Alarm on 330Ci convertible

[desi330owner]

I recently bought a used 2001 330Ci manual convertible. It drives great. It has sport and premium package.
I can't figure out the alarm, though. There a red light under the rear view mirror that never flashes. I locked the car with the window rolled down. Then i open the door but the alarm did not go off. The used car dealer told me the car has an alarm. Why doesn't it work? Any thoughts?

[desi330owner]

Is there a way to tell if an alarm is installed at all? Either there is no alarm or it is installed but not working.

[playdrv4me]

Originally posted by desi330owner@Mar 5 2004, 01:29 PM
Is there a way to tell if an alarm is installed at all? Either there is no alarm or it is installed but not working.

All of the cars come with the red light under the mirror, the test you mentioned is the single best way to tell if your car is alarm equipped. Mine even has the electronics housing in the roof for the motion sensor and it still doesnt have the alarm. It seems you do not actually have it (although the manual does detail a disarming option but I doubt this).

[desi330owner]

Thanks for the information. I guess i will have to add an aftermarket alarm.

[playdrv4me]

Originally posted by desi330owner@Mar 7 2004, 01:21 AM
Thanks for the information. I guess i will have to add an aftermarket alarm.

Not necessarily, you CAN still add the BMW factory alarm. Just ask your dealer and they can provide you with the info as the car should be pre-wired for the Alarm, the Cell phone, the CD Changer and other things depending on year.

[AutoSolutions]

Look in the trunk lid and if u have a sticker that says is pre wired for alarm is most like it that u do have it, now if is not working you have to take it to the dealer to recode the security system, the factory alarms is good has a tilt sensor for the wheels and inside movement sensor I would add a after market shock sensor at your local specialty stereo alarm shop, dei makes one that works with factory systems.
Good luck

[TECH]

They can be added easily. I'd go with the BMW alarm. It'll utilize a tilt sensor for the convertible, but not an interior motion sensor, since it is a convertible.
You'll have an alarm siren to install in the firewall behind the microfilter, a tilt sensor in the trunk, and the dealer will have to activate it by programming the car to let it know that the alarm is installed. Simple.

Aftermarket sucks. They always butcher wiring, stuff modules and 30 extra feet of wire under the dashes, and it sucks to have to go behind all that crap to work on the car later. ghead

[desi330owner]

Thanks for the information. There is a sticker in the trunk that says Wired for Alarm or something to that effect. I'm in favor of a BMW alarm (especially if it is not too expensive compared to aftermarket). I'll go with that.
Thanks.

[AZ325Ci]

i would have the dealer check out to see if you car does have the alarm installed. if there is, then all they need to do is program it to activate.

if it doesn't, then go to http://www.pacificbmw.com or http://www.circlebmw.com and order your alarm kit. you will get the alarm cheaper through them than you would at the dealer.

they are fairly easy to install. just follow the instructions that come with it. you will save $$ on the install and then take it to the dealer and have them activate it. sometimes there will be a small fee or if you know somebody in the service, then you may get this free.

btw, nice car!!

[doughboyea]

Originally posted by AutoSolutions@Mar 28 2004, 09:43 PM
Look in the trunk lid and if u have a sticker that says is pre wired for alarm is most like it that u do have it....

No Sir, that is not true! I don't mean to sound like an asshole, just I have the same thing in my car but it doesn't have the main alarm components installed, ie. the motion sensor, siren, etc. The only thing that that means is that if you do choose to install one in the future, all the wires are already routed through the car, only thing left is to dish out the $300 +/- for the parts and install it, THEN activate it. Don't be misleaded by that "sticker".

Dough