Hi All, I just recently purchased an X3 for my wife this past Sat. I wanted the dealer to activate the "clown nose" under the rearview mirror and make the hazards blink when we unlock/lock the car. We do not have the alarm. They were able to activate these features on my 2003 325Ci wihtout the alarm, but when my wife went yesterday to program the car, the dealer said they were unable. Something similar to not being able to activate the Z4 either. Has anyone heard this before. Thanks

Posters over at roadfly report a similar experience - but there are isolated reports of successful activations. It probably depends on which version of the car/key programming software the service department is using. Seems like the newer software inhibits the activation of the nose without the alarm being installed.