alarm questions

[anthony303]

is there any way to get an audible confirmation that my alarm is on without paying the extra money to get the better alarm installed on my car from the dealer, and can i get the red bulb to flash without upgrading the alarm system?

[woobiee]

first off, do you even have the alarm. If so, you can have the dealer program the 'audible' confirmation. If you do not have an alarm, you cant do this.

THe red LED and the turn signals to flash for confirmation can be done with or without the alarm.

Most dealers will charge you 1/2 to 1 hour of charge. Sometimes they will be nice and do it for free.

[anthony303]

i believe i have an alarm just not the one with all the motion sensors and hi-tech crap, there is an alarm system that is less hi-tch right?

[woobiee]

theres only one OEM alarm.

if go inside your car and look for a rectangular box on the ceiling. Pry that off and check if you have a motion sensor inside the box. If you do not, you do not have the alarm

[anthony303]

well i guess i dont have an alarm then cuz i dont get any visual or audible signals that the alarm is armed, by any chance do you have any idea how much it would cost to have the dealer put in the alarm system?

[woobiee]

Originally posted by anthony303@May 5 2004, 02:12 AM
well i guess i dont have an alarm then cuz i dont get any visual or audible signals that the alarm is armed, by any chance do you have any idea how much it would cost to have the dealer put in the alarm system?

no visual or audible confirmation doesnt mean you 'dont' have the alarm. Sometimes ppl have the alarm but deactivates all their confirmation signals for whatever reason. You should really check and make sure you got one.

Alarm is $225 at www.circlebmw.com Install it yourself and get it activated (extra 1/2-1hour labor or if lucky=free)

[Gargoyle69]

i have a question about this. what exactly would i look for in the motion sensor holder in the ceiling? would it be completely empty or would i have to find something in a specific shape up there? i would like to know if i have the alarm also. sorry if i sound stupid but i am very new to owning my car

[woobiee]

the motion sensor is inside that little box thingy on the ceiling. There is this 'bow tie' shapped plastic thingy in white or black (i forget) with a wire or two connected; from on end of the motion sensor to somewhere you cant see since the wire goes all the way inside the headliner somewhere. (BASIC RULE: if you dont see a wire that is connect to a piece, then you dont have the motion sensor and thus, most likely you do not have the alarm. Non-alarm cars have that wire plugged into the box cover itself or sometimes the wire is just floating there)

Another area you can check is the battery area in the trunk. There should be a white cubish piece about 3.5x2 right on the battery's mounting points.

[Gargoyle69]

thanks i will check that out. how much did you say that it normally costs to have the settings audio and visual fixed at the dealership?

[woobiee]

1/2-1 hour labor ($50-120) or free if you are lucky.