Security Questions.. Preventing Car Theft - Ibiza FR 2016

ben

Active Member
Nov 26, 2015
88
6
Hi everyone, I'm due to be getting an Ibiza FR within the next few weeks (already 5 weeks late), and had some questions about security. Hopefully this is the right place to post.. otherwise someone let me know and ill post it else where.

So I spend a lot of time living in an inner city area where crime is pretty common. I know three people personally who have had their cars stolen within the last few months. The most recent being a 53 plate corolla, which seems like people will literally take anything they can get their hands on. There as also an S3 stolen in the local area last year.

So anyways I was doing some research about the best ways to stop your car from being stolen, and yes I am aware that "IF THEY WANT IT BAD ENOUGH, THEY WILL GET HOLD OF IT". This seems to be the classic advice for anyone who wants to reduce the chances of this happening (not helpful).

I was reading that the VW group cars are easily stolen with access to the ODB/VAGS port usually located near one of the front windows, in which a thief with a £30 device can break your window, hook up the device and programme a key before driving away. I was wondering if anyone knows if this is possible on the ibiza 2016 model? I ask as it seems that the reason people are able to do this is that some cars have an "alarm blind spot" in the front corners of the vehicle (particularly noted on the Ford Focus ST) making this task pretty easy. Should I try relocate/ block my OBD to prevent this from happening should someone try it?

So anyway, if you've got this far id appreciate any advice on minimising the risk of theft, and any response to the question about how easy it is to steal an Ibiza with OBD/VAGS access would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Ben :)
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
Maybe shuffle over to the audisport forum, B8 section and see what has been posted about someone that had their A4 taken away by that method, also you should find a link to a new thread covering a new device that gets launched maybe this week.

Right, I agree with what you have said, if they want it they will take it away, not being nasty, but I don't think that an FR is top of what gets grabbed, Cupra should suffer more, I have an Audi S4 and I worry, but it is more the RS4 that gets taken or stripped!

So, what have I done, well, first thing I bought before I took my car down South was a DiskLok, that covers the steering wheel which should makes things a bit nasty, next thing, I believe that VAG cars have a 15 second delay before the alarm sounds, you can knock that down to o seconds using VCDS. Blocking the OBD2 port, I bought a port protector - it is a machined block that covers the port. Now I don't know exactly what this new product is completely, but it involves fitting and bonding a new section of cable plug + socket to the existing OBD2 port, moving the original OBD2 away to another hidden location and fitting the new modified port in its location. Within that new cable assembly is a relay to break the permanent 12V feed to the OBD2 port. Normally that 12V is disabled, but it needs to get switched on if the dealer etc needs to use the OBD2 port, that is achieved by having a keycard and a sensor under the dash which you swipe and that wakens up the control for this relay - then you press a switch to enable the relay and so the 12V to the OBD2 port, by default it stays active for 8 hours if you don't switch it off yourself. Only problem might be clearing up what is any issue you might encounter is using Carista or VCDS after that has been fitted - hopefully none.

Edit:- the DiskLok should be a visible deterrent if you pick the yellow colour.

The simplier OBD2 port lock that I have bought is a bit messy to fit and remove, though maybe I will stick with it as it will become quickly obvious that the port is covered so hopefully all I'll get is a smashed window!

The DiskLok is Thatcham approved, the new complex OBD2 port blocker is also Thatcham approved - the simplier one I have is not approved.
 
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RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
Personally I think that it is high time that VAG, BMW and LRJ get a hammering by the press until they address these obvious security issues.

I know that these nasty turds are always just a step behind the new security methods, but come on, someone should be trying to get it right?
 

ben

Active Member
Nov 26, 2015
88
6
Hi, cheers for your response. Ill have a look at the audi forum. Yeah I get the point about the FR not been as desirable as Cupra or an S3! Im not one of those guys that thinks his (future) car is in a completely different league to reality :).

Just got me a bit shook when I read that some girl had her 53 plate corolla stolen nearby last night and have seen stuff on Facebook where new corsas with nice trims been stolen as well, which is why i'd not put much thought into security until now.

