Wow

[selavia]

My friend calls me up last night, and says, in a horrified voice, "guess what?" I'm like, "what?" He says, "My Dad's 2002 M3 got stolen." I offered my condolences, and then he asked me to guess from where it got stolen. After my futile attempt to guess, he told me that it got stolen from the dealership while it was there to have it's 12000mile service!!! I didn't believe him; I thought he was messing with me; no way some jerk-off is going to steal a 2 year old M3 w/ 12,000miles when they have new ones on the lot. I thought this was freaking ridiculous. He's thinking it's an inside job, and I think that makes sense; I mean honestly, how easy is it for someone to walk in off the street and just take a car that's being serviced? His Dad's M3 was a custom built one too. His Dad special ordered it or something with all these *unnecessary* features. Something about racing seats and other stuff (I really don't remember). And what makes this worse is the dealership is acting all hush hush about it; they didn't even call the police immediately after it got stolen!!!! They reported the next day. My friend thinks somethings going on with the GM of that dealership. The dealership didn't even give him a temporary car; they just kind of called him and told him that his car had been stolen and that there wasn't much that they could do. Just to give the dealership some advertising, the dealership was BMW of Rockville in Maryland. So beware if any of you guys your baby up there.

Sean

 

[Tom]

I agree sounds too shady. They probably made a copy of the key or stoled the one in the service dept.

 

[andreyiv]

It must be an inside job, I mean, how can you walk in the actual service area? I thought only employees were allowed there. Also, he gave them the car so it was their responsibility, its not like it was stolen from a parking space on a street, its a dealership for crying out loud. Also, if there is nothing they can do, why doesn't every mechanic drive off with the sweetest car he/she works on? I would tell your friend to call a lawyer, also a call to BMWNA wouldn't hurt.

 

[selavia]

It must be an inside job, I mean, how can you walk in the actual service area? I thought only employees were allowed there. Also, he gave them the car so it was their responsibility, its not like it was stolen from a parking space on a street, its a dealership for crying out loud. Also, if there is nothing they can do, why doesn't every mechanic drive off with the sweetest car he/she works on? I would tell your friend to call a lawyer, also a call to BMWNA wouldn't hurt.

Yeah, that's the first thing my friend told his dad when his father told him (call BMWNA) and that's the first thing I told my friend when he told me.

The dealership told his Dad that eventually the insurance company will give him the value of his car, but they said that will take awhile. His Dad is pissed cause he spent alot of time getting that car exactly how he wanted it and he's sure they insurance company he isn't going to to be pleased.

And his Dad refuses to get a lawyer involved!! That made me so irritated; I remember being that naive when someone plowed into me, and I ended up having to get a lawyer (thankfully I work for one) and I know if I didn't get a lawyer involved they would have kept giving me the run around. Maybe I'm jaded now. Whatever. lol.

I spoke to my buddy today before class and he's beginning to suspect some kind of insurance fraud w/ the dealer. I think that's a bit far fetched, what do you guys think?

Sean

 

[///M SPEED]

It must be an inside job, I mean, how can you walk in the actual service area? I thought only employees were allowed there.

Not the dealership I go to. The Parts dept. is on the other side of the building and the only way to access from the Showroom is through the Service area. I mean you have to walk all the way through walking past every car and every hoist. When I walk through there I check out some of the cars and look under all the different models. I know most Service Depts. are like that where you cannot access that area, but not this one. Big Daddy know what I am talking about I am sure.

 

[Kirby]

When did he drop it off? When did it get stolen? Did he drop the keys in an overnight slot and it was stolen before the next business day?

Over the years I have noticed (in our area at least) the practice of dropping keys, in an envelope or not, thru a mail slot in a door WITH A GLASS WINDOW is prone to possible theft. This is EXACTLY how my Dealer is set up for late drop offs.

Heres the scenario:
If they are not in an envelope, use a coat hanger to hook the key ring and retrieve the keys.

If they are in an envelope, put some really sticky tape on the coat hanger and snag the bag.

I know it sounds crazy but if someone REALLY wanted to steal a car, and practiced at home first, I'll bet you could snag the keys in less than 10 seconds!

I always make sure to toss mine thru the slot to the left or right, close to the door where they are not visible.

 

[j2azz]

I always assumed it would be ridiculously easy to steal a car from the service department. When I got my M3 back from a regular service, I walked in, talked with a service guy (that I had never met before) that I was here for the black M3 (never mentioned my name) that just had a routine service. He goes Ok, pulls the car around, has me sign something (doesn't check ID), and lets me off with the car. I'm 24 years old, I don't look like I should own an 2003 M3. I always thought this could happen, just never realised someone might have the balls to try it. I'm curious what happens with this, keep us up to date.

