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- Dec 12, 2015
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Hi All.
When my A4 was stolen last month, I looked into how to secure the car and stop this happening again.
My car was stolen by programming a key using the OBD port on the car. It takes a thief around 40 seconds to program a key in the car and the car is driven away sometimes within a minute.
Sadly, the OBD port on most Audi's / BMW's / Range Rovers are live even without the ignition on. This is obviously for diagnostic reasons, but it's also a huge security problem.
I looked around and then finally settled on OBDProtector. The main reason was I spoke to Paul Chase who gave me a run down of what they're newly built product could do. It's a brand new piece of kit, that's only just been Thatcham approved.
This is the only OBD protection device on the market that is Thatcham approved.
I'm happy to say it was fitted today by an install specialist, who did an amazing job, both with the wiring and the explanation of everything.
Here's how it works:
- The OBD port is disabled (no power) until activated using a keycard.
- Pushing the keycard against the dash (where the reader is installed by them) activates a switch, which you can then use to turn on the OBD.
- The port automatically disables itself after 8 hours if left on (Great feature!)
- There are 2 cards given with the device, and you can register your Pin number so that should they ever be lost, you can get some new ones.
- The OBD port inside securely plugs into a device that blocks it being accessed. This is security sealed using heatsink wrap, then put way behind the dash, nice and out of the way.
- As said, this is the only device like this on the market that's actually been tested by Thatcham. Apparently, after 6 minutes of trying to access the car OBD port the testers gave up. The threshold for a security test is 5 minutes.
Other bits:
- Security stickers come with the product, so you can stop them smashing your windows and even having a go. These say "An advanced security device is fitted to this vehicle"
- This comes installed only. You cannot buy the box on its own, simply because this needs to be done right.
- Materials and parts are very well made.
I believe they're launching this product on Monday, and apparently Audi Sport is getting some kind of discount. If you want to avoid what happened to me, I highly recommend it.
Finally:
Tim (the person who installed mine, who also helped develop the product) is raising money for Cancer Research. He's a thoroughly nice guy, who didn't accept a payment for his work today instead asked I donate the cost to this. Incredible.
You can donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/T-KentIMilomo/
You can find the product here:
http://www.obdportector.com
You can read up about what happened to me, and why I'm writing this, here:
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/a-few-questions-my-a4-black-edition-was-stolen-last-night.260033/
When my A4 was stolen last month, I looked into how to secure the car and stop this happening again.
My car was stolen by programming a key using the OBD port on the car. It takes a thief around 40 seconds to program a key in the car and the car is driven away sometimes within a minute.
Sadly, the OBD port on most Audi's / BMW's / Range Rovers are live even without the ignition on. This is obviously for diagnostic reasons, but it's also a huge security problem.
I looked around and then finally settled on OBDProtector. The main reason was I spoke to Paul Chase who gave me a run down of what they're newly built product could do. It's a brand new piece of kit, that's only just been Thatcham approved.
This is the only OBD protection device on the market that is Thatcham approved.
I'm happy to say it was fitted today by an install specialist, who did an amazing job, both with the wiring and the explanation of everything.
Here's how it works:
- The OBD port is disabled (no power) until activated using a keycard.
- Pushing the keycard against the dash (where the reader is installed by them) activates a switch, which you can then use to turn on the OBD.
- The port automatically disables itself after 8 hours if left on (Great feature!)
- There are 2 cards given with the device, and you can register your Pin number so that should they ever be lost, you can get some new ones.
- The OBD port inside securely plugs into a device that blocks it being accessed. This is security sealed using heatsink wrap, then put way behind the dash, nice and out of the way.
- As said, this is the only device like this on the market that's actually been tested by Thatcham. Apparently, after 6 minutes of trying to access the car OBD port the testers gave up. The threshold for a security test is 5 minutes.
Other bits:
- Security stickers come with the product, so you can stop them smashing your windows and even having a go. These say "An advanced security device is fitted to this vehicle"
- This comes installed only. You cannot buy the box on its own, simply because this needs to be done right.
- Materials and parts are very well made.
I believe they're launching this product on Monday, and apparently Audi Sport is getting some kind of discount. If you want to avoid what happened to me, I highly recommend it.
Finally:
Tim (the person who installed mine, who also helped develop the product) is raising money for Cancer Research. He's a thoroughly nice guy, who didn't accept a payment for his work today instead asked I donate the cost to this. Incredible.
You can donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/T-KentIMilomo/
You can find the product here:
http://www.obdportector.com
You can read up about what happened to me, and why I'm writing this, here:
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/a-few-questions-my-a4-black-edition-was-stolen-last-night.260033/
