Hey all,
As some may remember, my car was stolen a couple of months back. Insurance paid out ages ago but I didnt get round to getting a new one. I decided to just pick up a cheap car with 12 months tax/test on it for running back and forwards between London and the North East and keep the rest for my new house.
I went with a P-Reg, BMW 318i SE (automatic) for £1800. Its nothing flash but its solid, good runner, new brakes and tyres all round, with <90k on it and a FSH every 10k from new. Driving an automatic for the first times a bit of a novelty too lol :)
(http://www.stevefishwick.co.uk/misc/tekforums/mycar.jpg)
Anyway - i have to stay with the same insurance policy/company since my old car was stolen mid way through the policy term. They require the car to have an immobilizer and every car Ive had has had one fitted as standard. So, where do you get them fitted? Do the big places like Kwik fit, Motorworld, Halfords do them? Or do I have to take it to a small garage?
I need it done very quickly (i.e. same day would be best). Frankly for the sake of £1500 Id rather just switch to 3rd party without fire and theft and if it gets stolen Ill just get another one but its not an option unfortunately.
Id go to Motorworld and ask there - if they cant fit it theyll know a man who can. You can buy one from anywhere but it has to be professionally fitted.
http://www.motor-world.co.uk/category.php?sub_cat_id=42
edit: Actually wait, Id check with the ins. company whether it needs a thatcham cert. - if not, just buy one and sellotape it to the dash. My company wanted an imm. fitted but they didnt ask whether it was thatcham.
Auto sounds off Scotswood road would do it quickly I think. Motorworld would sell, but dont fit I dont think and Halfords charge extra for fitting I think.
Id probably check out Auto Sounds tbh
the insurance company didnt seem to bothered about the type of immobilizer - they just have a general rule on old cars apparently.
Thanks - Ill check Auto Sounds and Motorworld - cheers :)
You should see if they do one of these (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BTDDlWtnvSE)
surely being a BMW itll have some kind of immobiliser factory fitted?
Quote from: Binary Shadowsurely being a BMW itll have some kind of immobiliser factory fitted?
Thats what I thought but it seems not... Ive not been asked to enter any codes or anything for a manual immobilizer and the keys looked a bit simple when Ive been test driving it.
When I selected standard factory fitted security equipment on the insurance companys website it didnt seem to flag as having an immobilizer. I rang them and it said I couldnt proceed because I didnt have an immobilizer (it was a condition note on that car) so I think its just cause its an old car it doesnt have one. I kind of assumed all BMWs would have too tbh.
It does have a basic BMW alarm horn under the bonnet (I remember seeing it) but I guess no immobilizer. Ill have a dig around tomorrow when I collect it.
lol Andy :D btw can you PM me how much you paid for that mobile phone you lent me. Ive had it so long now that Ill just transfer whatever you want for it into your account.
they might employ a vauxhallesq transponder chip in a very basic looking key
I was recommended GAP Security (http://www.gapsecurity.co.uk/) by Adrian Flux when I got my Mazda insured through them.
£300 all in for their mobile fitting charge. Bloke came out and did all the work on my driveway. Very good job, very professional, quality Thatcham approved Clifford Alarm.
Worth a look in if you dont find better quotes IMO.
you could just put a switch in the line of the solonoide wire going to the starter motor....
its still an emobiliser ;-)
(p.s. used to do this on transit vans all the time when they were being stolen and it saved them from being stolen a few times!)
If you can get a thatcham cert in case you change to an insurance company that needs it but vertually anywhere should be able to fit an immobiliser. Also think of getting a petrol tap fitted in the line so that you can turn off the fuel supply before you leave the car. Its wonderful when some perp nicks your wheels, manages to go a couple of hundred yards and the car conks out :lol:
Quote from: Binary Shadowthey might employ a vauxhallesq transponder chip in a very basic looking key
i always thought ford came up with that - i remeber coding keys on sierras in the 80s
What age is P reg? If its after 97 it has an immobiliser, as it was a requirement on all new cars sold here since then.
If you want to get a decent alram fitted at a good price, laserline are hard to beat. Theyre reliable, no frills, and cheap. The 996V3 is around £300 fitted and that nets you a cat 1 certificate as well.
All the other max power alarms are all well and good, but theyre expensive for little extra.
I fitted mine myself - its as easy as anything
Laserline also do immobilier only systems.
There is some contention that Ford didnt even invent mass production in cars, it was certainly going in other areas before they started out. Oldsmobile might have a prior claim for the cars.
Lots of companies try to insinuate they were first for something they didnt actually invent.
the best bet is gonna be your local car head unit fitters. drive to their shop, tell em you want a thatcham immobilisor, you want to pay in cash and you dont care how quick they do it. come back in an hour and you should be good to go.
pay no more tahn 150 for it either. theyre about 50 quid to buy and the rest is fitting.
Matt
If I was getting an expensive car Id have one of these... http://www.smokemachines.net/buy-car-smoke-screen-security-system.shtml
Turns out my insurance company dont know anything and there is a standard immobilizer in the car/key and all BMWs have had them since 1992. Ive found the specific code for the immobilizer fitted so I think I may get away without even having to fit one. :)
Just in case anyone was wondering... In the end I rand Autosounds and they were happy to do it but backed up with work till next week. I then rang a company called Sungold Autoelectrics (also in Newcastle) and they said they could do it first thin in the morning. Both were after around just under £100 for a Cat 2 fitted (thatcham certified).