[SpaceSilver.X1]

I woke up around 4AM because my next door neighbor's big dog kept barking. He's a big(100+ pounds) fluffy friendly Bernese Mountain dog who rarely barks. It wasn't a "feed me, I'm hungry" bark, but more of an angry bark. I went to the bathroom and got back in bed. He was still barking. I went downstairs to the kitchen window to see what he was barking about. I couldn't see him, so I went to the garage. Right after I turned on the light, I heard a metallic object dropping on the driveway. That was when I noticed a kid in a hoodie running away. I recognized that hoodie as from the local middle school. He ran into the backseat of a dark grey car and they took off. It was too far for me to read the license plate number.

After turning on all the lights, I opened the garage door and saw 3 wheel nuts(including the BMW wheel lock) as well as a wrench on the ground. A jack was also under the car. I walked around the car and the other wheels were still intact.

Went back inside and call 911. The officers arrived within 5 minutes. My neighbor also came out after hearing the cop cars. Apparently they were already in the area because the thieves(plural) were busy this morning. Several cars had their wheels stolen overnight. They said other victims also reported seeing teenage kids in the same kind of hoodies that I saw. It was apparently the first car or car wheel crime being reported in my area for over 4 years, according to them.

One of the officers took the tire jack with him(as evidence?). He then helped me screw the wheel bolts back on. I had to get the wheel lock tool from my usual hiding place(the space under the rear seat).

I always parked the X1 inside the garage, but I had just finished washing and polishing my other two older cars yesterday, so they went inside... I was planning to wash/polish the X1 later today.

Going to stop by Petsmart later a buy a whole case of my neighbor's dog's favorite treats! Such a good dog! Never had a dog because I've always had cats, but maybe that needs to change as well

Guess the BMW wheel locks were useless against thieves, even if they are just kids? Although I kind of already knew that a long time ago because the Costco tire guys never needed my factory wheels lock tool to change the tires on my other cars. Come to think of it, is there a market for used X1 wheels?

[BMWZ4]

tl;dr...wheels nearly stolen by a kid

How did they get the bmw lock nuts off? Probably found a master somewhere, online or through a contact at a dealership

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

tl;dr...wheels nearly stolen by a kid

How did they get the bmw lock nuts off? Probably found a master somewhere, online or through a contact at a dealership

that's what's so puzzling... the wheel lock had no scratches on it, so some kind of tool or master key must have been used? I searched for ways to remove them without the key and it appeared that every method involved destroying the original wheel lock....

guess I should be grateful that the thief did not damage the wheel lock or the wheel itself.

[tex2670]

But if they left in a hurry without the wrench, wouldn't the wheel lock key also be on the ground?

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by tex2670

But if they left in a hurry without the wrench, wouldn't the wheel lock key also be on the ground?

good point.... I'll go out and look under the car to see if it's still down there.

edit: got on the ground and didn't find anything. the officers took the jack and the wrench with them. will call them to see if they also took any sort of wheel lock tool. although I don't recall seeing one this morning. I'm also wondering how they were planning to steal all 4 wheels. besides the one tire jack, there were no bricks, wood, rocks or anything else to prop up the car. unless I caught them just as they were getting started?

[DestinationMoon!]

They sell friction lug removers everywhere. It's like a socket except it's round and conical. It'll grip the round lock lug and spin it off. I don't think it'll work with a hand tool but any battery drill or impact driver will extract them in 5 seconds.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by DestinationMoon!

They sell friction lug removers everywhere. It's like a socket except it's round and conical. It'll grip the round lock lug and spin it off. I don't think it'll work with a hand tool but any battery drill or impact driver will extract them in 5 seconds.

my dealer gave me those wheel locks as freebies, so I don't mind simply tossing them for something better.

I just saw that the BMW master wheel lock key set are readily available on ebay.

are there wheel locks that are harder for the thieves to remove?

thanks!

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

my dealer gave me those wheel locks as freebies, so I don't mind simply tossing them for something better.

I just saw that the BMW master wheel lock key set are readily available on ebay.

are there wheel locks that are harder for the thieves to remove?

thanks!

I wouldn't start chasing an "unbreakable" wheel lock...you got hit once, unlikely a second time. Go get the freebies from your dealer and go about more critical things...

