Security etching at dealership

Crypto2k3 · 06-19-2019, 07:40 PM

Hi,

My dealership is offering security etching for $299. Apparently they etch all the panels on the car for anti-theft protection. They tell me almost everyone gets it done. I declined it because it felt unnecessary to me. Am I in the minority? Is it worth doing?

sinbad4 · 06-19-2019, 07:43 PM

Worthless

gugin · 06-19-2019, 08:07 PM

I did not get it done. My dealership did not even tell me about such option. How exactly is it supposed to prevent theft?

Crypto2k3 · 06-19-2019, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugin

I did not get it done. My dealership did not even tell me about such option. How exactly is it supposed to prevent theft?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugin

I did not get it done. My dealership did not even tell me about such option. How exactly is it supposed to prevent theft?

I'm not 100% certain (which is why I declined it). Apparently they can trace every part of the car back to me as the owner which makes it harder to sell / part out. Felt pretty useless to me.

LostX · 06-19-2019, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crypto2k3

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugin

I did not get it done. My dealership did not even tell me about such option. How exactly is it supposed to prevent theft?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugin

I did not get it done. My dealership did not even tell me about such option. How exactly is it supposed to prevent theft?

I'm not 100% certain (which is why I declined it). Apparently they can trace every part of the car back to me as the owner which makes it harder to sell / part out. Felt pretty useless to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crypto2k3

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugin

I did not get it done. My dealership did not even tell me about such option. How exactly is it supposed to prevent theft?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugin

I did not get it done. My dealership did not even tell me about such option. How exactly is it supposed to prevent theft?

I'm not 100% certain (which is why I declined it). Apparently they can trace every part of the car back to me as the owner which makes it harder to sell / part out. Felt pretty useless to me.

How does the etching look? Can thieves simply scrape the etching off? I've never heard of this. Sounds worthless.

youngdoc1 · 06-19-2019, 09:05 PM

Useless. Don't waste your money.

My last car had it, wasn't charged for it, I figured it was standard. Current lease does not have it.

b.guggenmos · 06-19-2019, 09:17 PM

Another useless profit maker for the dealer. Do they really think will stop a car thief!

Radar314 · 06-19-2019, 09:35 PM

ADP, Additional Dealer Profit. They did it to my 1985 Subaru and tried to charge me for it. I said “Take it off”. That was the end of that foolishness.

The J-Man · 06-19-2019, 09:51 PM

If your car is stolen, call the insurance company and get a new car. Simple as that. I've never understood window or body panel etching. So stupid.

Alias1431 · 06-20-2019, 02:32 AM

Agreed. If someone steals my car, let 'em keep it. Gimme that insurance money for a new one. Why the fuck would I want my stolen, possibly fucked up car back? Why pay $300 so the police can maybe track them down in the future? Waste of money. Good on you for declining.

MADBMWX5MC · 06-20-2019, 08:00 AM

Not needed; useless.

lo_cheng · 06-20-2019, 08:45 AM

completely useless. some deal may say it is mandatory, all car came in they will have it done when they arrive and they just put it on the bill. I always ask them to remove it.

JayPichardo · 06-20-2019, 08:54 AM

I don't understand the point of etching the glass.

Crypto2k3 · 06-20-2019, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo_cheng

completely useless. some deal may say it is mandatory, all car came in they will have it done when they arrive and they just put it on the bill. I always ask them to remove it.

Yeah, that's effectively what they did here. It was automatically added in and when I questioned it they said it's a security thing, everyone gets it. I asked them to remove it and called my insurance company and they've never heard of anything like it.

Fenders · 06-20-2019, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crypto2k3

Hi,

My dealership is offering security etching for $299. Apparently they etch all the panels on the car for anti-theft protection. They tell me almost everyone gets it done. I declined it because it felt unnecessary to me. Am I in the minority? Is it worth doing?

There's a whole lot of silly behind this dealer scam, which was attempted with my purchase last year. You can buy a $20 DIY kit if you really feel this (it's only glass etching) has theft deterrent value. It might for some thieves, who would have to remove the etching if selling the car whole vs parting it out, but there are scratch removal kits that make it pretty easy for them. "Almost everyone gets it done" because it's done "for" them at the factory...

fricfracfrank · 06-20-2019, 09:22 AM

Some police departments offer etching for FREE. Insurance companies used to offer discounts for having it done.....I think Geico now offers like a $1 off.

So in the end of you want to waste $300....send it my way🤗

lo_cheng · 06-20-2019, 04:34 PM

the way I see this, it is not specfic your dealer or BMW, it is industry wide SCAM at all dealer across all brand.

Spitfire- · 06-20-2019, 06:56 PM

In Toronto, some dealerships will try and charge you a $400 dealer option called "Ride Green Certified" which includes the security etching and nitrogen tires so I've always had it waived/removed. So far it seems like my dealer has always done it regardless but at least I'm not paying for it.

Replicant · 06-20-2019, 10:21 PM

How would that help me. The car is already stolen and stripped, only for the thief to maybe find out it’s useless.

