Car Downgrade time?

macl

Currently driving 06 M3. Gorgeous car, great fun to drive, a bit expensive to run but overall worth it.

This week someone broke in to my house while I was asleep, alarm was armed for downstairs and went off. I recon they were in my hallway for < 10 secs looking for keys and then legged it. Gardai say other high end / fast cars were targetted in nearby areas that night and thieves made off with an A4 and A6 to name two such cars. I recon I was targeted specifically for the car due to the alarm / other robberies etc as well as the professional job at removing the locks on my front door.

Anyways, seeing as I could do without that happening and I'm not wanting to draw this type of attention to my house, partner etc, I'm thinking of getting rid of the m3 and looking at something else.

Am I doomed once I pick anything over 300 BHP (I think I know the answer). I want to buy something swish and that can go etc. I dont want to bow down to these thugs so not making any quick decisions just yet.

Voodoomelon

Sorry to hear. Could you not just get a decent set of gates or the like? They won't try and steal it if they can't get it out of the drive.

SV

the problem with the likes of an m3 is it's inconspicuous looks(in general) and extremely good handling and speed.
it makes it a very good target for PROFESSIONALS as it's a great car for their 'jobs' (doesn't stand out and can get away from gardaí in the event of a pursuit)




basically..my solution is this, if you want something 'swish and that can go'..make sure it stands out big time
the professionals will only ever be stealing something like that(that stands out) 'to order'(It's going to stand out too much for them to use in any kind of a job and the little scumbags that joyride don't have the mental capacity to figure out how to get past the security on them) and in Ireland that's highly unlikely to happen.

unkel

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Sorry to hear. Could you not just get a decent set of gates or the like? They won't try and steal it if they can't get it out of the drive.

+1

They'll always pick the easiest one

no1beemerfan

Don't let these b's win. Like Voodoomelon says put up gates or lock the ones you have if you have one. Also I'd put them metal poles garages put in front of their doors (removable) that are locked in position and also steering wheel locks etc.

Bit of a pain to do but anything to make them think its too much hassle....good job you'd a house alarm though.

R.O.R

Guy I work with had a similar experience with his Astra OPC. He ended up having the security posts put in to deter anyone trying again.

Poor fella had to sell it eventually anyway as it's a bit tricky to stick a baby seat in the back of.

macl

Cheers guys,

Gates ins't an option as my drive is an open drive (I'm a terraced house with an open driveway for 3 houses if you know what I mean)

Good point on something that stands out - when I test drove a 911 before (no intention of buying) the salesman did make that point against the m3 that everyone would remember a 911 going down the road but most don't recognize the m3.

Maybe some flames painted on the sides would do enough to make it stand out

djimi

I think if it was me Id put a top of the range Clifford alarm and GPS tracker in it. By the way they are going about it these blokes dont seem like they want to damage the car, and with a decent Clifford or some such system even if they get it going they wont get very far and you should be able to find it pretty easily.

I understand the concern but Id be loath to allow any little scumbag dictate to me what car I can or cannot drive.

macl

I have a sticker on the window saying there's a tracker on the car. Thing is, even with a top notch alarm etc, they are still going to take interest in the car and try and get into the house to get keys etc

In the mean time I've beefed up security on the house so it would take a lot of work for them to get in (and if they do they'd be met with the alarm again)

djimi

Unfortunately there are always going to be toerags who will potentially try to get into your house. By the sounds of it you have good security on the house, and so long as the car security is up to scratch then there isnt much more you can do. You cant live your life in fear of what may happen. Take necessary precautions obviously and dont be wreckless with security, but you can allow scum to dictate how you live your life.

Given the detail of what you have posted these folks are not your average scum, smells a bit like they are quite organised. I would think there will not be a take 2 from them but to deter the likes of them trying something similar a CCTV camera on the drive and one of those motion triggered floodlights would be no harm. I reckon steering locks are a waste of time as if they are targetting the carkeys they won't be put off by one of them. Good steering locks will deter the average joyrider targetting the older car.

Of course the more you do the more you are at risk yourself, it becomes "attractive" (wrong word) for them to taget you getting in or out of the car or to and from the front door.

Not nice

TCP/IP

Is it an E46 M3 or the newer one. I might be interersted in buying it. PM me some details

Eric Cartman

cctv and an electronic bollard may be best, f*cking scum , this is why we cant have nice things

Voodoomelon

It has to be an E46, E92s didn't debut til late '07.

macl

They are quite organized I think. They even left it until just after 2am when they knew the local guards station would be closed. That said guards were on the scene in less than 5 mins which was pretty good.

I might stick a small camera outside so its noticeable to people casing the place but not to joe punter passing by. The bollards / gate is definitely another way but just not possible in this instance

It's an e46 (attached is an image of her)

langdang

TCP/IP wrote: »

Is it an E46 M3 or the newer one. I might be interersted in buying it. PM me some details

Vulture (messing!)