 

[selavia]

The car was turned over to someone, not dropped off. It was dropped off early in the morning and was supposed to be picked up in the evening.

And to j2azz: You're kidding?!? That amazes me. And you had no prior conversation with the person that handed you the key to your car? The dealership I go to is nothing like that. They took my license when I wanted to pick up my car after they had been inspecting it. When I needed the radio code, they wanted my license and registration. I never thought of it being so simple. I'll definitely tell my buddy your thoughts.

I'll keep you guys and gals updated.

Sean

 

[j2azz]

Nope, I was dealing with a specific service rep the whole time. He left around noon the day I went to get the car. I showed up around 4, talked to two service reps who I have never seen before, and thats how it was handled. Not sure if they "IDed" me from the fact that I knew what service the car had? But thats the only thing I can think of..

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

first of all, it sucks that the car got stolen right when everything was perfect for the driver...just a little something a bit different at the dealer i goto when compared to the above comments, its relatively easy to enter the service area, since i worked there, i could access it but still i can see how easy it is to do it and get your car stolen...if someone was at the dealer at teh first time they wouldn't know procedure and it would be kind of easy to get it stolen, at the dealer you would enter into the service drop off zone and right when you enter you are greated by a person who asks "do you have an appointment with us today" and if you say yes they would take the car that second, if no (i never have an appointment) then you walk in and talk with a rep. Most people, like myself, have their own reps that they know from coming so often, we have a bunch of BMW's that we take here so im in every couple of weeks, but in short at some dealers it may be easier to steal a car then others. If the guy gave it to a employee who actually drove it back to the lot then maybe the doors were left open and a thief could easily have gotten in. Such as at the dealerhsip i go to there is a gate/security guards/lots of video cameras and all goes to a central control room where everything is constantly monitored (probably since largest dealership in N. America w/ largest inventory and very highly priced moded cars) but i could see how it is possible. THe advice i would give, is get a lawyer involved, he can get you the money faster and maybe seeing about any money/damages from the dealerhisp for them being careless and letting the car being stolen.

 

[tool fan]

I was under the impression that, unless someone ACTUALLY HAD THE KEYS, that it was damn near impossible to steal a newer BMW. Now am I being Naive?

 

[codex57]

I was under the impression that, unless someone ACTUALLY HAD THE KEYS, that it was damn near impossible to steal a newer BMW. Now am I being Naive?

Tow truck.

 

[bmwrocks]

Was the dealership able to produce the key it was dropped off with? If yes, then the car was "legitimately" stolen. If not, then the theif had access to the key, used it and stole the car with it or a duplicate key.

I put "legitimately" in quotes because it could still be an inside job. Like laser cutting a duplicate key, etc.

 

[j2azz]

You can laser cut a BMW key, but it still won't start the car.. Need the electronic chip on the inside to initiate the ignition process.

 

[xLibelle]

Tow truck.

Im at a drive through window late one night in atlanta and as im about to pull out, this low-boy tow truck backs up to some car, ejects the forks under the wheels and takes off. all done in ~15 seconds - i know because i had to wait for him to move to get out... he got on 400 SB and was gone.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

Was the dealership able to produce the key it was dropped off with? If yes, then the car was "legitimately" stolen. If not, then the theif had access to the key, used it and stole the car with it or a duplicate key.

I put "legitimately" in quotes because it could still be an inside job. Like laser cutting a duplicate key, etc.

the dealership should not be able to create the keys with the equipment standard at the dealership...the way that a extra key would need to be ordered was that a order would have to be sent to BMW in Germany and they would have to send the keys to the dealership. Additonally to put an order for keys BMW needs to see a bunch of the car information for security reasons. If someone had requested extra keys then BMW should have it on file.

 

[selavia]

Update!!!

Surprisingly the M3 was recovered. He is kind of glad that the car was recovered, but at the same time he's uneasy about how it was taken care of while it was stolen. Minor damaged to the car took place; bent rim(s) and stuff like that. THe dealer ship is fixing all problems, servicing the engine, checking every thing, detailing and all that stuff before they give it back to him. SO a somewhat happy ending to a horrible story.

Sean

 

[codex57]

Where'd they recover it? Do they have an idea what happened?

 

[Tom]

Man that really sucks, I would rather they just buy it from me so I can get a new one. I'm pretty sure from the bent rims, the must of driven the hell out of that M3.

 

[selavia]

The dealership would not release details about anything to my friend's father. They just said that the car will be given a complete inspection and everything will be checked, etc. and then he will get his car back. I think after he gets it back, he will take it to another BMW dealer and have them check the car out and make sure there is no damage that they tried to cover up / hide.