Most effective theft prevention devices for e30s.

[VinniE30]

Best by far is a quick release steering wheel.
They will see no steering wheel and not only will they not be able to steal the car, but they won't even make an attempt because they will notice it right away.

This way there won't be any damage done to the car in the process of them trying to break in, unlike most of the other solutions in this thread which will only prevent the car from being driven once broken in to.

Sure, disconnecting the battery, removing a relay or fuse or hidden start button, ODC code lock, etc works, they all will prevent your car from being stolen, but the thief will not give up until he has already broken in and done the damage and potentially stolen something else inside now that he has gotten that far.

Point being, a deterrent is the best solution because it prevents both potential damage from breaking in and the car from being stolen.
And IMO, no steering wheel is the best deterrent.

[glucklich21]

I have a starter kill switch installed. The wiring for it is behind the dash tucked up against the firewall. The only way you are going to get to the wiring (because you won't find the switch) is if you take out the dash. I don't think a thief is going to do that for my POS.

Also the code function on the OBC is helpful. Even if they still try to start it by pushing it, it won't do any good if there's no fuel and a horn going off. ;)

[Danny]

I take out the ECU when I go to a really shitty area and have whoever has a bag with me carry it.

[der affe]

don't park in a seedy area, best way to keep your car.............

[NickAlero]

Have window tint, can't steal what you can't see. Can't see if theres a car alarm in there...radio...shotgun aimed out the window they intend to break...you get the picture.

[bernzpeed]

Best by far is a quick release steering wheel.

this is what i used to do with my miata. i leave the top down coz i don't want them slashing them to get to the stereo. i'd rather them steal the stereo than slash the top.

take the steering wheel off when i leave. i look wierd walking around with sw on hand...lol.

[LowR3V'in]

Car theft?

I'd say have a kill switch hidden somewhere or disconnect the battery and double lock.

[reelizmpro]

Never had anyone try to steal my E30's but when my CRX was stolen, the hidden main relay and fuel pump switches kept them from going too far with the car. I actually found it a few streets over fully intact. The hidden switches are cheap and effective since only YOU know where they are. After a while it becomes second nature flipping them over to start the car. Some of the Honda guys take it a step further with magnet reed switches but I don't know if I'd go that far.

[Cletonius]

If they are good there's definitly no stopping em. Get a lojack to recover it quickly. I live in the worlds most seedy area have had e36's e30's e34's and even a honda civic. I never lock doors and have never had one problem (knock on wood). They just don't steal these kinds of cars in my area. I guess it is all about location. Now my roommate drives this and I fear for his life:

+1 on location making a difference

where are you in chicago? I'm far south.

[sweet6e30]

DONE! lolz:o

[nomansland92]

^ win

On the Porsche i set up a switch so i had to turn the lights on to crank the car over. Worked great. friends would always ask if they could drive the car so i'd just hand them the keys and tell them i would be over in 5 minutes to see how far they got. No one ever figured it out haha.

[jlevie]

Hidden kill switches, missing battery or steering wheel, missing relay or DME, etc., will deter an amateur. But not a pro. A real pro probably won't bother trying the drive the car off and will grab it with a tow vehicle.

A alarm/immobilizer is enough to deter most amateurs. Couple that with a LoJack system and you will usually get the car back mostly intact and pretty quickly.

[mRodiek]

I'll look for a parking spot next to a car nicer then mine.

Hilarious & yet true.

Quick release is great.

You CAN wire your ignition so that your car wont start unless you have the door open, left turn signal on, and AC on... Or any combo of those

[Earendil]

Hilarious & yet true.

Quick release is great.

You CAN wire your ignition so that your car wont start unless you have the door open, left turn signal on, and AC on... Or any combo of those

I don't suppose you're aware of an article that explains this? Just in general, I'd like to know where/how to intercept the ignition wire to put a switch in it.

[mRodiek]

Not an article no... Theres an AWESOME electrical guy in Illinois named Toby Broadfield, look him up & email him, he hooked me up with everything I needed for about $50. He told me to call whenever I wanted instructions/help & hed be happy to walk me throught it. Unfortunately I never got around to it & sold the car I had planned on doing it with

He gave me a small magnetized sensor that you can place anywhere in the car & in order to start it you have to swipe the other end of the sensor (on your key chain) over the sensor that you hid. Pretty badass if you ask me