I installed a $3000 Pioneer HU/LCD screen and nav in my car a while ago. I live in an apartment complex that has covered underground parking. The rent in this buliding is between $700 to $1200 so that sort of tells you the level of people that live here; not rich, but not poor either. But somehow I still worry about theifs/people living in the same building or friends of them slashing open my soft-top and stealing my stereo system.

I've made it a habit to take off the face-plate everytime I get out of the car. But I'm starting to wonder how useful that really is? Is it actually going to stop a determined theif just because they see the face-plate isn't there?

Would my stereo still work without the particular face-plate that came with the unit? Or does any face-plate of the same model work universally?

My concern is I take off and put on the face-plate 3 or 4 times a day that overtime the face plate (or the tabs that click into the HU) will break and it'll cost me more money as well as more time to replace the face-plate. Now I've checked with my insurance company and they said if someone steals my stereo (after checking the brand and price), I'd only have to pay $50 deductible to have it replaced.

So what should I do? Keep taking off the face-plate each time I park my car or just not bother and leave it there?

Also, I thought about getting a stock alarm with motion sensor (for bmw Z4). The best deal I could is $400 installed. It doesn't have that 2 way pager thing, but it does have an interior motion sensor. What do you guys think? A waste of money? Or is it worth it? I'm not considering any aftermarket alarm because I don't like how the remote control isn't integrated into the BMW key.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

I dont think it would break for years, and by then you may be on for bigger and better things.
Its good that your insurance will pick it up, and getting a new face plate is either VERY expensive or impossible without buying the entire model again. I had a friend who did it, at first he was told by the company that they cant, but he produced all the warranty and sales slips and proved to them they he bought the reciever and that someone else had stolen it (also had a police report) They sold him (from factory, I think Alpine) the face plate for a $600 reciever, for $400. Talk about a mark up.

EDIT: I have a nice (well really nice 3 years ago) Sony Cd HUnit, but I also have a 1993 Subaru Wagon, its not exactly a car worth breaking into. With a Z4 you might have more things to worry about, especially if its a Convertible. I dont like those motion alrams because they are pretty quick to go off. Maybe they hace gotten better in past years, but I had one in my trunk (had 3 12" JLs in there) and every time a big truck came by it shook the car and made it go off.

My recommendation, move to Upstate NY, its too frickin cold outside to break into cars.

 

You invested so much money into the stereo why would you skimp on the alarm? Purchase an alarm that makes you feel safe, there are plenty of options that can keep your car secure and help to deter theft.

As for the issue of having something extra on your key chain... suck it up

 

I remove mine when I feel there is danger and expose the place where the HU is so the crook can see it's gone. If you don't feel safe then remove it. For as much money as you spent on it your stereo you could also have gotten an extended warranty so if the faceplate broke it woudl be replaced under warranty. Watch out for the insurance thing. The 50 dollar deductilbe may only cover a factory stereo and not an upgraded one.