Source :
http://www.bmwnation.com/tech/glossary/tech_3carkeycfg_01.html
The Clown Nose Controversy
The "Clown Nose" flashes after you purchase, install and activate your BMW alarm. Did you know that you can have the Nose programmed to flash, and the amber lights blink off/on when you open/close the doors even though the alarm is NOT installed? Here's how:
1) Have your dealer hook up the shop computer to the car.
2) Go to the "Anit-Theft" activation section.
3) Activate the alarm, but uncheck the "DWA" option.
This was tested by at least a dozen people so far, who swear that it works. The shop work order the job was written as: "Program car memory to visual acknowledge when locking/unlocking"
NOTE OF WARNING:
The following is a quote from a very reputable dealer passing along a comment from his tech guys on the above procedure. Take this as you want, I'm passing it along so that you do know there might be problems with this procedure. The last thing I want is for you to screw up your car.
"I feel that it is my civic duty to warn everyone who is having this done of the 'irreversible consequences' of this procedure (when activated sans alarm). In plain English, activating the light is tricking the car's computer into thinking that the car has had an alarm installed. Consequently, fault codes are generated because the computer is searching for alarm data and can't find any... This will not affect the functionality of the vehicle until the car has some other electrical problem. When the car is hooked up to the diagnostic equipment at the BMW Center, the technician is going to pull up string after string of fault codes, and be unable diagnose whatever the problem is. At that point, the only solution will be to replace the car's computer -or- add an alarm in order to isolate the real fault codes... Sounds like a big headache just to have a blinking clown-nose thingy... "
Sales Manager, Reputable Dealer, Fall 1999
The person making this statement has been correct 95% of the time in his statements about technical matters and is known to be a real BMW fanatic, always ready to help fellow bimmer lovers, no matter if they buy from him or not. It was therefore assumed this was the case and the Clown Nose hubub died down.
HOWEVER:
The official publication of the BMW Car Club of America (BMWCCA) ROUNDEL, in the December 2000 issue, weighed in on the topic and said the following:
In answer to a question by Jackie Moro, according to Mike Miller, the Technical Editor of Roundel, in his "Tech Talk" column on page 104, BMWCCA spoke with BMW NA regarding any problems with the above procedure. According to BMW NA, there are no long term problems with this procedure. Here's the quote:
"We spoke with BMW of North America regarding (the question) The "Car Memory" function, "Acknowledgement without DWA" for E46 vehicles (without factory-installed alarm), is available since DIS CD 20.0, and its functionality is described in Service Bulletin 09 03 98. When activated, the fault code "07 anti-theft alarm system" is going to be set in General Module. This fault does not affect operation of the General Module in any way. Simply put, the sustem detects absence of certain components of the DWA - alarm siren and ultrasonic sensor - while at the same time the module was coded to activate the DWA for the lights acknowledgement purpose. Again, the above mentioned fault code is transparent to driver and does not affect the operation of the car. There is no reason to replace the General Module after Car Memory programming. This programming procedure was approved by BMW AG."
Roundel, December 2000, pg. 104
THEREFORE:
December, 2000. Based on the above evidence, I had my nose programmed and it works like a charm!
PeterJS
BMWNation.com
![[screwy]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_screwy.gif "Screwy [screwy]")
