Tracker

[pete]

Hi,

am posting this on behalf of a friend who wants to know how much a tracker would be to install. Am i right in thinking that there are different 'levels' of tracker??

also is there a subscription that has to be paid??

car is a '51' clk convertible

thanks

[yagga]

yeah mate there are diff levels. tracker monitor, horizon and retrieve i believe. Ive got the monitor version which is the middle one on my m3 cost around £500 from the dealer and cost around £120 per year...

[BigFas]

If your mate is going to keep the car for a long time, it could be worth looking into the one off subscription, slightly higher up front, but good value over longer periods.

If your mate is thinking of changing his car often, RAC trackstar system is the better system. Andy mentioned to me, Tracker is an install-once solution, it's designed to be non-removable and will short-out if this is attempted, however, Trackstar can be un-installed and re-installed on any car.

[Chaos]

Both Yagga and Fas are bang on. I've got a Tracker on mine, it came with the car. They do a lifetime subscription that comes to roughly 3 years of annual subs, so you just take your best guess and go with it. If I had to fit one from scratch though, I'd go Trackstar. Tracker aren't the best folks to do business with (they take customer service lessons from BT and NTL ;)) and as Fas says the Trackstar is removable.

[BMW Flex]

hey guys it's Andy,

both systems are as good as each other. the trackstar maybe able to be removed but the tracker can be transferred to a new owner therfore becoming a selling point of the car.

price:

tracker,

retrieve= £299 plus subs subs are £109 per annum or £325 lifetime

monitor=£499 plus subs

horizon=£699 plus subs

rac trackstar= £699 plus subs subs are £125 per annum

[Raj]

Why doesn't your mate consider Clifford Black Jack instead! Personally I am going down this route. Trackers are good an' all.

[BigFas]

what's clifford blackjack?

[Chaos]

It's basically a system that lets the thief drive off and away for a mile or two before setting off the immobiliser and shutting the car down. It's meant to do it when the car has braked to a halt, but I can only imagine what would happen if it decided to do it mid-bend or when the car's getting onto a roundabout... ;) Does the job though, don't think it has gps tracking so you'd have to wait for the police to find the car and then call you if so, and that's supposing that someone didn't trailer the car away in the first place like they seem to do these days. Clever idea though.

[Shuriken]

Clever idea that Blackjack, but you can see it going wrong.

What are those three different levels of tracker about?

Shuriken.

[Chaos]

Different levels of how detailed they track the car - http://www.tracker.co.uk/home/SVR/Works

Retrieve is basically just a service once your car has been stolen, Monitor and Horizon are auto-detect devices that do radio signal and radio+gps respectively.

[330-Singh]

You might want to look into the 'i-mob' that BMW now install as an optional extra over the Tracker. I have a tracker on my car and it is ok, but having seen the capabilities of the Imob...I would go for that.

Pop into BMW and talk to them about it? alternatively do a search on the net. You can get this installed from authorised places.

[Raj]

Blackjack has been recommended to me by a very good friend of mine who fits ICE and alarms and the like (for many, many years). He fits trackers too and I have one that was fitted by previous owner. Now, I have the monitor which isn't bad at all, but my mate was saying that unless you get it fitted by someone you know (who will fit the brains of the unit somewhere discreet), then fitters tend to fit them in the same place (I won't say where on here). This means most toe-rags will look there just to check, and if there is one then just rip it out (rendering it useless).
At least with blackjack, it can be fitted somewhere very discreet, and the first they are gonna know about it is when it starts to beep at them to enter the code. After that, it just shuts the car down (the next time the brake is applied).
The old blackjack system used to just shut down once the brake was applied after the beeps for the code, but know apparently it is linked to the revs (so it can be set so that the next time the brakes are applied once the revs drop below set level - job done).
I personally am gonna go down this route.

[Chaos]

TBH, if some bastid ever nicks my car, I hope they do know where the Tracker is and I hope they tear it out and burn it. I'm serious. I'll get a full pay-out if it's never recovered. If it's found then I'll have a repaired and stolen/recovered M3 on my hands and those don't exactly sell like hot cakes on the second-hand market... If I had my way, I wouldn't have the tracker in there at all, but sadly the insurance companies have caught on to what's good for them and not as good for the consumer. Just my personal view is all, I'd rather not get it back and get to buy another as opposed to losing a load of money just cos some tosser took a liking to it for a joy-ride.

[Raj]

Completey agree with you. It is not nice having a motor that you know someone has had their thieving hands all over and the resale is shot to shite also.

[Afif]

i always think if someone gets done by blackjack they going to be VERY pissed off. Your probably looking at slashed seats/broken windows and keying for the hassle [hmm.

[RDG 40]

just bringing this post back into the limelight.

Im looking at Blackjack but want to know if can be fitted to factory alarm etc and how much ????

It seems very good that it lets theives get safe distance then it stops the engine.

Tracker and Trackster are also good options but im going towards blackjack

Andy whats your thoughts on this ????

Russ

[BigFas]

Blackjack can be bought as a stand alone module. I've got it as part of my Clifford install but i know there's at least one member with it as an addition to the factory alarm.

Andy is pretty busy right now, but I'm sure when he has 10 minutes to breathe, he'll be able to quote you on the module.

[RDG 40]

Wicked nice one fas im in no rush i dont think Andy sleeeps does he lol
i did think you could have it as stand alone i think its around £200,
just watched the car theif thing on tv and ive gota get it sorted ive been meaning to for ages.

Take it you believe it is a good system?

[BigFas]

it's a great system. I've tested it out (ok ok, I forgot to disarm) and it worked a treat. As a father that transports my son around in the BMW, i'd rather let a thief let me and my boy out, take the car and the car stops 100 yards down the road. I'm safe my boy's safe and my car's safe, I can't think of another system that gives you that peace of mind

[RDG 40]

Yea ive done quite a bit a research into and most say what you have just said.

Last question fas sorry does the code box install nicely into the car and reasonably hidden??

[BigFas]

Tidy enough for you?

http://www.lmc-uk.com/uploads/smoooooth.JPG

:)

[RDG 40]

thats well trick i was under impression it was a numbered keypad. that you put 4 digit code into.

[BigFas]

nope. 2 buttons. Let's say for example your code is 24 (mine isn't 24 by the way ;) ) you press the left twice, then the right button to enter, then the left button again 4 times, and the right button to enter. Your combo can be any length you want it

[RDG 40]

ah i c very clever, i know Raj 328 is a big fan of it aswell await his feedback.

cheers buddy

[Raj]

Your right Russ, I am a nig fan of the blackjax. As previously said, my mate actually recommends them over tracker but will fit either. As Fas has said, it can be completelt stand alone as mine was on the 328. The blackjax was just an addition to the factory BM alarm.

The key thing for me is that nowadays a lot of thefts are taking place where the thieves actually actually break into your house for the keys (which I have heard of a couple of times now from people). Now if this is the case then the tracker is rendered useless until it is realised the car is gone. Plus in hi-jack situations at least when you call the police you know the car won't have gone too far.

One other thing is that least the car wil be brought to a complete stop and won't be invloved in some sort of car chase (endangering other lives).

The unit is completely hidden out of the way as long as it is done properly (make sure it is a reputable fitter) and then the only thing on display will be the valet switch and LED (as in Fas's picture above).

Hope that helps.

[richardlkay]

Hasn't Doc Matt just had a Blackjax fitted to his M3?