.,spare key at home,his locksmith found him and and said he had a "previous career", so theres this device that looks like a palm with a key,and he opened the M5,so that probably why
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I red in a website (http://www.forbes.com/2007/04/18/car...ml?partner=rss) that one of the most stolen Luxury Cars is the S-Class. Sure, definitely its nice its a statement and all that. That doesn't bother me, what bothers me is that, the S-Class (BMW 7) or just say most (probably all) MB and BMW have LASER CUT Transponder key. I mean how do you steal a car which uses this kind of key? I just don't understand. Maybe most of us here watched Gone in 60 Seconds. The only way they stole the MB's was to get the key and as far as I can recall, they stole Ferrari's, Porsche and all that but no BMW as well. Can't really understand how unless you point a gun towards the person driving an MB and BMW, stealing the keys but per say, no key no nothing, how could a thief possibly steal those cars?
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223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
I guess it is a bit useless to discuss (argue) here because nobody can clearly demonstrate that it is impossible to break the MB security, neither how it could be done.
Anyway, the metal key is only a key to enter into the car, it does not help at all starting the car and using it. One can anyway break the glasses (unless it is a guard model), so better just not to leave valuable stuff to the car.
If one was able to produce a valid key from VIN, it would still not work on a W221 before star diag programming. Of course thieves may have SDS if they are professional but I doubt someone would be able to deliver a working key and not just anybody can order and get a key from MB parts department.
The electronic key security most certainly can be broken like any US bank security system. The point in these systems is that it should take more effort (money) to break the security than one would get stuff worth if successful. Security holes are another issue, I cannot prove there is none, if somebody knew there was one, he/she would not be able to prove it here.
Flat-bedding a car is relatively equally simple independent of the car make and model. The question should be about the possibility to make the car run (assuming no original key etc.).
Anyway, the metal key is only a key to enter into the car, it does not help at all starting the car and using it. One can anyway break the glasses (unless it is a guard model), so better just not to leave valuable stuff to the car.
If one was able to produce a valid key from VIN, it would still not work on a W221 before star diag programming. Of course thieves may have SDS if they are professional but I doubt someone would be able to deliver a working key and not just anybody can order and get a key from MB parts department.
The electronic key security most certainly can be broken like any US bank security system. The point in these systems is that it should take more effort (money) to break the security than one would get stuff worth if successful. Security holes are another issue, I cannot prove there is none, if somebody knew there was one, he/she would not be able to prove it here.
Flat-bedding a car is relatively equally simple independent of the car make and model. The question should be about the possibility to make the car run (assuming no original key etc.).
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From: New Jersey
E550 4MATIC
If one was able to produce a valid key from VIN, it would still not work on a W221 before star diag programming. Of course thieves may have SDS if they are professional but I doubt someone would be able to deliver a working key and not just anybody can order and get a key from MB parts department.
Flat-bedding a car is relatively equally simple independent of the car make and model. The question should be about the possibility to make the car run (assuming no original key etc.).
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From: Florida, USA
2017 Rolls Royce Wraith, 1999 CLK Cabriolet, 2023 Genesis G90
Thankfully, I have never had a vehicle stolen, but I do remember getting the occasional call from MB Tele-Aid telling me that my 03 S430's silent alarm had gone off and did I know where the car was. Even though it was clearly a malfunction, I appreciated that MB called me to verify. I wonder if such a system is active in the present models. On that model, I also had to replace one of the Keyless-go cards, and it had to be programmed once it arrived. Keyless go now should be the same.
On a different note, I recently had the misfortune of having someone rear-end my GL and when the towing service came to get it, I offered to disable the tow-away feature. The tow truck driver said he did this all the time and not to bother. I expected to hear the alarm go off as the flat bed went down the street, but no a sound was heard. I wonder if he actually diabled it or it just didn't go off. No call from MB Tele-Aid with that one, either. Hmm...
On a different note, I recently had the misfortune of having someone rear-end my GL and when the towing service came to get it, I offered to disable the tow-away feature. The tow truck driver said he did this all the time and not to bother. I expected to hear the alarm go off as the flat bed went down the street, but no a sound was heard. I wonder if he actually diabled it or it just didn't go off. No call from MB Tele-Aid with that one, either. Hmm...
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From: West Michigan
2007 E63
Thankfully, I have never had a vehicle stolen, but I do remember getting the occasional call from MB Tele-Aid telling me that my 03 S430's silent alarm had gone off and did I know where the car was. Even though it was clearly a malfunction, I appreciated that MB called me to verify. I wonder if such a system is active in the present models. On that model, I also had to replace one of the Keyless-go cards, and it had to be programmed once it arrived. Keyless go now should be the same.
On a different note, I recently had the misfortune of having someone rear-end my GL and when the towing service came to get it, I offered to disable the tow-away feature. The tow truck driver said he did this all the time and not to bother. I expected to hear the alarm go off as the flat bed went down the street, but no a sound was heard. I wonder if he actually diabled it or it just didn't go off. No call from MB Tele-Aid with that one, either. Hmm...
On a different note, I recently had the misfortune of having someone rear-end my GL and when the towing service came to get it, I offered to disable the tow-away feature. The tow truck driver said he did this all the time and not to bother. I expected to hear the alarm go off as the flat bed went down the street, but no a sound was heard. I wonder if he actually diabled it or it just didn't go off. No call from MB Tele-Aid with that one, either. Hmm...
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2007 S600
The modern day answer to the original posters question about "how does someone steal these cars these days" is simple. A laptop computer. Laptops with wireless capability , which pretty much includes all of them now, are now capable of logging on to many of todays keyless entry modules via RF signals and voila! You can open the car and start the engine (if keyless start is onboard). Lexus LS was one of the first cars stolen using Wi-Fi technology.
