BMW: theft risks and protection
The 3 Series and 5 Series are the BMWs stolen most often in Serbia. A thief makes a new key through the OBD port, and opens a car with a Comfort Access key by relaying its signal. With OBD port relocation and an immobiliser we close both routes.
All you need to tell or write us is the make, model and year of the car.
We work in several cities in Serbia. Tell us your city.
How thieves steal a BMW
According to MUP (Serbian Interior Ministry) data for Belgrade, in 2022 BMW was among the four makes stolen most often, along with Volkswagen, Renault and Audi. More about the most stolen cars in Serbia
The first route into a BMW is the OBD port. All the computers in the car are checked and programmed through it, including the keys. In 2012 BMW was the target of a wave of thefts in Europe: a thief breaks a window, plugs a device into the OBD port and makes a new key in a few minutes. Every series was affected, from the 1 Series to the X6.
BMW said then that cars built from September 2011 could not be stolen that way. But devices made for key workshops still make a new key for older and newer BMWs through the OBD port alone, even when no key is in the car.
On most BMWs the OBD port is under the dashboard on the driver's side, above the bonnet release handle, often behind a small cover. With relocation the factory port stays intact and in its place: we connect to the wiring and fit a hidden socket, and you get a small adapter. A thief finds the factory port, but without your adapter it does not work. More about OBD port relocation
The second route is the key that opens the car from your pocket. BMW calls it Comfort Access. A thief relays the signal of your key to the car, unlocks it, starts it and drives away. OBD port relocation does not stop this. That is why we fit an immobiliser: the engine does not start without your fob, even when a thief relays the key signal.
Keys of many BMWs from 2018 on have a motion sensor: when they stay still for 2 minutes, they stop sending a signal. While the key is moving, it sends a signal. At home keep it in a pouch that blocks the signal.
What to watch out for by model
3 Series
Along with the 5 Series, the BMW stolen most often in Serbia. The basis is OBD port relocation. If the car has a Comfort Access key, add an immobiliser.
5 Series
Along with the 3 Series, the BMW stolen most often in Serbia. Alongside relocation, GPS tracking makes sense: you see where the car is, and a message arrives as soon as someone moves the parked car.
X1, X3 and X5
More expensive models. For the OBD port, relocation or an electronic blocker, and for the whole car an immobiliser and GPS tracking.
Latest 5 and 7 Series, new X1, facelifted X5 and iX
The key measures its distance to the car, so relaying the signal failed in a keyless theft test. On these cars too, the OBD port is the entry into all the computers in the car. With relocation it works only with your adapter.
Diesel engines from 2007–2015 (N47)
They have a known timing chain problem. A common sign is a metallic rattle for a few seconds on a cold start, less power or the engine light on. With diagnostics we read which fault the engine has stored.
What we recommend
- Every BMW
- OBD port relocation, 100 €, against making a key
- Comfort Access
- an immobiliser and a key pouch
- Without an adapter
- electronic OBD blocker
- 5 Series and X models
- GPS tracking
Diagnostics on a BMW
A manufacturer only has to provide faults related to exhaust emissions through the OBD port. That is why a simple reader often sees only the engine. Brakes, airbags and the other computers need a device that can access them. We read all the computers in the car and explain what is urgent. More about car diagnostics
A new battery on a BMW
After replacement, a new battery has to be registered in the car's computer. If it is not registered, start-stop may stop working and the car uses more fuel. When we replace it, we also register it. More about battery replacement
BMW coding
With coding we switch on features the BMW has but that are switched off from the factory. For example: the mirrors fold by themselves when you lock the car, start-stop remembers that you switched it off, and the speed is also shown as a number on the dash. Which features your car has depends on the model and equipment. We'll tell you when you send the model and year. More about coding
CarPlay and Android Auto on a BMW
It depends on the system in the car. We switch CarPlay on by activation, wirelessly, when the screen menu has tiles in a row (systems from mid-2015 and 2016) and on system 7 (from 2018). When the menu is a text list, as on the 3 Series up to mid-2015 and the 5 Series up to 2016, activation is not possible. There we fit a module behind the factory screen, which gives both CarPlay and Android Auto, or a new multimedia unit. BMW offers Android Auto from the factory from mid-2020, on system 7. We'll tell you what fits your car when you send the model and year. More about CarPlay activation
Maps in BMW navigation
BMW factory navigation gets new maps over USB, with an activation code and your car's chassis number. More about map updates
Frequently asked questions
All questions about relocation are on a separate page.
Advice
All advice on protection
OBD car theft: how thieves make a new keyHow a thief makes a new key through the OBD port in a few minutes and drives the car away, what stops this theft and how you go to the garage and the technical inspection after protection.Theft protection · 6 min read
Most stolen cars in Serbia: models and makesWhich cars are stolen most in Serbia and Belgrade: the Volkswagen Golf, Passat and Polo, then Audi, Renault, Škoda and BMW. Why thieves pick these models, where stolen cars end up and what stops them.Theft protection · 4 min read
Most stolen cars in Europe: Germany and EnglandWhich cars are stolen most in Germany, the Netherlands, France and the UK: Lexus NX, Toyota Land Cruiser, RAV4, Fiesta and Golf. Why thieves pick Toyota and Lexus and what stops them.Theft protection · 4 min read
Keyless car theft: how the relay attack works and how to protect yourselfKeyless theft: thieves relay your key signal to the car, open it and drive away in a few seconds, with no break-in. Where they catch the signal, which cars are at risk and what protects: an immobiliser, a key pouch, an alarm with a fob and GPS.Theft protection · 6 min read
Send us the make, model and year
We will tell you the price and a time. Call or message us on WhatsApp.
067 774 1606Email: kontakt@autoindustrija.rs