E53 Electric folding side mirrors..STOLEN!..HELP !!!!

[Sanj]

No, no - this is nothing more than a high-tech paint with microscopic numbers. That number is what you register as 'yours' and then if the mirrors/property is stolen you can argue it's yours.

But no, the bar stewards will get mirrors regardless. Possibly as X5Sport says, blindingly obvious stickers showing you have the deterrent might help. Nothing will stop them getting them - your out-of-site out-of-mind is the best.

[StewieG]

[quote=""Sanj""]No, no - this is nothing more than a high-tech paint with microscopic numbers. That number is what you register as 'yours' and then if the mirrors/property is stolen you can argue it's yours.

But no, the bar stewards will get mirrors regardless. Possibly as X5Sport says, blindingly obvious stickers showing you have the deterrent might help. Nothing will stop them getting them - your out-of-site out-of-mind is the best. [/quote]

ITs a great invention. Issue is if i apply smartwater and the mirrors are nicked, im going to have to walk around with a UV lamp and scan every X5 I see locally....lol

I think i will stick with my lock up. Riding the bike is my way of excercising...lol

[Sanj]

Agreed - keep it indoors!

[X5Sport]

The main advantage of the system is that any (legit) scrap yard or parts seller is not goint to want to get involved in 'marked parts' and that means they're not worth nicking as too many questions are raised. At least that's the theory. If I bought parts with Smartwater on them, I'd want to see the certificate of ownership, or I'd be sending them straight back - and likely be reporting the seller too.

But then being ex-Law Enforcement, I'm mean, evil and nasty

[Sanj]

[quote=""X5Sport""]But then being ex-Law Enforcement, I'm mean, evil and nasty [/quote]

Or doing what any law-abiding citizen 'should' be doing. How else will this work otherwise...

[X5Sport]

Agreed, but I'm especially evil too...... Let's face it, I do drive a [size=99px]Red [/size]X6

Smartwater does work, but of course relies on non-trade folks knowing what it is and the significance of the yellow stickers on parts (which are also very difficult to completely remove by the way). I only know because Honda used to supply it on all their motorbikes. I've been using it ever since.

[pvr]

Does most of it not end up on eBay though? Where some private individual will most likely buy it and will never be any wiser.

For parts, I just don't know what would stop the theft of these type of things.

[X5Sport]

It is a really difficult issue. People have tried security type bolts/screws with odd heads, but that can cause the real owner issues if there's a genuine breakdown.

We had a similar discussion with BMW GB when the E46 bumper was stolen so easily and they acknowledged it was a problem but they weren't doing anything about it. As the Police told us, if the OEM fit security screws then there's a good chance the thieves will get the right tools to get them off again. The body shop who did the repairs were seeing a lot if BMW E46 like this simply because spares were so excessively expensive (which is no doubt why the mirrors are being stolen), or because BMW refused to provide M-Sport parts for a vehicle not fitted with them at build - same as you could not get OEM 20" wheels for the E53 until large numbers of owners began demanding them in 2005. Originally they were a 4.8is only part. The professional thieves have access to the right kit and knowhow, and the amateurs are likely to damage/vandalise the car out of spite if they can't get the parts off.

There should be no way of removing the mirrors without getting inside the car and it being a difficult job to get at the bits. Trouble is that adds time and therefore cost and complexity to the original build, and extra labour costs on owners with a failure. You just can't win!