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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Z Car security issue

There has been a thread running on the MGF Board about security on the TF. The same issue applies to Z cars. Essentially there is a technique by which thieves can get past your alarm. I am posting this, because while I have a TF, my wife has a ZT, and I have a concern for this side of the MG Community.

MG R is anxious to keep the problem quiet for the obvious reason that they don’t want to be giving information to thieves. They hope to deal with it at normal servicing. The fix involves a 5-minute re-programming job. In the meanwhile your car is vulnerable.

It would seem that most dealers know nothing about the problem but all should now have an updated PDI disk that has the security fix on it. Don’t be put off by the dealer - the problem is real. He can check it out with Rover but suggest he has a close look at his latest PDI disk first.

PLEASE don’t make the same mistake as we did on the MGF Board and start discussing the technique and how it might work. Anyone with an inclination to nick your motor, who may be reading the thread, could quickly get the picture. Besides you put ALL our cars at risk. We are now asking MikeP to delete our thread because there has been too much chatter that could be of value to the thief.

Some of us have had our cars re-programmed using a ‘doctor disk’ supplied by MG R in the last 5 weeks to a few MG R Dealers. As stated before, your dealer should now have the fix on a PDI disk.

You now have ALL the relevant information that can be given on an open forum and certainly enough to make a visit to your dealer ASAP. If you prefer to treat this information as an urban legend or a hoax, fine, but at least you have been warned

Matt


Matt

Matt, can you email me please?
Dot

Dot

Sorry but I really don't want to start e-mailing people about this issue for a number of reasons.

1. People will want details of the technique used and I don’t know the people on this Board well enough to decide who is genuine and who is not.

2. Secondly, with e-mails flying around people start discussing the content of the latest e-mail on the open forum and sensitive info leaks out.

3. The less that’s said about method the safer our cars will be.

4. Anyone who has a Z car now has enough information to get the problem sorted without further discussion.

5. If people don't believe me and want reassurance they are going to be disappointed.

Dot please don't think me rude but I am a bit pissed off with the way the subject developed on the MGF Board and I don't intend to be part of that nonsense here.

Matt.
Matt

I don't want details of the issue, I was gonna try & help with the deletion of the thread...
Dot

This thread was discussed on 29/08/2002

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