Alarm on? - BMW Forum

doughboyea · 04-07-2004, 07:00 PM

Ok, so I just got a 1999 328i. According to the manual, there is a red bulb just below the autodimming rear view mirror that is suppose to blink when i initially lock the doors (hence alarm activated) but having tried many times to lock the doors the blink never comes.... so... what does that mean? Is the alarm on and the blub busted?

ghead

woobiee · 04-07-2004, 07:18 PM

Ok first comes first.

1) Open your door and get into the back seat of your car. Look up top for a square cover on the headliner. This square is about 4"x4". Gently pry off the cover with your fingers. Once the cover is off, look for a plastic looking thingy (it could be mounted on the cover itself or on the car) The plastic thingy should be connected with a wires. If you find this plastic thingy connected with wires, it means you should have the alarm....**GO TO STEP 2). If you do not find the plastic unit (its the motion sensor btw), you do not have an alarm and you must purchase one.

2) Ok so you found the motion sensor in the car. Next step to test is to open all your windows, lock the car with your key. Wait about 30-50seconds...after the wait, stick your hand into the cabin and start movin your arms inside. The car should start the siren and go crazy. If not , this is why:

* Since you have the alarm, you do not have the alarm activated. You must go to your BMW dealer to activate the alarm. Sometimes free, sometimes for a fee.
__________________________________________________ _______________

Ok another test is to lock your car with the key. Does it make a 'beep' when you lock it and 'beep beep' when you unlock it? Does the red LED on the mirror (also called the clown nose) blink after you lock the car? If not here are the possiblities:

* Since you have the alarm, you do not have the alarm activated. You must go to your BMW dealer to activate the alarm. Sometimes free, sometimes for a fee.

OR

* When you got the car, the alarm was activated but the 'beep' indicator was disabled. Take it to the dealer if you want the beep to work.

OR

* When you got the car, the alarm was activated but the clown nose indicator was disabled. Take it to the dealer if you want the clown nose to work.

Hope this doesnt confuse you.

doughboyea · 04-07-2004, 07:21 PM

thankyou... no confusion at all...

i'll try that, i'll let you know what I find out. Thanks
Dough

doughboyea · 04-08-2004, 03:50 PM

Let me ask this before I start opening anything up.... I have the Premium package. Is the alarm system included in that package? If so... then it must be activated, otherwise why would I have the "clown" nose on the rear view mirror? Also, there are stickers on the window, engine lock and radio shut down.

Thanks

Mach 5 · 04-08-2004, 04:03 PM

The alarm is not part of the premium package. You have the clown nose because most cars come prewired for the alarm. And the stickers indicate passive antitheft devices not an active alarm system. Popping the square cover off of the headliner like woobie said is the easiest way to tell if you have an alarm or not.
Ben

woobiee · 04-08-2004, 05:10 PM

all E46 have the clown nose. the clown nose can be activated to blink even if you dont have the alarm.

doughboyea · 04-09-2004, 06:20 PM

FUCK! Ok.. we'll I don't have an alarm system! Damnit! Well ok so now what do I do... anyone know how much it would be to install a factory alarm system at the dealer?? I'm working with the dude that sold me the car cause he told me it did come with an alarm... shows how much he knows about his cars.....

ghead

Dough

woobiee · 04-09-2004, 10:31 PM

dealers will prob ask for $400-600 for the alarm installed.

you can get the alarm from www.circlebmw.com for about $225 + ship. Installing is very easy and im sure you can do it yourself. Activation of the alarm is required; usually for a nominal fee..sometimes for free!

AZ325Ci · 04-10-2004, 03:28 PM

i agree with woobie. buy the alarm from circlebmw.com or pacificbmw.com and then install it yourself. the installation instructions should come with it. installation is fairly easy. then just take it to the dealer for activation.

DHW BMW328I · 04-11-2004, 11:48 PM

I have an after market alarm on my 99 328i. Is there away of activating my clown nose with my after market system?

doughboyea · 04-13-2004, 04:45 PM

Well this

at the dealer is giving me some story. I called up the people that sold me the car. I told him that the car doesn't have an alarm, even though he verbally told me that it does (i'm in contact with autotrader to see if i can get a copy of the ad). He even said that it was the quite type that the previous owner had the dealer install. So I ask him to pay for the installation for an alarm system. i shelled out over $20,000 after taxes/fees for this car and this fucker can't even fess up to HIS mistake for not looking into the car. He told me that he was doing me a favor for getting his pricing from the dealer... $400!... I pretty much told him to go fuck himself. Still though, why should I have to pay something for the car when I already paid for it through the purchase price?!!??

ghead Dough

AutoSolutions · 04-13-2004, 05:14 PM

AutoSolutions · 04-13-2004, 05:18 PM

WOW that sucks....,my car came with no factory alarm but with sensors. I had a aftermarket installed with remote starter for less what the bmw dealer wanted for the factory security system with no shock sensor. My local alarm shop used the inside and tilt sensors with the aftermarket security and I love it.

jaavaajoe · 04-14-2004, 03:02 PM

Hey Dough,
I feel your pain.
Here is a little jailhouse lawyering for you.

If the dealer told you (or better yet it is written down) that the car had an alarm in it. And him telling you that created an expectation that the car would comply with the representations made (ie that it had an alarm), the seller must live up to the liability assumed.

Basically, he gave you an Express Warranty that (at least in part) induced you to buy the car.

It is virtually impossible for a seller to disclaim an express warranty under such situations.

This information is from the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) that most states have adopted. I don't know if your state has or not. I point you (or your lawyer) to UCC Article 2-316(1).

Oral isn't bad, but it is he said she said. Written is much better b/c there isn't a way to deny it.

Piece (yeah that kind)
Joe

doughboyea · 04-15-2004, 05:00 PM

Mr. Claudio ##### and Management:

I am still requesting that you pay for what was not received. I purchased a vehicle with the notion that it contained an alarm system. A verbal confirmation that you stated, not only that one time but also on the phone with me, not to mention that you said this in front of Gem. You also notioned that it was a "quiet" alarm, such that there were no flashing of the indicators or beeping of the horn typically associated with an alarm system, for which BMW does offer as a dealer option.
Upon requesting of you to pay for what you said was included in the purchase price was meet with no help. Offering me a dealer special price at $400 installed is not acceptable.
Even though you may have made a mistake, it should be a mistake that you or Hillside Auto Imports must make up. Regardless of whether or not an alarm was included, you said that it was, being as such that it was an oral contract dictating the options that the vehicle would come with upon receipt.
I feel that I must make you aware of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which dictates the duties of the seller and buyer in oral and written contracts. Article 2-316 applies to this situation. For which it states that if an express warranty was implied that the dealer must accept the terms of that warranty. An Express Warranty is one that is a seller or manufacturer's oral or written promise or affirmation of that fact which describes the product at the time of sale. The description was such that it contained an alarm which you described as being silent. Having read the contract which you signed stating that:

"The said used motor vehicle is accepted by the purchaser in its present condition with its present equipment unless other wise stated herein."

This statement alone should be enough evidence to you of the facts. It's present equipment at the time of delivery was such that it included an alarm.

I truly hope that we can settle this matter as soon as possible.

Steven ######

aka Dough
Thanks for the legal info...