I'm curious - what happens to these cars (not specifically GM's, just these "smartcars" in general) when you disable/disconnect/destroy the (presumably) SIM card or whatever it uses to connect to cell data?
Another question you should ask is How difficult is it to disable OnStar? The answer: Quite difficult.
OnStar's module is in deeply embedded inside the car and in different locations in different models. OnStar is tied into the vehicle diagnostics and electrical system. If you manage to find it, and pull its cables out or something straightforward like that, your car will probably report an engine error and not start. (This issue has been reported and discussed extensively in car hacking forums.)
I asked my local GM dealer--a very large dealer, by the way--about disabling OnStar permanently (at the hardware level). They told me (a) they don't know how to do it, (b) I'm the first person to ever ask about it, (c) they think it might void the warranty (I don't know if they are right or wrong), and (d) they're unwilling to do it.
I pulled the module from under the back seat of my '07 3 months ago with no deleterious effects noted. I assume without a brain and no antennae hooked up it is disabled. However, I have assumed wrong before.
Yeah, I was wondering about that as well (hence "if possible at all"[1]) since I intend to buy a GM vehicle this year (maybe, money is hard), but I guess OnStar isn't very relevant in Europe.
[1] Edit: Which is something I wanted to use in the sentence, but now I see I didn't. This is not a good day for me.
You aren't being sarcastic, but instead are simply making things up.
GM dealers are all supposed to know how to disable OnStar, and indeed it is usually actually quite easy for an end user to do, with no negative impact on the vehicle. I have a 2010 Traverse and disconnected the OnStar module and antennas with no negative impact outside of OnStar -- it is in an easily accessed compartment near the back of the vehicle.
Some dealerships simply never deal with this, though, just as they are supposed to know how to disable the passenger side airbag but many have no clue and act incredulous. It just isn't that common.
GM doesn't widely share the information on disabling it because ostensibly a purpose of the system is theft recovery -- that if your car is stolen they can track it, which becomes less achievable if every thief just pulls a fuse or something. Nonetheless the information is out there and easy to find.
Why is it you as the owner of the car cannot disable something inside your car that doesnt relate to your ability to be transported.... that IS being targeted with the DMCA.
Who said you can't? Again, there is a simple little box with a wire connector that you can easily disconnect. I did exactly that. Fear mongering about how everything will start failing is not backed by reality.
That has nothing at all to do with OnStar. GM wants to control the ECM, which has very much to do with your ability to be transported. Are you going for the shotgun approach?
