BMW offers software upgrade against hi-tech theft

A series of car thefts have been reported earlier this year in the UK where a large number of BMW vehicles were stolen by accessing the BMW OBD II port and programming a blank key. AutoExpress UK reports that BMW is offering a fix for BMWs built between 2007 and September 2011 to help prevent these incidents from happening. All affected X5 and X6 models will receive a general software upgrade in the next two months. A BMW spokesman confirmed to the same publication that the upgrade will be carried out by dealers free of charge. Until the fix is available to all models, BMW offers some advice to owners on their website, including “Whereever possible park your car out of sight, in a locked garage or under the cover of CCTV cameras.”