ALL LONDON 993 OWNERS

sebrussellsmith · May 14, 2009

I thought this needed to be posted in conjunction with the 993 mirror theft post. I understand this has not affected many owners who live outside London but for those who do it is now becoming an incredibly frustrating issue.

It seems that 993's are being targeted throughout London area by area. A few days ago SW7, now SW6 - mine were stolen last night.

What can we do to stop this? If anyone who still has the mirrors attached to their car, I would be happy to wait there with a baseball bat to meet the offenders!

Don't ignore this as it is only a matter of time before yours are taken!

Any thoughts appreciated?

Stewart Rix · May 14, 2009

The first owner of my car had his mirrors stolen twice in less than two years before getting an OPC to link them to the alarm system. Not sure how, but the alarm is set off with a fairly light nudge - I know 'cos I've done it a few times in the garage.

Mark Elder · May 14, 2009

I certainly would not ignore this - because anything happening in London is going to spread to Glasgow soon. But I 'm frankly short on ideas that don't potentially make matters worse.

Since the other posts I've wondered about a combination of a kevlar strap (better than a chain as easier to fix and less damaging to door if attempts made to break it) and an alarm - so thief does not have time to try to break the strap and is less likely to try other door or return to take the next set of mirrors.

Mark Elder · May 14, 2009

ORIGINAL: Stewart Rix

but the alarm is set off with a fairly light nudge

I'd be interested to know more about this. An alarm that goes off with any movement between the main part of the mirror and the door mount would be good - but I can't see how to make this work. Probably needs to be a vibration sensor.

sebrussellsmith · May 14, 2009

ORIGINAL: Mark Elder

ORIGINAL: Stewart Rix

but the alarm is set off with a fairly light nudge

Click to expand...

I'd be interested to know more about this. An alarm that goes off with any movement between the main part of the mirror and the door mount would be good - but I can't see how to make this work. Probably needs to be a vibration sensor.

Hi Mark & Stewart, just spoken to alarm guys and that is exactly what happens. Vibration sensors that they can fit to the exisitng alarm - £200'ish all in!!
Just called my garage and to supply fit and paint new mirrors is £700 - seems a bit much doesn't it?!

hanhams81 · May 14, 2009

Theft is sanctioned from the top if the current news stories are anything to go by. Mark's suggestion of a vibration sensor may have traction. Last year in Austria when a heavy storm dumped rain off roofs onto my 993 its alarm reacted loudly waking most in the hotel. Despite my frequent cancellations from indoors, via a nearby window, the continuing rain set it off several times and only going quiet when the rain subsided. Whilst I cursed the efficiency of my Clifford alarm system at the time I now realise it was a good investment by the original owner. To think I was thinking of upgrading to a PA2000 system. Perhaps not now.
Hanhams81

Mark Elder · May 14, 2009

ORIGINAL: sebrussellsmith

....just spoken to alarm guys and that is exactly what happens. Vibration sensors that they can fit to the exisitng alarm - £200'ish all in!!

Looks like a good investment (relative to repeated £700!) - do you know what make the sensors are? - I'm about to get my auto-electrian guy to fit a tyre pressure monitoring system and I may as well get him to buy and fit this too.

sebrussellsmith · May 14, 2009

ORIGINAL: Mark Elder

ORIGINAL: sebrussellsmith

....just spoken to alarm guys and that is exactly what happens. Vibration sensors that they can fit to the exisitng alarm - £200'ish all in!!

Click to expand...

Looks like a good investment (relative to repeated £700!) - do you know what make the sensors are? - I'm about to get my auto-electrian guy to fit a tyre pressure monitoring system and I may as well get him to buy and fit this too.

To be fair I dont know yet what make they are, however, this was as per advice from Sextons Audio. That and an electric bolt that blows their f.....g arms off (not advised by Sextons).

hanhams81 · May 15, 2009

My Clifford system is called Arrow 3 a so called 4th generation alarm. I suspect it has been superseded by even more exotic technology. Looking at the User manual it refers to a Piezo Sensor to detect theft related vibrations and impacts. Seemingly the sensitivity of the sensor is adjustable. I hope this make sense.
Hanhams81

IndischRot · May 16, 2009

Is it worth getting the last 7 characters of the VIN etched onto the mirror glass?

sebrussellsmith · May 21, 2009

ORIGINAL: phelix

Is it worth getting the last 7 characters of the VIN etched onto the mirror glass?

