More factory alarm/clown nose comments

D

deutsch100

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#1
Hey everyone,

I DO NOT have the factory BMW alarm on the new 2004 3er wagon, but I did have my dealer program the exterior lights to flash when I lock/unlock the car with the key.

I wanted it to chirp when locking/unlocking, but they dealer told me that is only possible with the factory alarm. I also wanted the clown nose on the rearview mirror to blink when the car was locked....but again was told that's only possible with the alarm.

NEW TODAY: If I lock my car with the key by pushing the lock button one time, the car locks. If I push the lock button, and then push it again.....after a few seconds the clown nose BLINKS...just like in our X5 and Z8 that do have the factory alarm.

Did I find something new? I am so excited. I have flashing lights and a blinking clown nose. Wow....felt like Christmas today.
 
codex57

codex57

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#2
I dunno when it started (cuz I didn't think to check when I first got it activated), but my clown nose blinks when my car is locked. I don't have the alarm either, just the flashing lights. I think the clown nose is supposed to blink when you lock it (without having to push the lock button more than once). The only thing missing is the chirp, which you do need the alarm for cuz I think it's the siren that comes with the alarm that makes the chirping noise.
 
C

CaveDweller

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#3
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#3
To enable the clown nose, I believe the dealer just needs to tell the car that there is an alarm present (though it really isn't). I had mine done this way before putting the OEM alarm into the car. The bonus was that I didn't need to bring it in for activation after installation because it was already turned on.

Not sure why pressing your key twice enables it, though.
 
D

deutsch100

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#4
codex57 said:
I dunno when it started (cuz I didn't think to check when I first got it activated), but my clown nose blinks when my car is locked. I don't have the alarm either, just the flashing lights. I think the clown nose is supposed to blink when you lock it (without having to push the lock button more than once). The only thing missing is the chirp, which you do need the alarm for cuz I think it's the siren that comes with the alarm that makes the chirping noise.
Click to expand...
Yeah, in our other Bimmers, you need to push the lock button only once, and the doors lock, lights flash and then the clown nose blinks.

In the 3er wagon, the clown nose NEVER blinked when I locked it. It was by accident that I hit the lock button twice, and then the clown nose started blinking.

I have tried it now many times...1x lock button=NO clown nose / 2x lock button=blinking nose.

Weird but I am very stoked!! [cheers]
 
codex57

codex57

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#5
Hmmm, weird, but whatever. It's not like pressing the lock button twice really does anything. Just turns on my interior lights, but those turn back off after a short while.
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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#6
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#6
deutsch100 said:
Hey everyone,

I also wanted the clown nose on the rearview mirror to blink when the car was locked....but again was told that's only possible with the alarm.
Click to expand...
This is not a very smart comment by a BMW emp. Just as Codex57 has stated, you do not need to have the BMW factory alarm to activate the clown nose. I am not sure why it takes two button clicks to activate the clown nose feature.

Just Codex57 stated mine will activate on the first click and just turns the interior lights on with another.

I would ask another emp. at the dealer or take it to another dealer all together and see what they say. It is obvious the person who made the comment above does not know jack about the features of the car.
 
Tom

Tom

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#7
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#7
Yup Richard is correct, mine also blinks when the doors are locked and I have an aftermarket alarm system.
 
D

deutsch100

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///M SPEED said:
This is not a very smart comment by a BMW emp. Just as Codex57 has stated, you do not need to have the BMW factory alarm to activate the clown nose. I am not sure why it takes two button clicks to activate the clown nose feature.

Just Codex57 stated mine will activate on the first click and just turns the interior lights on with another.

I would ask another emp. at the dealer or take it to another dealer all together and see what they say. It is obvious the person who made the comment above does not know jack about the features of the car.
Click to expand...
I had never heard about this 2nd click activating the interior lights for a short while. Tried this multiple times last night (like a village idiot standing out in the cold playing with my car :)

First lock click= doors lock and exterior lights flash
Second click= clown nose is activated
Third click= Interior lights briefly illuminate.

I must have a very uniquely programmed car. There seems to be no other funky issues with my car. So far, my 3er Sports Wagon has performed flawlessly mechanically and electroncially. I could not be more satisfied!!
 
