So much for high security vehicles.

[Mjolinor]

https://www.esat.kuleuven.be/cosic/fast ... supercars/

[andys]

Confirmation of another pointless gimmick being more trouble than it's worth.
What exactly was the issue with using a key anyway.

[Mjolinor]

I think that of all the crap they are installing now a dimming. timed interior light has to take the biscuit. The processing power you need to perform that task when a door operated switch that grounded a bulb worked fine for decades, just beggars belief.

[windmill john]

I think that of all the crap they are installing now a dimming. timed interior light has to take the biscuit. The processing power you need to perform that task when a door operated switch that grounded a bulb worked fine for decades, just beggars belief.

I’m not saying I agree, but it gives you time on a dark night to find the key hole.
It’s like my wife’s old company car, it had coming home lights. When you got out and locked the door, the head lights would stay lit and fade out. Again giving you the opportunity to get to your door safely.

Like I said, not condoning it.... I still think ABS is superfluous, unless it is new and someone else is doing the work.
I’d rather have clever lights than variable height inlet tracts!

[Rob Frankhamr]

When you live, as I do, in an area where there is no street lighting and negligible light polution, even ignoring the safety aspects, smart headlights are very nice. To press the 'open' button on the fob and get instant area illumination and to have time to get to the door before the headlights go out is good. Yes, there are other solutions but this one is very effective. That being said, I do think that keyless start systems are ill thought out and unnecessary.

It has to be said though, in their defence, that I've yet to see a keyed system that is any more secure and reliable. The sad truth is that anything human ingenuity can design, human ingenuity can get round. After all, the crooks are at least as intelligent as the designers (and, all to often are the same people).

All you can do is try and make it too inconvenient for the casual thief to bother and accept that, if someone really wants to get into your car and/or steal it, they're going to be able to do it no matter what security measures you adopt.

Rob

[Mjolinor]

I bought a set of lock picks as I didn't have a key to my bike. I have never picked a lock before and it took me under 10 seconds to turn the BMW on with the picks after less than a minute watching a you tube video. I was pretty gobsmacked at how easy it was.

[Rob Frankhamr]

Incidentally, if you really object to 'smart' headlights and (many other modern functions) they can often be switched off or have various parameters adjusted in the settings of the car accessible through the OBD II port.

Rob

[Mjolinor]

No problem with smart headlights, they do serve a useful purpose, it's smart interior lights that I consider to be over the top.

[Nate]

All you can do is try and make it too inconvenient for the casual thief to bother and accept that, if someone really wants to get into your car and/or steal it, they're going to be able to do it no matter what security measures you adopt.

Rob

Indeed. And interesting to consider that with "target hardening", to use the proper term, making it harder to hot-wire a parked vehicle there has been a commensurate increase in home invasions (in order to steal the keys) and car-jacking where the vehicle is otherwise brought to a stop - keys handily already in the vehicle... When you consider that many vehicles are stolen not for resale or parts, but to be used in the commission of crimes it does mean that the person you meet nicking your wheels may not be the local TWOCker, but a rather more serious chap altogether.

[Rasputin]

you wouldn't like my Lexus then...as you approach it the puddle lights under the mirrors activate...the door unlocks when you touch the handle...as you open the doors the lights under the doors activate along with the interior and footwell lights...you shut the doors and they all dim back out on an adjustable timer. I like the keyless setup...I keep my fob in a small Faraday pouch and move it out of the pouch without taking it out of my pocket, putting it back in as I walk away from it when parked.

[Rob Frankhamr]

I keep my fob in a small Faraday pouch and move it out of the pouch without taking it out of my pocket, putting it back in as I walk away from it when parked.

Sadly, that approach is about as effective as the proverbial chocolate fireguard...

If the thieves are targetting your car, they will be operating in it's vicinity. As soon as you uncover your 'stealth' fob, it's cracked. The real weakness of the system isn't the fob or the radio communication it is in the vulnerability of the encryption technique used and there's no way you or any other owner can affect that.

Rob

[Mjolinor]

The secret to this problem is what I do. I drive a car that is so manky no one with even three brain cells would want it.