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

I wouldn't start chasing an "unbreakable" wheel lock...you got hit once, unlikely a second time. Go get the freebies from your dealer and go about more critical things...

good point... that's why I don't go to casinos anymore. I won pretty big once. It is very unlikely that I'll win that big again. I also don't buy lottery tickets at a grocery store near me. They sold a $70 million MegaMillion jackpot not so long ago. The chances of another ticket that they sell winning the jackpot is probably near zero. On top of that, I went to the same high school as that winner.(6 years apart) I'm sure no two jackpot winners in lottery history have ever gone to the same high school.


by the way, my BMW dealer only gives Starbucks $10 gift cards as freebies. The only other free things are lukewarm coffee from a pot in the customer lounger.

[timesone]

Hmm your car anti theft alarm didn’t sound off?
you may need a surveillance camera if you park outside

[Fish Fingers]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

I wouldn't start chasing an "unbreakable" wheel lock...you got hit once, unlikely a second time. Go get the freebies from your dealer and go about more critical things...

Agree with this. ^

They will probably think you will upgrade your security now, so will give you a wide birth.

In fact they will likely scope out a whole new neighbourhood going forward.
But, I reckon they will get caught soon regardless.

[markronnie]

If Your alarm did not go off after locking your doors & car was lifted on a jack, your BIGGEST problem is NOT the wheel locks. Take car immediately to dealership to fix alarm.

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by markronnie

If Your alarm did not go off after locking your doors & car was lifted on a jack, your BIGGEST problem is NOT the wheel locks. Take car immediately to dealership to fix alarm.

Could be if the factory alarm does have a tilt sensor (I have no idea if it does), they may not have jacked it up high enough to trigger the alarm.

[timesone]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

Could be if the factory alarm does have a tilt sensor (I have no idea if it does), they may not have jacked it up high enough to trigger the alarm.

Yes my factory alarm has a tilt sensor (which can be switched off along with the interior motion sensor)

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

Could be if the factory alarm does have a tilt sensor (I have no idea if it does), they may not have jacked it up high enough to trigger the alarm.

it was only jacked up about 1 inch, so that was probably why the alarm didn't go off.

I decided that the wheel locks are kind of pointless, so I took them off and put the original bolts back in. Gave the wheel locks to a co-worker with previous-gen F48 X1. He's going to try tonight to see if they fit. He needs it more than me because his condo's parking is outdoors.

Also... finally got off my lazy [rear end] and replaced the Ring camera battery above my garage/driveway. The battery has been dead since Thanksgiving. I was just too lazy to get the ladder out and change the rechargeable battery.

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

it was only jacked up about 1 inch, so that was probably why the alarm didn't go off.

I decided that the wheel locks are kind of pointless, so I took them off and put the original bolts back in. Gave the wheel locks to a co-worker with previous-gen F48 X1. He's going to try tonight to see if they fit. He needs it more than me because his condo's parking is outdoors.

Also... finally got off my lazy [rear end] and replaced the Ring camera battery above my garage/driveway. The battery has been dead since Thanksgiving. I was just too lazy to get the ladder out and change the rechargeable battery.

Not sure when they changed it, but BMW lugs used to be 12x1.5, on the U11 it’s 14x1.25, not sure if the f48 is the same.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

Not sure when they changed it, but BMW lugs used to be 12x1.5, on the U11 it’s 14x1.25, not sure if the f48 is the same.

well... I sincerely hope that he compares them before attempting to put them on. If he forces them in, I'm guessing that they'll work very well as permanent wheel locks.

[Fish Fingers]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

Also... finally got off my lazy [rear end] and replaced the Ring camera battery above my garage/driveway. The battery has been dead since Thanksgiving. I was just too lazy to get the ladder out and change the rechargeable battery.

Our Ring cameras alerted us to a masked robber scoping the house for car keys a couple of years back.

We hadn't had them long and have now added to the setup. All perimeter is now covered.

Really useful if you set them up right (alert for a person during night hours) and help me sleep better after a previous incident many years ago, when 2 cars, watches and jewellery were stolen in an armed robbery.

I always switch the Ring battery for a spare as soon as they get low.