Tom

Tom

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#9
deutsch100 said:
I had never heard about this 2nd click activating the interior lights for a short while. Tried this multiple times last night (like a village idiot standing out in the cold playing with my car :)

First lock click= doors lock and exterior lights flash
Second click= clown nose is activated
Third click= Interior lights briefly illuminate.

I must have a very uniquely programmed car. There seems to be no other funky issues with my car. So far, my 3er Sports Wagon has performed flawlessly mechanically and electroncially. I could not be more satisfied!!
Click to expand...

Did you stand on one foot and rub your tummy at the same time? Try that first....jk. [;)]

I haven't heard that either, did you know that when you unlock the car and hold down the button it rolls down your windows and open the moonroof?
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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#10
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#10
Tom said:
Did you stand on one foot and rub your tummy at the same time? Try that first....jk. [;)]

I haven't heard that either, did you know that when you unlock the car and hold down the button it rolls down your windows and open the moonroof?
Click to expand...
Very true! You can also operate the windows and the sliding/tilt sunroof via the door lock. To open: with the door closed, hold the key in the "Unlock" position. To close: with the door closed, turn the key to the "Lock" position and hold it.

Also, if you press and hold down your trunk release for button two seconds it will activate panic mode.
 
codex57

codex57

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#11
///M SPEED said:
Also, if you press and hold down your trunk release for button two seconds it will activate panic mode.
Click to expand...
What bothered me about that though is that a panic button is supposed to be clear and easy to find. Most people don't know there's a panic button cuz BMW hides it. I remember that on Toyota and Honda remotes, the panic button is a bright red button somewhere. It's separate so in a panic, you know easily which button to push, and it's bright red so in a panic, you can easily find the damn thing.
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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#12
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#12
codex57 said:
What bothered me about that though is that a panic button is supposed to be clear and easy to find. Most people don't know there's a panic button cuz BMW hides it. I remember that on Toyota and Honda remotes, the panic button is a bright red button somewhere. It's separate so in a panic, you know easily which button to push, and it's bright red so in a panic, you can easily find the damn thing.
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree with this statement more. My Honda Prelude and my Passport both have the separate bright red button for panic. Most BMW owners don't even know it exists....
 
theBMWenthusiast

theBMWenthusiast

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#13
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#13
deutsch100 said:
Hey everyone,

I DO NOT have the factory BMW alarm on the new 2004 3er wagon, but I did have my dealer program the exterior lights to flash when I lock/unlock the car with the key.

I wanted it to chirp when locking/unlocking, but they dealer told me that is only possible with the factory alarm. I also wanted the clown nose on the rearview mirror to blink when the car was locked....but again was told that's only possible with the alarm.

NEW TODAY: If I lock my car with the key by pushing the lock button one time, the car locks. If I push the lock button, and then push it again.....after a few seconds the clown nose BLINKS...just like in our X5 and Z8 that do have the factory alarm.

Did I find something new? I am so excited. I have flashing lights and a blinking clown nose. Wow....felt like Christmas today.
Click to expand...
don't know what you did, but it sounds cool!!! congrats!
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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#15
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#15
DrivingTopless said:
We have a panic button?? COOL! [80?]
Click to expand...
Yes, however if you do not have a factory alarm installed only the lights will flash while engaged.

If you have factory alarm installed the lights will flash and the alarm will sound. To turn it off just click the unlock button and it shuts it down.....
 
B

BAM BAM 55

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#17
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Garden Grove, CA
#17
When you lock the car the first time (if you have the alarm installed), it sets the entire alrm system. When you press the lock button a second time, within a few seconds, the system disables the motion sensor in the interior, so you can have your pets in the car without setting off the alarm...
 
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tazza0712

tazza0712

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#18
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#18
I tried every button on my key, out of the three to choose from, in different succession, together, apart, everything, no panic alarm =( haha I'd like to set it off if people get too close to it and I can see them. For some reason, so many people treat parked cars like park benches and I'd love to set it off if someone came within two feet of my car. BACK OFF! =D
 
B

BAM BAM 55

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#19
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Garden Grove, CA
#19
Well, if you're going to get the alarm activated, don't do it at Shelly BMW in Buena Park!! I asked them how much to activate my alarm with the lights flashing feature and while they were at it, to activate the 8 MPH Auto-lock feature, and they wanted $130 !!! Guess I'm going to see how much Long Beach BMW wants for this...I love living in LA...
 
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