[BENSIN]

My neighbor across the street recently had his new truck stolen, Dodge Ram Daytona, brand freaking new, tops a year old...beautiful truck, gone. Guy goes to sleep, wakes up like four hours later, it's gone.

I mean hey, we're not living in Bev Hills over here, but it's not exactly Newark either.

Now I'm starting to get worried about my Benz, are our cars easy to steal, any one use lojack or have any insight on this?

I'm going to install a gate in front of my drive way, and not only does it block you, but it also shoots electricity at you, and if you're still alive it comes unhinged and stomps you to the ground and then spits on you.

 

[tirona]

i got a better idea, instead of stomping and spitting, how about cutting your head off.
if they are pro's and are after your car, doesn't matter if you have a dodge, mb, or ferrari, they will find a way to take it, if not yours, maybe somebody else's. what i have done is cover with black tape the vin# in my windshield, cuz the thiefes can easiely get the vin#, produce a key, and steel the car anytime.

 

[Check Codes]

i got a better idea, instead of stomping and spitting, how about cutting your head off.
if they are pro's and are after your car, doesn't matter if you have a dodge, mb, or ferrari, they will find a way to take it, if not yours, maybe somebody else's. what i have done is cover with black tape the vin# in my windshield, cuz the thiefes can easiely get the vin#, produce a key, and steel the car anytime.

If you're doing that with a later model benz, you also want to pull your rear license plate and remove the bar-code sticker that also has your VIN on it.

 

[JCFair]

I was just talking to my insurance company. They recommended etching all the windows with the vin number. He said this can be done for about $50 and I can get a reduction on my comprehensive. I haven't done this yet but plan on looking into it. The theory is that it is too expensive to change the vin number and all the windows so the professional thief will leave it alone.

One of the reasons I keep the MB TelAid active is theft notification and tracking. I don't know how much lojack costs or costs to maintain but part of TelAid does the same thing. I get a discount on my comprehensive for having a tracking device enabled.

I also have nothing with my home address on it in my cars. I carry proof of insurance and registration in my wallet. That way if anyone steals my car they cannot go to my house and rob it. If they get stopped the police should have a problem with their not being able to produce proof of insurance and registration which should raise red flags.

Hope this help.

 

[BENSIN]

Heck of a lot more helpful than this other douche.

Tell me more about this window etching, I don't quite get it, doesn't that leave it easily visible, or is that the point?

 

[Check Codes]

Heck of a lot more helpful than this other douche.

Tell me more about this window etching, I don't quite get it, doesn't that leave it easily visible, or is that the point?

It's an acid etch and while it is visible (which is part of the point), it's not intrusive. One of the big insurance companies sponsored a free day in the bay area to have it done, I didn't go since the car I had at the time wasn't worth the issue.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

[asianml]

I've had the VIN etching done on the ML. A insurance company here had a day to get it done and we went. The process itself takes only five minutes.

There is another thing someone brought up a long time ago, which is stealing the VIN to use on another car as a part of a scamming business. Use your perfectly clean VIN to sell a possibly damaged/salvaged/flooded car.

It's a double-edged sword.

 

[amcnair]

My neighbor across the street recently had his new truck stolen, Dodge Ram Daytona, brand freaking new, tops a year old...beautiful truck, gone. Guy goes to sleep, wakes up like four hours later, it's gone.

I mean hey, we're not living in Bev Hills over here, but it's not exactly Newark either.

Now I'm starting to get worried about my Benz, are our cars easy to steal, any one use lojack or have any insight on this?

I'm going to install a gate in front of my drive way, and not only does it block you, but it also shoots electricity at you, and if you're still alive it comes unhinged and stomps you to the ground and then spits on you.

Most professionals want domestic or Japanese cars, as there is a bigger market for the parts. Pickup trucks are very popular now, and they are often filled with accessories that are easily liquidated.

Thieves don't change the VIN numbers on the cars much any more as it's too much trouble. The days of swapping wreck VIN's with new car VIN's and re-registering them are mostly gone. Cars are either stolen for parts or for export. When they're put in a container ship going to Argentina or loaded on a truck to Mexico, nobody cares if the windows are etched or not.

And when the police check an out of state title for licensing purposes (which is usually the only time anyone looks at the VIN plate), they never look at the windows, they just look at the VIN on the dash and sign the form. If your insurance company will give you a break for etching your windows, go for it. But it won't prevent your car from being stolen.

Professionals can and will get any car they want. Crackheads can and will significantly damage your car just to steal the stuff that's in it. And if your car is stolen by an amateur, you're not going to want it back after they've had it for a few hours.

 

[asianml]

i got a better idea, instead of stomping and spitting, how about cutting your head off.
if they are pro's and are after your car, doesn't matter if you have a dodge, mb, or ferrari, they will find a way to take it, if not yours, maybe somebody else's. what i have done is cover with black tape the vin# in my windshield, cuz the thiefes can easiely get the vin#, produce a key, and steel the car anytime.

It's not that easy to get a new key in an MB...

 

[tirona]

i don't know how easy it is, i hope it's really hard, all i know is that it has been done plenty of times before.

 

[BENSIN]

A lot of good points here, I'll wager the best defense is a giant iron gate blocking your driveway. Which I'm seriously considering...better safe than sorry.

Also, AsianML, I was thinking the same thing about MB keys, I mean, I have the steel key that comes out of my remote entry but to actually get ignition I have to put the contraption into the ignition slot, I think there's some kind of unique sensor on there. It can't be started with a key, but there's always jump starting the car by whatever means possible. I can only assume, that MB, BMW and other high end cars can't be started unless the unique key is in place...

I'll have to research it, but if any one is 'in the know' do tell...

I'm sure every one who has the same or a similar setup, would like to know as well. :thumbsup:

 

[asianml]

If the correct key isn't in the ignition, the engine immobilizer will engage and won't start at all.

To get a new key you must show proof of ownership to the dealer. A VIN is not proof of ownership.

 

[mcbear]

Even though I know the guys at the MB dealer that I do biz with [and have known them for years] I still have to produce driver's license and title to get a set of keys made for any benz. They photocopy and send that in to the regional office which cuts the keys. And that process is for 15 year old cars.

 

[ScrazySean]

It is rather hard. My car is registered under my fathers name, as I was 17 when I bought it. I went to go get a key made in an 81 300D and they wouldnt even though my ID stated that we had the same last name and address. However, you cant go to a locksmith with the new cars do to the smart keys. I would recommend lo-jack. Also I've heard of people leaving shotgun shells on the dashboard. They may scare them off.