SL/R230: Keyless & theft
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Keyless & theft
I just saw a program which pointed out how easy it is to steal a keyless entry/start car with a range extender. Plus, just as worrying, that a transponder (‘key’) can be made in say 20 seconds, through tapping info from your OBD port.
Mostly affected by theft over here are apparently BMW and Mercedes. I am in The Netherlands. How (not) worried are you guys about this?
A remedy, at least at night, at home, would be keeping your transponder sealed, like in a tin. Not much fun, is it.
Merc was said to be working on a key that temporarily dies down when laying still for a given time.
Mostly affected by theft over here are apparently BMW and Mercedes. I am in The Netherlands. How (not) worried are you guys about this?
A remedy, at least at night, at home, would be keeping your transponder sealed, like in a tin. Not much fun, is it.
Merc was said to be working on a key that temporarily dies down when laying still for a given time.
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NO LONGER ACTIVE
In order to do this, the thief needs access to your SmartKey, or at least access to the RF transmissions your SmartKey generates. Even though you have to be within about 10 feet of the car for it to recognize the Keyless Go signals from the SmartKey, very sensitive receiver equipment can read it much farther away, maybe within 20 or 30 feet. So even though your key is ion your bedroom dresser and far enough away that the car won't respond, they can scan it with their equipment, which then relays it to a transmitter device next to the car.
I'm not worried about this at home as my cars are in a locked garage. I guess it's possible for a thieves with this equipment to see me park in a public place, then have one guy follow me with the scanner to get my SmartKey signal, and the other wait by the car with the repeater, but that sounds like an awful lot of trouble and investment in electronic equipment needed to steal my car which might be worth $25K.
I'm not worried about this at home as my cars are in a locked garage. I guess it's possible for a thieves with this equipment to see me park in a public place, then have one guy follow me with the scanner to get my SmartKey signal, and the other wait by the car with the repeater, but that sounds like an awful lot of trouble and investment in electronic equipment needed to steal my car which might be worth $25K.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 260
From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Having said that, there’s footage of a 2 man (night) qcrew, one with a scanner near the house and the other next to the car, where the car blinks within a few seconds, and presto. The scanners seem to have a 6 meter reach (through walls etc) and a large repeater distance towards the unit near the car. The theft equipment is said to be not that expensive at all.
