UK M6 Insurance

[Webby]

Have any of you guys got any suggestions for insuring the M6?
What is this CAT5 alarm with GPS that some of you are talking about?
My car will be kept in a locked compound. I have full no claims and 3 points.
I am currently paying about £1200 with privilege insurance for a 2000 M5.
Any Info/suggestions gratefully recieved. Car arrives in @1 month

[M-bitious]

Category 5 alarm means that in addition to the factory alarm they install a GPS tracking system. When the car is stolen it connects to a call centre where they can check the exact position of the car and warn the authorities. I am sure you have this in the UK, but under another name.

The other feature I am considering is a chipcard that needs to be within 400 yards of the car or the engine cuts out. It's an anti-carjacking thing. Just don't forget to put the card into your wallet when you leave home in the morning or you'll stall after 400 yards

Frank.

[Webby]

I am guessing that this is the top model of the trakker system that BMW recomend.
I am interested in a gps system which has a hidden button in the car which if not pressed within a time limit of starting the engine activates the trakker system.
Who makes the 400 yard sysem? it sounds interesting.
BMW could make this part of their comfort access/keyless go system I guess.

[frylord]

Originally Posted by Webby

I am guessing that this is the top model of the trakker system that BMW recomend.
I am interested in a gps system which has a hidden button in the car which if not pressed within a time limit of starting the engine activates the trakker system.
Who makes the 400 yard sysem? it sounds interesting.
BMW could make this part of their comfort access/keyless go system I guess.

I'm not fimiliar with the BMW services which are accompanies with the category 5 alarm but there are 3th party service providers which offer alot of extra services you might find one which suites you.

There is a provider swedish which works on a european level (can't remember the name) where you could set a preset distance or area your car is allowed to go before you get a notification. Some of the services are:
* Remote unlocking (when you lock you keys in the car)
* Speed notification (when you lend the car to somebody else)
* Area notification (when your vehicle leaves a preset area)
* Distance notification (when your vehicle travels a preset distance)

There was a topic on this a while back, can't seem to find it anymore but most UK members seemed to recommend RAC Trackstar. I'm not sure wether they also offer the above mentioned services, I'm sure that if you look around a bit and talk to other UK members you'll find a provider which suites your needs, maybe ask in the E60 M5 forums because it enjoys more attention.
http://www.ractrackstar.co.uk/

Hey maybe BMW also offers these services, like I said I'm not fimiliar with the BMW option.

[M-bitious]

BMW Netherlands work closely with AVL Systems. They sell and install their products. Including this proximity card thingie.

http://www.avl.tm

Frank.

[Webby]

The Tracker echo system seems to be the one to go for. It includes a chip card thing that sets off the gps tracker if the card is not near/in the car when it is being driven.
I am still looking for the system with the hidden button.

[M-bitious]

AVL might not be available in the UK, but I like it better because the engine actually cuts out when the card is not within 400 yards. It's a lot safer than just activating the tracker.

Frank.

[Webby]

Sounds cool. I will investigate.
The system with the hidden button is made by Siemens and is called Trakbak.

[Webby]

Managed to get insurance for @£1400 from Norwich Union. Can anybody in the UK beat that?
Finally had Tracker Echo system fitted as BMW dealers fit tracker. Echo has a card that sets off the tracker if it is not in the vehicle when it is being driven.
Ie anti carjack. However I am told that people get pissed off with the card and leave it in the glove box!

[Ashok Arora]

There are all sorts of technical problems with these card systems. I used to have the RAC Trackstar+ system with Keyguard on my E39 M5 and the stupid thing couldn't find my card even though it was in my pocket. RAC have now done away with the Keyguard system as it was giving them too many problems (and false alarms).

Tracker is a pretty poor system. I have known a number of M car owners who have never had their car found with a Tracker fitted (there are numerous reasons for this). I can recommend RAC Trackstar as a much superior system.