DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - Bonnet stolen again.

↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Map · Calendar · Profile · Donate · Register · Log In

Home > Puma (Tdci) > Bonnet stolen again.

Page 7 of 9

Print this entire topic ·

Mick Clark

Member Since: 20 Dec 2009
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 75

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

There have been some good ideas regarding cable locks and cables to secure the bonnet to the bulkhead etc but if they can snip your battery earth cable then cables to bulkhead are only another snip, snip away. I'm thinking that the best way is to prevent the bonnet being opened in the first place which I'm afraid comes down to the good old padlock and hasp which if you have an A Bar would be hidden from general view. I just think that once they have the bonnet open and then realise it can't be lifted off they might cause other expensive damage out of spite.

I have thought about fitting a sensor to the driver's door as part of the home alarm system but realised that if the alarm is on stanby and you return home the alarm would be set off as soon as you open the driver's door.
For about £140 you can buy a home wireless alarm kit just for the car and fit sensors to the bonnet and doors. That way if anyone tampers with the car you and your neighbours will soon know about it. These systems can also send you a text if the alarm is set off. Expensive I know but just a thought.

Mick

24th Sep 2011 7:23am

Gil9713

Member Since: 11 Sep 2011
Location: Colchester
Posts: 94

Mick,
Take that all on board mate, but that is why I fitted the steel tubing over the bonnet cable, they would have to work hard to cut through that, took me a couple of minutes in a vice with a hacksaw.
That then prevents them from getting into the engine compartment.
Agree that they will be frustrated if they got to a point and couldn't get away with the bonnet, but I have given them the heads up using the stickers on both door glasses and the front that there is going to be a lot of time wasted trying !!! and in that extended time, they'll need to watch their backs

Incidently, we did try to crop the battery cables and it wasn't as easy as you might think, it is bound wire similar to what the bike locks use but clearly not as bound and as tough.

24th Sep 2011 7:28am

dgardel

Member Since: 30 Nov 2008
Location: Veneto (Heart & Head)
Posts: 3586

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

Discovery 5 td6 HSE Stornoway Gray Outback Engineering Limited Edition

IID Pro MV License

24th Sep 2011 9:47am

Gil9713

Member Since: 11 Sep 2011
Location: Colchester
Posts: 94

dgardel,
Nice pics of your newly painted hinges, how does that stop the bonnet being lifted off once in the vertical position, unless the nut and bolt do something magic in holding an open clip body hinge together.
The problem I see with that is its quite expensive, and I take it the same manufacturers haven't looked at the front end at all then?

24th Sep 2011 8:16pm

K9F

Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

Gil9713 wrote:
dgardel, Nice pics of your newly painted hinges,

Same ones I posted up but in black....Still look

though, in any colour they'd look

, even in gold plate they'd look

! Unless you stick the high lift jack on them for functionality to hide them from view!

If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!

Last edited by K9F on 25th Sep 2011 7:10am. Edited 1 time in total

24th Sep 2011 10:46pm

Mick Clark

Member Since: 20 Dec 2009
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 75

GIL9713
Yes you are right, anything that delays them means there is more chance they will give up and as you say the stickers should warn them that its not going to be easy.
Mick

25th Sep 2011 5:41am

Constantin_Valdor

Member Since: 28 Sep 2012
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 13

2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

locks...

Hi, all this talk of bonnet theft has got me worried as I only got my 90 yesterday evening...! done some searching around, has anybody used/experience of these?? -->
http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/Defender_Bonnet_...nges.shtml "Innocence proves nothing, as there is no such thing as innocence, only degress of guilt"

28th Sep 2012 1:05pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

We don't keep stock of those but can get them if need be. We stock the off-road tec ones and we should be getting stock of the entreq ones shortly.
There are two threads on these hinges in the 4x4overlander sponsors sub forum. We have the black offroad tec ones fitted to ours. If you would like some advice on the different hinges just give Brendan a ring.
Regards
Barbara

28th Sep 2012 1:42pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

To the best of my knowledge there are three makes of security hinges for Defender bonnets.

The GMB one which Mudstuff stocks.

Then there is the Offroad Tec which was a group buy on Defender2 and which we now stock.

Then there is Entreq version which we are waiting on supplies.

Click image to enlarge

Anything which delays the scum bags the better. Off the three hinge available I believe the Entreq one will take greatest time to over come. As for the looks of the hinges I will leave that up to individuals to decide

Theft of a Puma bonnet has been caught on CCTV and lets say it was a slick quick operation.

Brendan

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

28th Sep 2012 3:48pm

SteveS

Member Since: 05 Oct 2010
Location: Devon & Berkshire
Posts: 388

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black

Brendan - the OffRoad Tec ones look nicest of the bunch in the photos. Can you explain what a thief would need to do to take the bonnet off? Is it as simple as undoing those 3 bolts, or taking out the hinge bolt?

I suppose you could hammer the threads over to stop things being unbolted.

Using a cycle cable lock on mine at present

28th Sep 2012 4:33pm

SteveS

Member Since: 05 Oct 2010
Location: Devon & Berkshire
Posts: 388

28th Sep 2012 4:33pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

Putting it bluntly there is no ease simple way to make things like Puma bonnets thief proof.

Theft of a standard bonnet by people who have practised it is a slick quick operation.

The cost of replacing a Puma/TD4 bonnet could be around the £1,000 by the time you have bought a genuine replacement bonnet, bonnet release mechanism, decal, respray job etc.

All the security hinges do is buy you time. The longer it takes the scumbags to remove your bonnet, the more likely they are going to move on and nick somebody else's bonnet. If they come with the right equipment then yes it would still be possible to nick a puma bonnet.

Hopefully they will 'case' the bonnet first and decide if it is fitted with security hinges then hopefully they will move on. I hear too many stories of burglars not being able to actually steal computers so have just smashed them.

Removing the bonnet can make life easier when it comes to working on the engine so that more 'permanent' ways of securing bonnet may not be desireable.

Having seen the GMB hinge, fitted the Offroad Tec hinge and seen the CAD drawings of the Entreq hinges I think the Entreq hinges would take the longest time to remove.

Please remember that these type of hinges are relatively new so the less information for the scumbags can pick up the better.

Brendan

29th Sep 2012 12:57pm

SteveS

Member Since: 05 Oct 2010
Location: Devon & Berkshire
Posts: 388

after having looked at various photos and description on the web from the hinge suppliers - I assume even thieves can read - it seems fair to say that with the bonnet lifted then the weak link is the 3 bolts. Whilst it will stop the grab and run type of thief and delay for a few minutes the ones that have disabled the alarm (or can live with the racket) it won't stop the ones that have a bit more time - ie 5 minutes. Restricting the bonnet opening range (or maybe keeping it padlocked shut) will provide further hassle.

I know a determined thief will eventually get what he wants.

However, I'm wondering whether anyone has had some thoughts on an electrically energised dead-bolt system, operated by hidden internal switch (energise to open) to operate alongside the cable operated latch?

29th Sep 2012 5:16pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

The nuts on the inside of the bonnet could be replaced with security nuts. Any would be thief with the Entreq fittings would need a good supply of security tools with them.

Brendan

29th Sep 2012 6:41pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

leeds wrote:
Having seen the GMB hinge, fitted the Offroad Tec hinge and seen the CAD drawings of the Entreq hinges I think the Entreq hinges would take the longest time to remove.

Just put of interest, why's that Brendan? From the pictures the Offroad Tec and Entreq look virtually identical. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

29th Sep 2012 7:13pm

Page 7 of 9

All times are GMT

Jump to

< Previous Topic | Next Topic >

Posting Rules

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum