XSeries-forum

So, I was wondering if anybody has had an alternative security system installed on an E70.
We probably all know about the OBD issues and BMW's security upgrade etc. but I keep reading that the upgrade is not much use.

I have done a bit of research and found that the Viper system seems to be the most talked about.

Anybody had an aftermarket system fitted or any other recommendations..?

to reply to my own post, I had a reply from Secure My Car Ltd

Our BMW Viper Package includes a 2-way 2000 foot paging remote with an engine immobiliser and our all important specially designed BMW OBD port immobilisation (To help combat key cloning) We have also upgraded the system with two sensors. Firstly a dual motion sensor with external warn away. This sensor beeps to warn anyone away from the car and covers the all important black spot in your BMWs OEM alarms internal sensor. We can set this sensor to beep only if someone looks through the window minimizing false alarms. Secondly an impact sensor. This activates the alarm if the car is hit in anyway.

If you've ever set your factory BMW alarm off, you would have heard the poor not so loud factory fitted siren. Its quiet and sounds like one of those vehicle reversing sounds the bin lorries make. The Viper siren is a much louder at 120db. it also features a fully adjustable 1-6 tone siren. (Which can also be fully programmed to just 1 tone) We can even program the alarm not to beep when you arm disarm the system making the install as OEM as possible.

The problem with conventional car alarms are that to everyone else, they are just an annoying sound in the night. The only person that cares if a car alarm is sounding is the owner. That's why we included a 2000 foot viper LED (Ghost light) pager key fob in our package. If your alarm system is activated, the pager remote will beep and flash lighting up like an Xmas tree, warning you your alarm has activated. The 2-way remote will also confirm your commands virtually instantly using brilliant flashing hidden GhostLight™ LEDs on the remote. Range is a rock solid up to 2,000 foot range, which can be upgraded to a mile range if needed.

We now have 2 ways to control the new viper system. With BMW firmware installed onto the alarm, this system can be fully armed and disarmed using standard BMW key fob to arm and disarm the viper alarm system. When you lock the doors from your BMW remote, the viper alarm will also arm. We can also turn off the arm and disarm beeps so make the install look completly factory. The second and more secure way is we can wire the new viper alarm to work completely independent through the viper remote. Once armed you won't be able to turn off the viper or start the car even with your original BMW remote, as the viper independently immobilises your car. This makes any BMW key cloning Or theft of keys useless.

Secure My Car BMW Viper Upgrade Package. Whats Includes:

Includes One 2 way Responder LED Ghost light up to 2000 foot range remote
Revenger® 6 Tone Siren 120db siren
Extra 2 sensors -
Dual Proximity sensor with warn away
Dual impact sesnor with warn away
BMW specially designed OBD port immobilisation (designed by us)
2nd Engine immobiliser
Specialist canbus module with latest BMW firmware installed for full digital control of your car
Trunk pop from viper remote
Total closure when arming the alarm
fully fitted by our BMW specialist installer
Option to upgrade to remote engine start.(not included in this package) *
SmartStart™ Compatible
The package fully fitted to any BMW is £550
* Spare key is needed if remote start is added. Automatic transmission vehicles only. Remote start is not included in this package but can be added for £150.

Viper bmw package fitted is £550

I have personally designed this system and fitted it to hundreds of BMWs over the past 18 months alone. We have tested it on our own BMW M3 and with BMWs diagnostic computer. When our alarm system is armed the OBD port can not communicate with the cars main brain, making it almost impossible to clone a new key to the car. When the viper alarm is disarmed the OBD port is open and free to use for diagnostics. The way BMW should have wired it in the first place! The system will also not affect any of the electrics on your car, weather factory fitted or after market. It will also not void your BMW warranty in any way.

Anybody got a Viper alarm...?

I've not got one but plenty of the boys on M3 Cutters forum have

[quote="Ashway"]
I've not got one but plenty of the boys on M3 Cutters forum have
[/quote]

Yer, I'm on M3Cutters too and have seen it.
I have just had conformation that the security upgrade has been done but I think I will still go for the Viper as a backup.

I have finally got round to registering after months lurking on this forum!  Thought this was a good point to chip in!

After an attempted theft, within 2 months of E70 ownership, I upgraded the security on my 40Dx M-Sport. 

I went to the car at 5am to drive my then-pregnant wife and toddler to the airport to find the doors unlocked, the OBD port cover off and all of the electrics dead (not even the door lights came on).  BMW Assist first thought a dead battery, but couldn't get any of their computers to talk to the car, or even identify that there was a car connected!  We quickly realized the car had been subject to an "attack" so the police, the insurance and various BMW dealerships were soon involved. The car had to be lifted out of it's parallel parked position by a special crane due to its weight and the fact they couldn't get the parking brake off!!

The would-be thief had bricked the CAS and crashed the main ECU (so I am told).  Eventually had the CAS module and locks replaced, covered by insurance.

Anyway, I subsequently got a Viper alarm installed by the guy from Secure My Car and it appears that business is booming!  He's very professional and knowledgeable and the installation is flawless.  I would thoroughly recommend the alarm - greatly improved intrusion detection, secondary immobilizer, proximity warn-away and a key fob that tells you whether the car is locked and whether anyone is getting too close for their own good.

I'd be happy to expand or answer any Q's on the day to day.  It can be a little quirky, but only during the unlock sequence, e.g. both the Viper and factory alarm disarm together (on only one key press) but the factory alarm lags slightly, so you can set it off if you jump in too quickly!

Finally, from my research at the time, I couldn't find anyone else with such a comprehensive BMW-specific solution.

PS I think I originally found out about Secure My Car from M3Cutters, as mentioned above

Thanks AWB, just what I was hoping to hear.
Good news that they didn't manage to take your X5. I think I will book in to have the Viper installed by Secure My Car. They have a place in Leicester which means they can come to my house.

The car is for my wife to use so she won't thank me for anything too complicated (iPhone control etc.) so I was thinking just use the standard key for both alarms.
Just to confirm, you have both the BMW key/fob and the Viper fob in use?

A very kind guy on PistonHeads is sending be some "OBD Port Disabled" stickers

I would love to hear if anybody has actually put in a dummy OBD port with a 12v supply to blow up the thieves computer 

I had the OBD port "relocated".

I also went the route of having standalone secondary alarm, rather than use only the BMW fob to activate the Viper.  Apparently this is slightly more secure, but I couldn't tell you why.  You also benefit from the 2-way remote.  With two very young kids, my wife loves the ability to double check she's locked-up the car while out and about.

So, in practice, the Viper key is used to lock/unlock (which arms/disarms both the Viper and OEM alarms at the same time), and the BMW fob is only used in the dash for running the car.

This way, I can also fall-back to using just the BMW fob if I want to (and therefore stop using the Viper).  I did this recently when putting the car in for a service - I kept the Viper remote.

I've read some fun ravings from people suggesting rigging up an inverter to the dummy OBD port - 240v might even do more damage than frying a laptop/key cloner! 

that sound just the job, thanks.

I will book it in