06-19-2019, 07:40 PM	#1
Crypto2k3 Private First Class 44 Rep 162 Posts Drives: X3 m40i Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Security etching at dealership Hi, My dealership is offering security etching for $299. Apparently they etch all the panels on the car for anti-theft protection. They tell me almost everyone gets it done. I declined it because it felt unnecessary to me. Am I in the minority? Is it worth doing?
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06-19-2019, 07:43 PM	#2
sinbad4 Captain 781 Rep 911 Posts Drives: 2020 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: MN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00]	Worthless __________________ • 2020 BMW X3 M40i Graphite : ZDA/ZDB/ZPX/718M/2VF/2T4/3KA/3AC/688/6NW/3AC
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06-19-2019, 08:07 PM	#3
gugin New member 318 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	I did not get it done. My dealership did not even tell me about such option. How exactly is it supposed to prevent theft?
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06-19-2019, 09:05 PM	#6
youngdoc1 Private First Class 34 Rep 150 Posts Drives: 2019 X4 M40i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Useless. Don't waste your money. My last car had it, wasn't charged for it, I figured it was standard. Current lease does not have it.
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06-19-2019, 09:17 PM	#7
b.guggenmos Private First Class 80 Rep 176 Posts Drives: X3M40I Phytonic Blue Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Olympia Washington iTrader: (0)	Another useless profit maker for the dealer. Do they really think will stop a car thief! __________________ 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring 1970 Boss 302 Mustang 1965 Comet Cyclone 351C, Jerico 10.50@128 1965 Comet Cyclone 289 4 Speed 1932 Ford Five Window Coupe
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06-19-2019, 09:35 PM	#8
Radar314 Private First Class 79 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List C7 GS/Vert/3LT [10.00] BMW X3 M40i [10.00]	ADP, Additional Dealer Profit. They did it to my 1985 Subaru and tried to charge me for it. I said “Take it off”. That was the end of that foolishness.
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06-19-2019, 09:51 PM	#9
The J-Man Captain 626 Rep 950 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	If your car is stolen, call the insurance company and get a new car. Simple as that. I've never understood window or body panel etching. So stupid.
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06-20-2019, 02:32 AM	#10
Alias1431 Lieutenant Colonel 795 Rep 1,959 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: May 2019 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	Agreed. If someone steals my car, let 'em keep it. Gimme that insurance money for a new one. Why the fuck would I want my stolen, possibly fucked up car back? Why pay $300 so the police can maybe track them down in the future? Waste of money. Good on you for declining.
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06-20-2019, 08:00 AM	#11
MADBMWX5MC Major 712 Rep 1,032 Posts Drives: 2023 BMW X5MC Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Northern Virginia iTrader: (0)	Not needed; useless. __________________ 2023 BMW X5MC Tanzanite Blue II Metallic 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Black 2006 Ford Mustang GT Convertible (car-show car)
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06-20-2019, 08:45 AM	#12
lo_cheng First Lieutenant 101 Rep 361 Posts Drives: BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	completely useless. some deal may say it is mandatory, all car came in they will have it done when they arrive and they just put it on the bill. I always ask them to remove it. __________________ 2019 X3 M40i - Phytonic Blue, Black Vernasca Leather, 21" 718M Wheels, Premium Essential
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06-20-2019, 08:54 AM	#13
JayPichardo BMW Client Advisor 3452 Rep 2,504 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Tulley BMW Nashua, NH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW M340i [0.00]	I don't understand the point of etching the glass. __________________ Contact me for all your BMW needs in the New England area. jpichardo@tulley.com Top M Client Advisor in New England.
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06-20-2019, 09:22 AM	#16
fricfracfrank Captain $fricfracfrank's Avatar$ 360 Rep 773 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Some police departments offer etching for FREE. Insurance companies used to offer discounts for having it done.....I think Geico now offers like a $1 off. So in the end of you want to waste $300....send it my way🤗 __________________ Present: 2019 X3 M40i Phytonic Blue Past: 2013 335i xdrive Estoril Blue 2011 328i xdrive Black Sapphire Metallic
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06-20-2019, 04:34 PM	#17
lo_cheng First Lieutenant 101 Rep 361 Posts Drives: BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	the way I see this, it is not specfic your dealer or BMW, it is industry wide SCAM at all dealer across all brand. __________________ 2019 X3 M40i - Phytonic Blue, Black Vernasca Leather, 21" 718M Wheels, Premium Essential
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06-20-2019, 06:56 PM	#18
Spitfire- Private 33 Rep 51 Posts Drives: 2022 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	In Toronto, some dealerships will try and charge you a $400 dealer option called "Ride Green Certified" which includes the security etching and nitrogen tires so I've always had it waived/removed. So far it seems like my dealer has always done it regardless but at least I'm not paying for it. __________________ 2015 X3 xDrive28i - Space Gray/Black Leatherette (Sold) \| 2019 X3 M40i - Phytonic Blue/Tartufo (Sold) \| 2022 X3 M40i - Phytonic Blue/Tartufo
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06-20-2019, 10:21 PM	#19
Replicant Second Lieutenant 92 Rep 251 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	How would that help me. The car is already stolen and stripped, only for the thief to maybe find out it’s useless.
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