I have a 93 325i and was wondering what is involved with getting keyless entry. I did some searching but didn't find anything definitve about it. My roommate has a 350z and all he had to do was go to the dealer, buy the fob and he was able to program it himself; is this a similar situation or am I in for a PITA install? Thanks!

It's pretty much the same situation. All e36's came prewired from dealer for keyless entry/alarm it was only the matter of fact to install it.

The main parts of installation is the head unit, which goes right in behind the glove box. You may need a wire harness for one to work depending on your car set up.

The fob then is the easy part, after the head unit is installed you need to open the alarm head unit and the key fob and remove the little socketed chip and swap them. Then you turn to the ignition and press the little reset button on the head unit for 10 seconds.

That's the setup for pre 95' cars and the 3 button fob. Theres a less complicated method if you use the two button fob, but I'm not sure how it goes.

There was a great DIY on 101projects..but it seems to be missing now..

It's pretty much the same situation. All e36's came prewired from dealer for keyless entry/alarm it was only the matter of fact to install it.

The main parts of installation is the head unit, which goes right in behind the glove box. You may need a wire harness for one to work depending on your car set up.

The fob then is the easy part, after the head unit is installed you need to open the alarm head unit and the key fob and remove the little socketed chip and swap them. Then you turn to the ignition and press the little reset button on the head unit for 10 seconds.

That's the setup for pre 95' cars and the 3 button fob. Theres a less complicated method if you use the two button fob, but I'm not sure how it goes.

There was a great DIY on 101projects..but it seems to be missing now..




Thanks for the info! Have any idea where to get the fob and head unit? I'm really just interested in having a fob that locks and unlocks the car... is that the 2 button fob you were talking about?

No, that was for the 3 button,

The 2 button is much easier.. from my head.. the unit needs to be disarmed.. if you're not sure pull the fuse. Make sure all doors are closed..trunk and the hood. Then open the rear trunk and raise it, then sit in the drivers seat closing the door, then I believe you turn the ignition switch on and off 5 times. not starting the engine. This has to be done within 10 seconds. That's just to enable the process to align the fob to the head. Then I think you need to stay in the seat, then you press the buttons on the fob, and the more you want to add you add them i think 4 is the max.

Then to exit the mode.. you get out of the drivers seat BUT LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN, close the trunk then close the drivers door. Siren should sound and that should be it..

I may have errors..so double check it lol.

Oh, and if you wana save time I bet you could just buy one which is already paired. lol.

No, that was for the 3 button,

The 2 button is much easier.. from my head.. the unit needs to be disarmed.. if you're not sure pull the fuse. Make sure all doors are closed..trunk and the hood. Then open the rear trunk and raise it, then sit in the drivers seat closing the door, then I believe you turn the ignition switch on and off 5 times. not starting the engine. This has to be done within 10 seconds. That's just to enable the process to align the fob to the head. Then I think you need to stay in the seat, then you press the buttons on the fob, and the more you want to add you add them i think 4 is the max.

Then to exit the mode.. you get out of the drivers seat BUT LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN, close the trunk then close the drivers door. Siren should sound and that should be it..

I may have errors..so double check it lol.



So my car has a factory alarm??? Thats news to me! What do the 2 buttons on the fob do? Just lock and unlock? And where do you suggest I double check this info? Thanks for all your help btw!

Heh,

No no no, if anything your car is PREWIRED for an alarm, if you don't have the key fob and it somehow turns out that you do have one installed..it will be the first one I said.l'.and the 3 button OEM bmw fob as your car is a 93'.

I just explained both procedures for the remote entry/alarm unit if you were to purchase a OEM BMW Unit, as you referred OEM in your post (kinda). Nothing is saying you have to go w/ OEM but then I won't know that :P I would personally aim for a post 96 unit as that is easier to play with..plus looks kinda cooler.

Pull out the glove box and you will find one of the following:

1) Factory alarm already installed
2) Factory alarm plug
3) Factory alarm plug cut off and an aftermarket alarm half installed (that's me!)

If you have a '93 with a factory alarm purchased in '93 its going to be a 3 button remote but if someone came along in '99 and installed a dealer alarm they just bought its going to be the newer type alarm. So check what you ahve first and if you find an alarm go to the dealer with the part # on the box

Also the BMW alarm is like $450 there are some other systems that plug into the same socket for ~$200 check bavauto & ebay.

eBay has some stock OEM alarm systems for as low as 60$ and include the alarm horn. lol.