Alarm self install question....

bmwrocks · Mar 25, 2004

I read somewhere on the net that if you do not have the alarm kit installed, but your clown nose blinks and your lights flash when you lock/unlock the car, that if you install the siren, tilt sensor, and motion sensor that you will not have to get the system reprogrammed because it already is if it does all that (one long f-ing sentence).

I tend to believe this as I have an X5 with the full system and the only difference between the way the two work is the X5 has the siren. Both blink the lights twice when you open and once when you lock. In both the clown nose blinks when locked. The X5 also has the feature of disabling the interior motion sensor with a second press of the lock button within a timeout period. When you do this the light goes steady for a moment then returns to blinking. My 3 even does that.

So what do you all think or know? Has anyone ever done the hardware install with the software apparently already installed?

Cause if mine is already programmed and all I have to do is the install of the hardware, then that would be a big deciding factor for buying the alarm hardware.

Thanks in advance.

codex57 · Mar 25, 2004

You can have the car programmed to blink and acknowledge when it's unlocking/locking. My dealer won't do it, but many others will. If that is the case, then yeah, just install the alarm and you shouldn't have to get it programmed at the dealer since apparently they already did.

Section_8 · Mar 25, 2004

bmwrocks said:

The light routine and the alarm routine are different, you could have the alarm with no light/sensor flash if you wanted (or vice versa). You gotta take it in still to get the alarm turned on after doing the self install (Good move though, save you about 200-400 in labor from the dealership). I got my dealer to turn on the blink routine when I bought it last November, but still had to take it in last month after I did the alarm DIY.

rjp325i · Mar 25, 2004

I don't know why your dealer won't do it Codex57 unless he wants to charge you more for it later after you install the alarm system yourself. The local dealer here does it automatically at no charge upon delivery of each new BMW. It is part of their delivery routine unless you elect not to have it done sort of like a delete option.

deutsch100 · Mar 26, 2004

I installed the security system myself on my new 04 330cic (dealership wanted $200 in labour to install...sales Dept. wanted $900.00 the day of contract signing). I too think you will have to make a trip to the dealer to activate the siren. Even though my 330 was "pre-wired" for the alarm (what a frickin' job to install the "pre-wired" system) I still had to go to the dealership to have the siren activated. They charged me $110.00 to do it too. Sucks!!!! Oh well, I'm glad I have it though!!!! Good Luck!!!

Nitro · Mar 27, 2004

The alarm install was a piece of cake (prewired 330Ci). It was so simple, install completed in 45mins. Don't waste your time/money with the dealership doing the install....diy!!

Yes, you have to go back to the dealer to get it "activated" and get charged for it. [:(!]

It helps to know people at a dealership....so you don't get ripped off with their exorbitant labor charges and they'll do "simple" things for free; at least for me it was.

BTW, if the dealer already has it "activated"...just add the alarm yourself. [:D]

bmwrocks · Mar 27, 2004

Nitro said:

This is what my original question was. Is my alarm activated already since my clown nose blinks, lights flash when locking/unlocking, etc.?????

Section_8 says the routines are different. BTW how do you know this detail Section_8?

Nitro implies it may already be activated.

Anyone know for sure?

Section_8 · Mar 27, 2004

bmwrocks said:

As my dealer told me, and the DIY stated as well; I had the 'light' sequence turned on when I picked up the car (no alarm, no light blink on lockup when I bought it). I had to take it back in to get the alarm sequence turned on, for the alarm to function after I installed it. It may be possible the dealer could turn both on (if I had asked for it) at the same time. And as I've seen with a friends bmw, he has the alarm but no light sequence when he locks (he prefers it that way, less attention he says).

Hope that helps. It could be your alarm sequence is already activated and dropping one in is all you need to do. Simple way to check is to try to set it off after putting it in. [:)]

(BTW: The new board look is cool, I like the bar across each post better than the side scroll! [8)]

Nitro · Mar 27, 2004

Depending on what extent the dealer did, you may have to go back to have the sensors (tilt/interior) "actvated" even though parts (of the alarm) are operational.

I spoke w/my mechanic friend at the dealership and you have to mention to them what you want, otherwise the person programming the alarm will process the default options. For example, if you have the door locked after the motor starts, and want to keep it; you have to tell them to keep it in the sequence.

Ask them what the options are...if your paying for the programming, might as well make the most of it. [:)]

Talk2USoon · Mar 27, 2004

bmwrocks said:

<<<<<<<<<

Even if you install yourself, you need to have the dealer reprogram your car
at a fee of $50 (as one site listed) or $90 (a post I read at another site).
Here's a link to a site that lists all the settings available as far as programing remote keys, etc. In it you will see how the clown nose can be set to "mimic" an active alarm. Mine was dealer installed (for free) but my husband installed the alarm on our 5-series, and I thought he was going to do the alarm on this car as well.

The first link lists the site where it details the DIY alarm. The second link
lists the options (and availability of such) for programming keys and such.

http://www.bmw330ci.com/DIY_Alarm.htm
"Last Step: Even though all the components are now installed, the alarm is still not operational. You will need to take your car to your dealer to have them reprogram the car computer to enable the alarm system. This, on average, costs around $50."

http://www.geocities.com/dirk.vael/M3.htm

Talk2USoon · Mar 27, 2004

bmwrocks said:

<<<<<<<
It's definitely NOT activated.
I'll keep looking for it but there was a big discussion at another board about
the flashing clown nose seemingly indicating an active alarm. I really think
that feature (programming feature) is a HUGE disadvantage to those of us that HAVE installed an alarm. A thief is likely to pass over the car with a working alarm, but so many cars have the "fake out" that we actually lose a level of security we once had with our older BMW alarms. I'm tempted to ask if there are stickers (like my other alarm came with) just to avoid some knucklehead being tempted.....

Xyrium · Mar 29, 2004

Is the motion sensor also an impact sensor? If not, I can't believe BMW would try to sell an alarm for over $500.00 without one!

Alarm self install question....

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