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can minis be stolen? plastic key with no transciever...
i've read many posts from people saying the mini is unstealable without the key due to a transmitter being in the key that acts like an immobiliser not letting the car start without the specific signal.
does this mean that the plastic "wallet" spare key also has a transmitter in it? I tried to start it the other day and was surprised when it turned on with this key as i thought this was only for getting in the car in an emergencey (i haven't been bothered to check this in the manual as i'm lazy).
so this must mean that there is a "transmitter" thingy in it, even though its tiny and seems solid plastic...
You've answered it yourself really. The emergency key does have the security aspect of the main keys built in (it feel solid plastic, but it's not) so you can drive the car, just none of the remote opening and closing stuff.
For what is worth, In the US, the VW New Bettle has lower theft rates than the Golf and Jetta (Bora) sedan. I presume that the non-butch styling of the New Bettle may have something to do with it. My guess is that the theft rate in the US for the 115 hp MINI Cooper will be comparable to the New Bettle for the same reason.
I do like the styling of the 115 hp MINI Cooper, but at least in the US, I don't see it interesting the street racer that wants to build a car to compete with an Intrega Type R, Mitsubishi Evolution, or Golf GTi (MINIs are rarely mentioned on performace compact car magazines sold in America.)
As for the other type of thief, the one looking for parts for the mass car repair market, MINI owners don't have to worry too much about them because they aren't that many MINIs on the road yet.
The last major category of car thief in the US is loooking to steal an SUV.
Last edited by Roberto; Apr 11th, 2004 at 12:25 AM.
Anything a dealer pushes is for commision. Plain and simple, they're in there to make money, if anyone tells you otherwise, they're feeding you more garbage.
Anyway, a MINI can be stolen by sticking it on a towtruck/flatbed. If you have the Alarm installed, it has a tilt sensor to combat that, but all it does is make noise. Theoretically if your car was stolen this way, the LoJack could find it.
Sadly, most of the MINI thefts have been where someone broke into a house, stole the keys and took the car. Not a pleasant thought at all. LoJack could also help with that.
I'm not a LoJack salesman, honestly its just another trick to get profit, but there are some vaguely useful aspects to it, though personally (and from the people who have had their MINIs stolen) no one seems to want their car back if it was stolen anyway. Let insurance deal with it, and get a new one.
Magic 8-ball was correct. All be in awe of Magic 8 ball.
<http://www.nicb.org> is one of the web sites for US data on car theft rates. We may have to wait a few months until the complete 2003 data is out to see if there is a theft problem with MINIs or not. (Don't see MINIs having theft problems at this time, but high end BMW models do show up on some of the lists.)
Last I heard, overall auto theft rates were a bit higher in the UK than in the US, but I don't have details.
Lo-Jack used to cost $600, and you used to be able to get it installed at Lo-Jack "stores." However, I checked the Lo-Jack web site tonight, and apparently now they only have installation through new car dealers, or a Lo-Jack installer can come to your home/office to do an install if the car is already in your posession (no more Lo-Jack "stores"). I did not see a price listed for getting Lo-Jack directly from the company.
There are a bunch of police cars out there with Lo-Jack tracking capability, but if $900 is too much, try running a few searches on google to get info on satellite and possibly cell phone related technologies to track stolen cars to see if they may be worth a look.
Last edited by Roberto; Apr 11th, 2004 at 02:06 AM.
The plastic wallet spare key does have an immobiliser chip in it. It is located on the fob part underneath a small round plastic cover. One M2er did prise his key apart to confirm this.
There is just one moon and one golden sun; And a smile mean friendship to ev'ryone; Through the mountains divide, and the oceans are wide; It's a small world after all.
If you want to prove to yourself it has a chip, you can sit in the car, and lock the doors (I think you need to do it with the 'normal' remote key). If you then take the plastic key, and hold its end near the ignition, the chip will be recognised, and open the doors.
Worked on my car, so I think it should work on others.
Magic 8-ball was correct. All be in awe of Magic 8 ball.
Speaking of car security, did you hear about that lady who wanted her car stolen so that she could get the insurance to pay? It was really funny, she'd park it in all sorts of places...
i didnt hear that story... she should have just taken it somewhere, smashed the windows and burnt it down o the ground... Not that i know what im taking aboyt or anything!
Did you know my mini has a special security feature... i always make sure its parked next to a better car than mine.......
that ways i never park anywhere and it cant get stolen!
is this the thin plastic key we're talking about the one that feels like you could snap between 2 fingers?
I have 3 master keys (all with remote) 2 with the silver Mini logo on and the other one with just the black plastic logo n (matching the colour of the key)
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