Cobra 8186

The Cobra 8186 is a modular remote control car alarm and immobiliser that is insurance approved to Thatcham Category 1 status. Cobra 8186 offers protection to doors, boot and bonnet, battery back-up siren with microwave protection for the vehicle interior it is ideal for open top cars. The Cobra 8186 also offers a Panic facility personal attack warning with Visual arm and disarm indication and Touch key emergency override.

Thatcham category 1 status

Thatcham category1 combines alarm and immobiliser to form a complete vechicle security system so the Thatcham organisation have specifed two products;

• Category 1 alarm and immobiliser designed to fit into any vehicle.
• Category 2 to 1 upgrade designed for newer UK specification vehicles that already have a factory fitted category2 immobiliser

Cat 2 to 1 alarm upgrade or Cat 1 alarm can be fitted to a vehicle with a factory fitted cat 2 immobiliser, the upgrade is cheaper but the full alarm provides extra security and more features. Privately imported vehicles that are non UK spec or older vehicles that do not have a cat 2 immobiliser must be fitted with a full category 1 alarm and immobiliser.

If you have key operated or remote controlled central locking installed the aftermarket Thatcham alarm key fob will operate the locks as well as the alarm to give full remote central locking. Installing a Thatcham alarm to operate from the existing remotes is possible but will work out more expensive and you lose out on having an extra set of key fob remotes.

For vehicles that have electric window closure fitted the new Thatcham alarm remote control will operate them as before and if you are without window closure it is possible install a window closure module for around £50 to close windows when the doors are locked.

Cobra security

Cobra alarms are manufactured by Delta Elettronica and all Cobra alarm systems are manufactured to ISO 9001 quality standards and conform to European directives. The Cobra systems we install are Cobra; 3198, 3868, 3998, 7518, 7926, 7928, 8186, 8188, 8510 and 8808. Cobra security systems are waterproof, resistant to temperature changes from -40°C to +105°C and offer the maximum protection available on the market today. Cobra products are fitted as standard equipment by a large number of vehicle manufacturers and specified by them as recommended aftermarket products within their distributor networks. Cobra Vehicle Security products are distributed exclusively in the UK by the Vestatec Group of Companies. cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk

Thatcham information

The Thatcham organisation was established in 1969 by British Insurers and are best known for testing vehicle security systems and testing seats for whiplash prevention. Thatcham also provide about 70% of the data that insurers use to define a car’s insurance grouping and also test and accredit crash repair parts and vehicle repair technicians. The Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR) was founded by Thatcham and they are members of the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) since 2004. The Thatcham Centre is independently operated with a Board of Directors drawn from amongst the 31 insurer members who fund the work. Thatcham is a not-for-profit organisation and the main aim is to carry out research targeted at containing or reducing the cost of motor insurance claims, whilst maintaining safety and quality standards. The Thatcham Centre is well equipped with a range of collision repair equipment which is used for both research and training purposes and in 2004, Thatcham achieved ISO9001:2000 accreditation.