[j2dad5389]

I use the Nextdoor app and people have been reporting high activity of catalytic converters gettings stolen in the area right off their cars. I'm curious to see how easy it is to pull of basic cars vs. our bmw's? I know they are of higher value so we are targets, but I remember when doing my downpipe install how much of a PITA it was to even get access to it. Would thieves bother to target ours with the amount of labor vs. the price of getting out of them?

[MidtownMike]

Well, if I wanted to steal one with the risk of getting caught... I would rather fight the average soy tofu eating Prius owner than a 500g rib eye steak eating Bimma owner. So.. I guess we're relatively safe.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by j2dad5389

I use the Nextdoor app and people have been reporting high activity of catalytic converters gettings stolen in the area right off their cars. I'm curious to see how easy it is to pull of basic cars vs. our bmw's? I know they are of higher value so we are targets, but I remember when doing my downpipe install how much of a PITA it was to even get access to it. Would thieves bother to target ours with the amount of labor vs. the price of getting out of them?

The closer the cat is to the engine and the lower the car is to the ground the more work it is going to be. A low F3x N55 where the cat is in the DP is going to be very difficult. A higher car or truck where the cat is in the middle of the exhaust underneath is very easy. Usually they are stolen from cars/trucks where they can just slide under the car and unbolt or cut it off. It can be done in just a minute or two with a battery powered saw in that case (although that does make a lot of noise).

[kickthecan]

Yeah highly unlikely. Pain in the ass and small area to work with if they want to take it off or cut it. I'm pretty sure f30s will trigger an alarm once it tilts too.


Just not worth the risk for criminals. Might as well break into the car and take stuff

[Gamb1t]

Originally Posted by MidtownMike

Well, if I wanted to steal one with the risk of getting caught... I would rather fight the average soy tofu eating Prius owner than a 500g rib eye steak eating Bimma owner. So.. I guess we're relatively safe.

I'd think the rib eye steak eaters are truckers. Bimmer owners would be.... salmon and kale shake on loafers dude.

Anyhoo, I cat thieves target hybrids like the Prius because the gas engine is hardly used therefore the cat is in good shape. Generally normal ICE engine's cat would be well used and may not be worth much.
New Trucks and SUVs are also easy target without having to even jack it up.

[Wires]

I'd say on a BMW almost impossible (at least on the turbo cars). It was a PITA getting the downpipe out to swap it.

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Bimmer owners would be.... salmon and kale shake on loafers dude.

Well, that sounds like a real douchebag. Guess that goes with the sophisticated premium European image Bimmer has in North America.

Here in Europe, Bavaria/Bayern is known for sausages, ham and beer. Lots of beer.

[Billfitz]

WTF is kale?

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

WTF is kale?

A secret ingredient that loafer and silk scarf wearing BMW owners with plucked eyebrows put in their salmon shakes.

[AlmondJayRoM3]

Originally Posted by kickthecan

Yeah highly unlikely. Pain in the ass and small area to work with if they want to take it off or cut it. I'm pretty sure f30s will trigger an alarm once it tilts too.


Just not worth the risk for criminals. Might as well break into the car and take stuff

Yeah more likely to target trucks and large SUVs for their larger converters and easy access without lifting.

Hybrids also because their converters have higher concentrations of precious metals.

[chowser51]

Amazon locations are being hit hard since all their rented trucks are sitting unwatched.

A car dealership one city over got hit for almost 50 one night.

[Runner340]

I think our turbo BMW's are pretty safe for all the reasons stated. I know someone who stopped a potential thief scoping out her SUV as soon as she starting walking into a store in broad daylight! The low life was on the ground looking under her SUV when she turned around and scared him off. The thieves I'm told like to steal convertors from hybrid ULEV vehicles due to their high content of precious metals of rhodium and platinum. The 2nd gen Prius is an easy <10 min steal with a jack and a portable chop saw. The newer 3rd gen and up Prius are much more of a PITA to steal. The CATS have a fuel and coolant lines running near it along with shielding and the resonator is connected to it. I know this from having had the 2 gen and current 3rd gen Prius in the family. I bought and installed a MillerCat stainless steel plate convertor shield for ours. May not stop an aggressive thief from taking it but they'll be working hard and making a lot of noise cutting stuff away and may look for an easier target. Also not a bad idea to engrave the VIN on the CAT which "may" help the authorities in cracking down on the recycling company and thief.

[davidr3]

Pretty damn hard, it's likely they won't target a turbo car. A lot of easier targets like a prius, I also heard the Nissan Leaf is a big target.

[1slowb58]

Jokes on them, I don't have one ��

[Fliplegend]

The chances of the roundel being stolen are much higher.

[MidtownMike]

Here in The Netherlands, it's a lot more common to have the M-sport steering wheel, professional navigation and/or airbags stolen. Specialized and organized gangs (sometimes traveling here from Eastern Europe) rob a whole neighbourhood or dealership parking lot in one night. They sometimes even cut their way to the roof module to eliminate the alarm.

There's even a company that specializes in irreversibly securing navigation systems to the chassis, which some lease companies do for all their cars as a preventive measure. http://navirem.nl/ (sorry, Dutch only).

Also, steering wheel locks such as Disclocks and Stoplocks are quite common here to prevent steering wheel or airbag theft.

And then there's the M-sport/AMG line/S-line bumper theft l, often combined with xenon/LED headlight theft. Oh and good old fashioned wheel theft, where you find your ride on a pile of bricks if you're lucky, or sitting on the brake rotors if you're a bit less lucky.

Cat being stolen is the least of my worries, unfortunately. That's why I have a steel pipe ready at my front door... for educational & disciplinary purposes.


Here are some gory pictures (viewer dicretion advised).

[Desertnate]

In my parents condo complex they had a rash of cats being stolen. Dozens of cars have been hit. Sometimes multiples in a single night. One of their neighbors has had his cat stolen THREE times!

In their area, it looks like the thieves slide under the car, saw off the cat and get out as quickly as possible. SUV's seem to be the target of choice because of the easy access, though the guy who lost multiple cats drives a Honda Element.

For our vehicles, I'd think the low clearance would would make them less of a target. Even if they have a floor jack, many of the regular ones are still too tall to get under the car.

[sspade]

Not easy on the F30 as the cars are low to the ground from the factory and cat is stuffed up in the engine bay more than hanging down low.

I would go as far as to say its IMPOSSIBLE without lifting the car in someway.

[erickonphoenix]

Ease of theft and value of the cat is most important. Prius's are targeted because they have two and tend to be less corroded. Other than that most targets are vehicles with good ground clearance, trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by davidr3

Pretty damn hard, it's likely they won't target a turbo car. A lot of easier targets like a prius, I also heard the Nissan Leaf is a big target.

Nissan leaf is an electric car lol...?

[sspade]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

Nissan leaf is an electric car lol...?

[CajunBMW]

Originally Posted by MidtownMike

A secret ingredient that loafer and silk scarf wearing BMW owners with plucked eyebrows put in their salmon shakes.

That sounds incredibly disgusting!!!!