2nd Gen R57 Convertible Most liked posts in thread: Factory Alarm vs Aftermarket

The typical thief doesn't know if when opening the door the action will set off the alarm. I would think their mental process is to slit the top to gain entry for fear of setting off the alarm that might not even be there. But who knows what's going through the the minds of glue sniffin, coke snortin, methanoids anyway? The garage is the best alarm.

 

Yeah back in the early 90's I was working as a tech installing car alarms stereos and remote starters. Anyhow I came back from Lunch early because my afternoon appt was early. I parked my car right out infront of our shop and left my windows down because it was Summer and we are in a remote part of the complex. AnyhowI forgot my old Motorola gray brick like flip phone on my passengers seat by mistake.

So I pull this guys car into the shop and we go over his install. As our customer and his buddy are leaving the shop the "Other Guy" reaches in my car and takes my phone out of my car and the Clifford alarm with Prox sensor went nuts with the air horns blasting. :lol: He reached in the window and did not even open the door.

Our customer jumped when the horns went off and saw what his buddy did / was doing and I came running right out and was like WTF! His buddy was like "Really your going to steal a phone from the shop and the guy that is putting in my car alarm!" We called the Police and he was arrested and charged. Our customer was really embarrassed about his "buddy" and told the cops he saw him do it.

Anyhow you have to be there when the alarm goes off or care that the alram is goes off.

 

I don't even bother looking anymore. So often the alarms in cars out in front of the house here go off it's become a joke. Funny how the most run down mis-matched bumper, peeling paint Honda and Eclipse in the neighborhood have alarms. The Audi, MINIs and others of that ilk do not.

Since I park on the street in a high traffic area I try to park under a streetlight. Keep nothing in the car, not even a penny in a visible bin. Only thing you see is a pack of gum.

 

You could look into the LoJack security system. My son has one on his Chevy diesel and it seemed like a good choice for all it offered the end user.

 

Sure is... The keys are always on the console and I don't hav'ta worry about a broken window or door lock. :lol:

 

Sorry I'm so late, didn't see the thread before. On a Cabrio, the factory alarm is a joke, The sensors high at the rear can't be installed, its a ragtop. Consequently only the area below the beltline is alarmed.

As others have said, it is not much of a deterrent as everyone knows MINIs are tough to take, and smash and grab will do it anyway.