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W211 & Q7
jbondox is right. they wants your parts not cars, the only time they want your car because they legally purchase a same model totaled/salvage car. (flat-bed your car, replace security/key/VIN from the savage car then sell it overseas.)
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1. Opening the doors is never the problem, you can use special tools to get to the inner door opener (how do you call it?) or they simply break the glasses.
2. Starting the car is the real problem!
Since 1997 (they started with the W208) they use FahrBerechtigungsSystem3 (FBS3 - since the key has a front made out of plastic). It's a far more complicated system than most others, every code is only used once, you cannot program any key or control-unit connected with FBS3 a second-time! In fact, even MB cannot start your car - even with their tools! They have to exchange the whole system and program ("verheiraten" - "marry" to your car) the new, blank units. They program it with a special device, but even if robbers would get such a device, it doesn't work without direct connection to Stuttgart!
MB can give you a new key that is already programmed to fit YOUR car (the blank key is worthless).
I've noticed that many systems aren't as advanced as FBS3, I think the newest generation of german cars (older ones like the old BMW X5 did not) has reached a similar technological standard - I don't know if Lexus uses such a primitive system that it could be hacked with a laptop...
This system exists since 10 years and since then, they don't steal the cars the usual way anymore - the take your keys, the steal only components (not the components connected with FBS3 - they're already connected/verheiratet with your car and worthless) - but they don't crack this system!
I don't know if it makes you feel better that they only transport your car on a truck and sell components on ebay ;-) But they cannot start your car!
2. Starting the car is the real problem!
Since 1997 (they started with the W208) they use FahrBerechtigungsSystem3 (FBS3 - since the key has a front made out of plastic). It's a far more complicated system than most others, every code is only used once, you cannot program any key or control-unit connected with FBS3 a second-time! In fact, even MB cannot start your car - even with their tools! They have to exchange the whole system and program ("verheiraten" - "marry" to your car) the new, blank units. They program it with a special device, but even if robbers would get such a device, it doesn't work without direct connection to Stuttgart!
MB can give you a new key that is already programmed to fit YOUR car (the blank key is worthless).
I've noticed that many systems aren't as advanced as FBS3, I think the newest generation of german cars (older ones like the old BMW X5 did not) has reached a similar technological standard - I don't know if Lexus uses such a primitive system that it could be hacked with a laptop...
This system exists since 10 years and since then, they don't steal the cars the usual way anymore - the take your keys, the steal only components (not the components connected with FBS3 - they're already connected/verheiratet with your car and worthless) - but they don't crack this system!
I don't know if it makes you feel better that they only transport your car on a truck and sell components on ebay ;-) But they cannot start your car!
Last edited by georgl; May 21, 2007 at 04:39 AM.
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From: Folsom, California, USA
Mercedes E350, E550s on it's way!
A previous poster is correct, the only thing needed truelly to steal any high-end luxury vehicle is a lap top and a mercedes benz key that goes to your vehicle. There are new programs out there that when used in conjunction, have the ability to log and hijack your vehicle's signal, and mimic your key. I've seen this technology used personally, and it's definately a problem. The more and more our vehicles become advanced, the more the thieves obtaining them are becoming as well.
Any lap top users at your local coffee shop for instance with the proper program and equipment is a potential hijacker.
This program was used by the RPD as a vehicle hijacking class. As for information on the software used, I cannot mention, but may possibly be able to show you "like programs," found on the web from various sites.
Any lap top users at your local coffee shop for instance with the proper program and equipment is a potential hijacker.
This program was used by the RPD as a vehicle hijacking class. As for information on the software used, I cannot mention, but may possibly be able to show you "like programs," found on the web from various sites.
Last edited by AkMadness; May 21, 2007 at 06:03 AM.
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1993 300SEL/S320
I red in a website (http://www.forbes.com/2007/04/18/car...ml?partner=rss) that one of the most stolen Luxury Cars is the S-Class. Sure, definitely its nice its a statement and all that. That doesn't bother me, what bothers me is that, the S-Class (BMW 7) or just say most (probably all) MB and BMW have LASER CUT Transponder key. I mean how do you steal a car which uses this kind of key? I just don't understand. Maybe most of us here watched Gone in 60 Seconds. The only way they stole the MB's was to get the key and as far as I can recall, they stole Ferrari's, Porsche and all that but no BMW as well. Can't really understand how unless you point a gun towards the person driving an MB and BMW, stealing the keys but per say, no key no nothing, how could a thief possibly steal those cars?
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W203 slightly modified
I red in a website (http://www.forbes.com/2007/04/18/car...ml?partner=rss) that one of the most stolen Luxury Cars is the S-Class. Sure, definitely its nice its a statement and all that. That doesn't bother me, what bothers me is that, the S-Class (BMW 7) or just say most (probably all) MB and BMW have LASER CUT Transponder key. I mean how do you steal a car which uses this kind of key? I just don't understand. Maybe most of us here watched Gone in 60 Seconds. The only way they stole the MB's was to get the key and as far as I can recall, they stole Ferrari's, Porsche and all that but no BMW as well. Can't really understand how unless you point a gun towards the person driving an MB and BMW, stealing the keys but per say, no key no nothing, how could a thief possibly steal those cars?
You get into the car without breaking glass - takes my mechanic about 15 seconds to get into the W203 sedan. Flip up the shifter wood and release the parking gear. Then release the parking brake.
Now the car is rolling but no steering. If you have a replacement key then you will need about 20 min to make it fire up the car. If someone knows how to override the steering column lock then its too easy.
The element is time .... crooks dont have this much time to mess around.
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W203 slightly modified
