So,...

Monday night my Xenon headlightsgot stolen out of my S4. Car was parked on the road in Boston outside my apartment. I had read somewhere that these lights were in high demand, but never took it seriously enough. Needless to say after some reading on the net (and on here), I found it's happened to quite a few people. Some have even gone as far as to sell their cars and get something else...

I ran into a neighbour of mine who also drives a B5 S4, and his lights are gone too, taken on the same night as mine. $6,000 insurance appraisal to get these babies replaced.

Now, onto the solution. Has anyone added any kind of security system to their cars to prevent the lights getting stolen? I've read there are impact sensors and pin switches near the hood to go off if the lights/hood move even the slightest bit. I guess the stickers on the lights saying 'Warning: headlight security system installed' might deter, but realistally anyone who wants them will take 'em. I know this will just happen again soon if I don't do anything towards preventing it. I went to look at a few secured garages around the area for storing the car overnight.

Do you think parking on a main road where the shops etc are, under street lights will help? Seems less likely someone will attempt this in a well lit area, where there are cars etc.

I'm stabbing around in the dark here.....

(only had the car 3 weeks!)

help, please?

 

Dude that SUCKS. When I was living in Boston my new Audi got keyed 3 months after I got the car! So frustrating[:@]. File a police report right away. I think parking in a well lit road will help. Not sure about the light alarm system though. Good luck

 

Boston is a huge hot spot for HID theft especially on the S4 for some reason. Happened to a friend of mine too and his car was only on the street for less than 5 hours. You could get an aftermarket security system, it might help i dont know the specifics though.

Man id be pissed, imagine catching the person in the act! You just dont **** with a mans car.

 

I know anENTIRE lexus dealer near me got hit (a while ago)they did anything to get the lights out including denting the hoods and fenders! There is no stopping them to see your lights EXCEPT get a car cover! They can't steal what they can't see...unless they know what wheels go on what car...oh and the car cover stops keying as well.

 

i still liek the idea of the sticker that says these are not xenons, my xenons were already stolen by some *******. maybe they wont waste their time?

 

So do they steal the lights for the bulbs and ballasts or do they try to sell the whole housings on ebay to other audi drivers who want to upgrade to HID? I never understood that but I make sure my S4 sits in my garage at night and during the day it's parked inside a secured military installation.

 

happened to a buddy of mine with a brand new BMW coupe. It doesn't matter if you have a alarm or not, they will just steal them in the rain or when lighting is crashing and people ignore or don't hear the car alarm.

You would think that a lighted area might deter, but in the other hand it might assist, and make it easier for them to steal the lights faster.

I wonder if HID become illegal, as there has been talks and some states have made it illegal I thought, the people who don't have HIDs might be the next to worry...

Shawn

 

Thanks for the responses...

I'm thinking the alarm may not do much, as people I've spoken to also said that anyone who wants them will take them anyway. If it only takes 30 seconds to pop the light out, no-one is going to notice an alarm going off for a couple of minutes. The sticker with 'Headlight security system installed' is a good idea, but probably won't stop half the thieves out there.

I'm going to park on the main road under the streetlights and try to get near some 24 hour shops, or gas station. Looking around for a garage in the area, but haven't been able to find a secured one yet.

cheers guys..

 

How about a sticker that says (Insert Police Department Name Here) Bait Car

I saw one of them in Vancouver, I dont think anyone was going to touch that car

 

No one is going to steal halogens. They cost $6.00 a bulb. I also don't think HID's will be illegal. It's the higher temp ones that shine really blue and purple that people complain about. Also a lot of kids go buy the cheap colored halogens (blues and greens) and those "distract" other drivers to the point where they complain.

I've heard about some small town cop stopping an Audi with HID's and ticketing him for having illegal colored lights or something. But I bet in court that wouldn't hold up. Pretty soon all the cars will have HID's even honda, kia, hyundai, entry level nissans, etc..