Knowing my car is of much less interest than high end vehicles, but decent enough to have some good standard security in comparison to what you might have found on a 13 year old corolla should mean I should be fine :) I'll probs get a disk lock and consider relocating the OBD port.

Thanks again!

Also.. How much did you pay for the OBD lock? I was trying to find one earlier.. the only one i came across was £169!
 

stadan

Active Member
Jan 31, 2016
117
0
urgh really fustrates me even thinking about cars being stolen. Some people are ****ing scum. let me know if you find anything to help enhance security
 

MJ

Public transport abuser
Apr 22, 2008
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Maybe a more regulated approach to the sale of the equipment being used to steal cars would be a better bet.

The alarm and immobiliser systems are after all - Thatcham approved.
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
Maybe a more regulated approach to the sale of the equipment being used to steal cars would be a better bet.

The alarm and immobiliser systems are after all - Thatcham approved.

Maybe one of the problems of being in a place called Europe is, if we stop the sale of that stuff in UK, there is plenty other European places that can provide it no questions asked and we can't disrupt free trade - that is cheating!

Thatcham need to start working for their money and not just being rubber stampers of systems that are meant to work well.

Edit:- Just one thing, generally I am not against UK being part of Europe, but when sales of "hooky" diy thieving kits are freely available, something is wrong as you have implied.
 
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RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
Hi, cheers for your response. Ill have a look at the audi forum. Yeah I get the point about the FR not been as desirable as Cupra or an S3! Im not one of those I'll probs get a disk lock and consider relocating the OBD port.

Thanks again!

Also.. How much did you pay for the OBD lock? I was trying to find one earlier.. the only one i came across was £169!

I've chopped sections out of your posting there, but yes, "your" new car is your pride and joy and you are right to want to protect it from nasty turds!

As for OBD lock - yes that is the one I rushed out and bought, at that price, I'd expect the one being discussed on the audisport will cost more, all should be revealed on Monday it seems!

The Ibiza OBD2 port is behind a pull off cover, but I'm sure that lots of nasty turds also know that and will still be able to reach it through the smashed front window.

European legislation I think, demanded that these ports were located within a very short distance of the driver's seat, VAG and it seems like, others have conformed and left that port extremely prone to abuse. Which sounds weird when we need to, rightly so, jump through hoops if we want to get another key supplied and coded! All a bit silly as it has turned out.
 

MJ

Public transport abuser
Apr 22, 2008
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The biggest problem is see is a lot of the equipment we're talking about here is developed with honest intentions in mind, to be used by the likes of auto locksmiths or auto electricians but there is no code of conduct as to who can buy it and with increasing amounts of Chinese copies at low prices - practically anyone can get their hands on a fully functional cloned unit.

Rolling codes and partial factory coding along with component security is playing it's part in preventing vehicle theft or re use of stolen parts. It only takes a few months of new technology to be available before someone reverse engineers the software and hardware, finds away around the coding, alters the eeprom programming, virginises used parts and hey presto! All that security is useless. Remember ECUs that were locked so you couldn't remap them? already a thing of the past.

2 of the pieces of kit I've seen in action can do things that far exceed the capability of the dealer equipment.

Most of these tools come from places such as Bulgaria or Romania where they seem to pioneer ground breaking auto locksmith tools. The UK importer for the more famous tool (featured on watchdog when they were being used to help people steal bmws) is just around the corner from me, for around £6k you can have yourself a tool that will do practically anything on most vw ag cars upto 2014.
 
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MJ

Public transport abuser
Apr 22, 2008
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Manchester
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It's because of EOBD compliance that the diagnostic port must be within a certain distance from the steering wheel and require no tools to gain access.

New immo components from the factory for 2015+ cars are all part coded to the vehicle but there's nothing to say this coding can't be extracted from other memory locations within the vehicles comms network.

At the end of the day it's a human who designs the security software and a human who cracks it.
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
I suppose a more useful approach would be to train every one in civil obedience - ah well, that is not going to work I suppose!

To the OP, the cost including fitting, of the new OBD2 (EOBD) port protector is £300 with 20% currently available to "www.audi-sport.net" forum members, so if you want that one, maybe become a member of that forum for a short time - no harm in it!
 
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