Tracker Question...

[E63S]

I am getting the dealership to fit a tracker when my new car finally arrives. I have been given two options - Tracker, or Tracker Plus. I have zero knowledge of such things, but I don’t particularly want to pick a duff tracker when I could get a better version for not much more. I’ve been given a PDF copy of the options, and to the untrained eye they look fairly similar. Is it worth paying that bit extra for a “Plus”?

The other query I have is in regard to Thatcham categories. It seems that the most basic theft prevention measures are catergorised as 1, then the more secure features increase up to a cat 7. However, the Tracker Plus is a cat 6, and the standard Tracker is a 7.

I’m confused. Please help.

 

[LostKiwi]

Personally I wouldn't bother with a Tracker. I'd be looking to stop the car going in the first place so Autowatch Ghost would be top of my list then add a basic chinese tracker as a backup.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Get an Autowatch Ghost from COMAND Online- better than a tracker!!!

Edit- beaten to it!

 

[Rappey69]

I agree with LostKiwi on the chinese tracker.. I paid under £20 for the unit which is waterproof, connects to power and acc.
You can geo fence it so it texts your phone and rings it if the tracker moves out of the geo fence zone, and if the power is turned on it also alerts you.
You get a link to a website to track your tracker, and a £10 payg sim which last for ages

 

[Ken_R]

I've not been involved with Tracker, in any form, for a great number of years.

The way Tracker works /(worked), is that once the owner becomes aware of the taking of the vehicle, they then have to phone a Control Centre who then remotely activate the device to emit a signal - assuming the unit hasn't already been located and removed from the vehicle.

Once the device is activated, it is then reliant upon a suitably equipped Police vehicle (or helicopter) to be in the general area of the vehicle in order to triangulate the direction in which the vehicle is located.

"Suitably equipped Police vehicles" are those with a four aerial array on the roof, and how often are they seen nowadays?

It is 1980's technology and with the reduction in Roads Policing, and thereby, a reduction in the number of vehicles so equipped, I'd suggest that the money can be better spent elsewhere.

 

[00slk]

And that will be why your insurance company won't reduce your premiums

 

[AMGeed]

I doubt a signal from Tracker is of much use inside a metal container where a nice new E63S would possibly end up.
+1 for the Autowatch Ghost from Command Online reduced to £349 fitted for forum members.
https://www.commandonline.co.uk/

 

[EXMERCTECH]

Depends on which Tracker is fitted.
The basic unit you tell them your vehicle is missing.
The more sophisticated units they tell you it's moved.
Also check subscription costs.

Can't comment on Ghost or cheap trackers never fitted them.
Good recovery rate from stolen cars with tracker.
Fitted loads when I was at Mercedes.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Ghost then your car won’t go anywhere without you!
I’ve one fitted and it’s clever kit

 

[daveenty]

I couldn't insure mine without a tracker fitted.

I appreciate that they're not as efficient now as they were a few years ago and most thieves have the knowledge to by-pass them, but if your insurance company state you need one (or it's not covered for theft) then you have no option really.

As long as the tracker fitted is Thatcham Category 5 or 7 approved, then any make/model is fine.

I received the above by email and, as it happens, the car already had one fitted by the dealer so I just had to get it transferred to me which the dealership did as a freebie.

Reading into the above, I'd probably just go for the cheapest available, as long as it meets the criteria above, and use the money you save on either a Stealth Guardian or Autowatch Ghost to compliment it.

 

[E63S]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Much appreciated.

 

[LostKiwi]

The biggest danger you have is the keyless entry. Very easy to circumvent unless you take precautions (which in itself makes the convenience of keyless entry inconvenient). Ghost (and other products) circumvent this vulnerability by providing an additional layer of security otherwise you are totally reliant on the Tracker to get your car back as opposed to stopping it going in the first place.

 

[E63S]

The biggest danger you have is the keyless entry. Very easy to circumvent unless you take precautions (which in itself makes the convenience of keyless entry inconvenient). Ghost (and other products) circumvent this vulnerability by providing an additional layer of security otherwise you are totally reliant on the Tracker to get your car back as opposed to stopping it going in the first place.

I keep reading horror stories about the keyless entry. It’s not a particularly good system, is it!

I’ve bought a faraday pouch for when the keys are laying around. It’s going to be garaged when not used for any period of time, and we’ve also got electronic security gates and high walls, so I think it will still be tricky to break in to it even when I can’t be bothered to put it in the garage. I guess my biggest fear is when it’s away from home, in a public car park or parked on the street.

Maybe buying a Trabant would have been a far less stressful experience!

 

[LostKiwi]

I guess my biggest fear is when it’s away from home, in a public car park or parked on the street.

This is exactly it. Any time you leave the car in a public place its vulnerable. One scenario is you park up in a carpark. Someone nearby parks up and gets their briefcase out of their boot and walk near you towards the exit. Most people would think nothing of this.
Inside the briefcase is one half of the relay equipment and a colleague is meanwhile next to your car. Before you've even left the carpark the car could be open and started.
Sadly it really is that easy with most keyless entry systems. Its a gaping security flaw the manufacturers really need to do something about.

 

[E63S]

This is exactly it. Any time you leave the car in a public place its vulnerable. One scenario is you park up in a carpark. Someone nearby parks up and gets their briefcase out of their boot and walk near you towards the exit. Most people would think nothing of this.
Inside the briefcase is one half of the relay equipment and a colleague is meanwhile next to your car. Before you've even left the carpark the car could be open and started.
Sadly it really is that easy with most keyless entry systems. Its a gaping security flaw the manufacturers really need to do something about.

Would a faraday pouch and/or a double click of the lock button prevent this from happening?

 

[mikestrivens]

The way round this is for insurance companies to refuse insurance or make it prohibitively expensive on vehicles with keyless go until the manufacturers fix it.

 

[LostKiwi]

Would a faraday pouch and/or a double click of the lock button prevent this from happening?

Possibly but as results from the double click are variable and it appears not all faraday pouches are created equal I would test both solutions before relying on them.

 

[Rappey69]

I've not been involved with Tracker, in any form, for a great number of years.

The way Tracker works /(worked), is that once the owner becomes aware of the taking of the vehicle, they then have to phone a Control Centre who then remotely activate the device to emit a signal - assuming the unit hasn't already been located and removed from the vehicle.

The gps trackers also use mobile phone sim card, and they still work in a steel box, such as inside a ship !
You can follow them live via an app... non of this going through a 3rd party tracking company that charges you a crazy fee.
Can be bought for as little as £6, and no more fees other than sim card cost.
And its a boat, thats why its in the water !

 

[DrJon]

I have read this thread with interest. I can certainly see the advantages of the Ghost system but its not cheap. I confess I was wondering whether to simply buy one of the old fashioned steering wheel locks which may not be perfect but they would probably act as a disincentive and they are certainly cheaper. Thoughts?

 

[LostKiwi]

I wouldn't bother with one. They can be circumvented in seconds by most car thieves.