This is my first post, hello to everyone. My cooper s is on the boat and I can't wait. My dealer has asked if I want Lojack installed for $995, is it worth the price, or can it be installed at a cheaper price?

 

Best security device?

Well, I can say that in my experience Lojack does work. A friend in Miami (a high theft area) bought a used truck which was soonafter, stolen. When he reported it, the police were able to determine it had Lojack, I guess they get a list of those VINs, activated it and they had the truck back in his hands in less than 48 hours. He didn't even know it had Lojack in it. He was a very happy camper.

But since leaving Miami I've never felt I had a need to consider it....

For what it's worth I bought a Toyota in Miami and the dealer etched the VIN into all the glass. This was good for the maximum possible anti-theft discount on my insurance. Cost a heck of a lot less than an alarm or Lojack...

 

It works good, but for a LOT of folks, if they STEAL my CAR, I don't want to ever SEE it again. Unless I am upside down in the loan and never will be able to replace it for what the insurance pays for it. It's hard to be that way in the MINIS, I made 5K on my first S that was totaled!

 

Never ever ever get back a stolen car...

It will never be the same again.... They steal it, let them keep it.

The expression "drive it like you stole it" should be a good explanation of how much internal engine damage can be done by a theif driving away. Remember insurance only fixes the immeditate visible stuff.

 

problem is that many stolen cars do get recovered... and if the car is going to get found, I'd want it back as soon as possible before it could be really damaged. Lojack claims that they usually recover the car within 24 hours, and many times within the first 2-3 hours after the car is stolen.

If I had a car that was stolen, I'd want one of two outcomes: find it right away within a few hours with minimal/no damage, or never find it. Unfortunately, for many people the car is eventually found after some time has passed with significant damage but not enough where it would be totaled, so they end up with a repaired theft recovery.

 

So it depend on where u live and the loan on yr car? I do not have any device

 

Doesn't the engine immobilizer make the R56 very difficult to steal?

Are other anti-theft measures really necessary?

 

A shotgun and a close eye always work well i thought.

 

I was thinking about the security issue also.

I was thinking about just getting the basic alarm installed at the dealer. I live in CO so idk do you huys think its even neccessary according to your previous posts.

 

I dont know what the engine immobilizer shuts down, can it be hot wired? I have never had alarms active in my vehicles because they go off for no reason. Does anyone know what the current stock system prevents? I live in vegas and know one person that has had there vehcle stolen, are Minis high on the theft list?

 

There aren't enough Minis out there YET to make them popular for theft.
Cities vary.
A GRAND for LoJack? Nope.

 

Immobilizers on modern cars stop almost all thefts, an alarm or LoJack is not necessary. Anecdotally, I've only heard of a couple people EVER getting their MINI stolen. High at the top of stolen car lists are the ones with the most market for parts i.e. Ford and Chevy trucks, Camrys, Accords, Civics, etc.

 

LoJack is an interesting technology and even more interesting marketing concept. While your dealer has offered it to you, make sure your area supports LoJack. Many of us MINI owners are driving many hours to get to a dealer. Thus we may live where LoJack is not supported. "I thought it worked everywhere?" you say. Wrong. Here's how LoJack works. Once your car is recognized as stolen, the police have LoJack send out a signal very similar to a pager signal that wakes up the LoJack unit. Then the LoJack starts screaming a very strong, but short range signal capable of penetrating most buildings and structures. The range is about 300-500 feet. If a police car happens to drive by and the officer happens to have his LoJack receiver on and happens to be interested enough to go investigate, he can figure out where the car is probably located. Then go get a search warrant. Then go search and find your car.

Guess what happens if your police department doesn't have the lojack receivers in thier cars?

 

Thanks for the replys, I have learned alot. The dealer makes it sound like, when the device is activated the signal is easy for them to close in on and even the police helicopters can scan the valley to locate the vehicle. I feel alot better about not spending the $1000. Thanks again