Hello:

I just got the alarm for my 06/325i and I am planning to do the install myself tomorrow. One stealer on my area wanted $750, the other $850 for installing the alarm on my car, beyond ridiculous. I know I still have to depend on the stealer for activation though.
Anyway to my question….. My car doesn’t have Navigation or iDrive for that matter. Will I be able to alter any of the settings of the alarm after activated using controls on my car? Personally, I like the alarm to auto activate after I left the car but I don’t like the car to lock itself down. I know some alarms by default auto-lock the car.
Is this something that I will be able to control? If not, if this something that the stealer can setup during activation?

Thanks a lot!
Ramon

Hello:

I just got the alarm for my 06/325i and I am planning to do the install myself tomorrow. One stealer on my area wanted $750, the other $850 for installing the alarm on my car, beyond ridiculous. I know I still have to depend on the stealer for activation though.
Anyway to my question….. My car doesn’t have Navigation or iDrive for that matter. Will I be able to alter any of the settings of the alarm after activated using controls on my car? Personally, I like the alarm to auto activate after I left the car but I don’t like the car to lock itself down. I know some alarms by default auto-lock the car.
Is this something that I will be able to control? If not, if this something that the stealer can setup during activation?

Thanks a lot!
Ramon

I had the OEM alarm in my '05 330i and now in my '08 335i. AFAIK, you cannot separate the arming from the vehicle locking. The only thing you can control via the data computer is whether or not the alarm makes the audible "chirp" when arming and disarming. I negotiated $350 installed when I ordered my 335i. You should be able to work the dealer down. Did you read the DIY? The hardest part is the siren install in the left rear wheel well, IMO.

Thank you markl53.

I just installed the alarm today and I have to say it’s pretty easy, took less than an hour. Jacking up the car could be the hardest part.

I’ve been calling dealers now for activation and they want around $200 or more. I have to say that I am pretty disappointed with the dealers’ prices. I bought my alarm for $235+$15 shipping. In the manual that came with it from BMW Group says that it should take 1.5 hrs for installation+activation. Unbelievable that dealers on my area wanted $750-$850.

The alarm works as far as the interior light blinking and the alarm triggering when opening the doors. So, I am not sure I want to pay $200 or more for activation. What am I missing if I don’t activate, besides the chirp when locking the car? How much are people paying for activation?

Thanks!

Thank you markl53.

I just installed the alarm today and I have to say it’s pretty easy, took less than an hour. Jacking up the car could be the hardest part.

I’ve been calling dealers now for activation and they want around $200 or more. I have to say that I am pretty disappointed with the dealers’ prices. I bought my alarm for $235+$15 shipping. In the manual that came with it from BMW Group says that it should take 1.5 hrs for installation+activation. Unbelievable that dealers on my area wanted $750-$850.

The alarm works as far as the interior light blinking and the alarm triggering when opening the doors. So, I am not sure I want to pay $200 or more for activation. What am I missing if I don’t activate, besides the chirp when locking the car? How much are people paying for activation?

Thanks!

First, glad you got it installed without a glitch. Mine was installed by the dealer the day my car arrived, about a week ago. They said it wouldn't function correctly because they needed software update "29" which was being sent separately from BMW. The red light blinked when armed (althouth it flashed fast for the first 10 seconds, usually indicating something is not closed). But I don't think it would be set off, and the panic alarm didn't work. How did you verify that it would be triggered?

Anyway, they got the disk and I took it in this past Tuesday and they updated the software in about 30 minutes. Now it works fine. You might not have the motion sensor or tilt function if they don't activate -- I wonder if that might be the case.

I verified that it would be triggered on opening a door by arming the alarm while inside the car and then opening a door. I verified that the ultrasound works by again arming the alarm from inside, standing still for a while and then moving around.
What I have verified that don’t work so far are the chirp when locking and the panic function.

I haven’t verified the tilt sensor. BTW what’s the motion sensor? Is that related to the tilt sensor? I know the alarm doesn’t come with the shock sensor, which is unfortunate IMHO.

About the price you paid ($350) I think you got it so low because you were ordering the car at the time. That doesn’t take away the fact that they are trying to rip me off by asking $750-$850. I think $500 is a reasonable price and I was willing to pay that. Anyways, I would love to hear from someone who has done the activation only with the stealers about how much they paid.

They can only charge you 1.5 hrs. of labor. That's still some money, but maybe try to talk to the place you got the car at.