Maybe but then they could possibly just replace the mirror glass

JTP · Jun 7, 2009

Just passed a handsome Aventura green C4 (with a C4 reg, nonetheless!) in Bayswater missing both wing mirrors--presume this is the result of theft, in which case my condolences. But it's still good to see many nice 993s in London.

sebrussellsmith · Jun 8, 2009

What a shame, yet another theft. Clearly this is not a priority for the police. I received the usual letter a few days after the theft of my mirros explaining that the case was now closed. I dont think it ever had a chance of being open!!

jstatham · Jun 9, 2009

I had my mirrors nicked a couple of weeks ago in NW3. Just moved house (still in same postcode) and the 964 across the street had its teardrop mirrors stolen on Saturday night.

Police did at least come and look at my car (the ****s also stole my rear lights!) and dusted for prints, but case now closed.

Still pondering what I should do about replacement, as these guys seem to be continuing to do the rounds. Garage parking not really an option, so feels very exposed!

sebrussellsmith · Jun 10, 2009

ORIGINAL: jstatham

I had my mirrors nicked a couple of weeks ago in NW3. Just moved house (still in same postcode) and the 964 across the street had its teardrop mirrors stolen on Saturday night.

Police did at least come and look at my car (the ****s also stole my rear lights!) and dusted for prints, but case now closed.

Still pondering what I should do about replacement, as these guys seem to be continuing to do the rounds. Garage parking not really an option, so feels very exposed!

I am sorry to hear that you had yours stolen. It seems to be getting a bit of a joke and the police seem fairly disinterested. At least they dusted for prints. Interesting as when I asked about the same, they said they wouldnt do it on the basis that in a court of law even if you identified the culprit you had to prove it was actually them taking the mirrors and not just 'Touching' them.

There you go - part of the problem is the law itself. Until we take a hard line , this sort of think will only carry on. In Saudi they cuts their hands off! This would make them think twice about stealing!!

Your only option as I see it is to fill the holes where the screws are with a hard filler. As you say garaging is not an option.

JTP · Jun 10, 2009

Sorry if this has already been covered ad nauseam, but could one replace the mounting screws with a type that requires a special screwdriver, like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx ?

sebrussellsmith · Jun 10, 2009

ORIGINAL: JTP

Sorry if this has already been covered ad nauseam, but could one replace the mounting screws with a type that requires a special screwdriver, like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx ?

Agreed this could do the trick, however, when speaking to my garage, the feeling was that they would possibly always have the right tool to use

jstatham · Jun 16, 2009

My understanding is that even if you fill the bolt heads, that people can just rip the mirrors off. Apparently the lugs into the door are weak, so you can pop them out that way. I guess the thief has more difficulty in passing them on but the damage is still done.

I do wonder where all these mirrors are going - I haven't seen anything on E-bay post the recent round of thefts. I have heard that some older Audi owners put them on to look like the old S2. But I guess some of them end up on 964s....

Still not replaced my mirrors - might just have to find a garage....

szklarek · Jun 16, 2009

Don't know if this is feasible, but is it possible to greatly simplify the removal of these mirrors - some sort of 'quick release'? That way they could be easily removed and hidden away when leaving the vehicle - thus avoiding theft and/or any damage that might be caused to the doors by making them more difficult to remove.

Regards
Anton

edelschmetterling · Jun 22, 2009

I have had more than my fair share of mirrors stolen. - I even spoke to the American chap who works at Porsche and designed them and asked whether they could retro make removable mirrors in the hope of resolving this problem. Obviously there is a market and they'll stand to make money from it too. £500 a mirror is a hash price for anyone to have to pay. "" My last mirror was stolen in front of hundreds of people, this is Britain today; no one will try and stop them as they do not want to get stabbed.

Fix the mirrors to the doors with a stronger bolt/ nut or whatever and when they come to rip the mirrors off it will further damage the door. DON'T do it"¦
The only resolution in truth and this is a very unfortunate reality, is don't park on the street, even think twice before parking in a private car park etc. There has to be a way to create a quick release set of mirrors to the benefit of all. Anyone know a designer?