Just bought 330ci-how to tell if alarm is installed?

[mmiller2002]

Its got the huge red bulbous wart under the mirror but no blinking action. If it doesn't have the alarm, is there a way to remove the red thing?

Thanks!

[NickZHP]

The clown nose under the mirror is to dim the mirror. Try turning it :thumbsup

[jiggz]

My clown nose blinks when the doors are locked, but no alarm. Do you see a siren anywhere under the hood?

[KevinC]

If you have the alarm, it should beep once when arming, twice when disarming. Nice soft electronic beep, not a blip on the car's horn, like some annoying cars do.

[johnrando]

I think that all depends on how you program it.. you can beep/not beep, blink/not blink, etc. So, having one or the other doesn't mean you have an alarm or not. You have to look under the hood (where, I don't know; but I know there are threads on this... likely on e46fanatics.com).

[WOLFN8TR]

If you have the alarm, it should beep once when arming, twice when disarming. Nice soft electronic beep, not a blip on the car's horn, like some annoying cars do.

It should in theory but depending how it's coded and IF works. My car is coded for the audible beeps but only beeps when unlocking.

Try doing this to test the alarm. Open the hood, push and hold down on the hood switch. Arm the car then release the switch. If it scares the shit out of you then I would say you have an alarm.

[ELCID86]

The glass break sensor is under (above?) the square piece in the center area of the roof. Pull it off and check. Not sure if all alarmed cars have the GBS.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[KevinC]

Mine also has an interior motion detector, which I presume means they should all have (though could be defeatable via programming?). Lock the car with the window open, stick your arm in and wave it around.. and get ready for the alarm blast, if it behaves like mine.

I do NOT have the factory alarm on my Z4MC, but it's programmed to still blink the clown nose. Nice "solution" since that blinking nose will scare off any amateur who might be thinking of a quick strike. Any pro won't give a rat's ass about an alarm anyways.

[RITmusic2k]

Confirming the above - my car does not have the alarm installed, but I had the dealer reprogram so the clown nose would flash when the doors are locked, emulating an armed alarm. So if it's a feature you'd like, you can do so by going through the list of car/key memory settings and give the changes to the dealer. Minor deterrent, but it's better than nothing.

16594

[cakM3]

The glass break sensor is under (above?) the square piece in the center area of the roof. Pull it off and check. Not sure if all alarmed cars have the GBS.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

Shawn, as far as I know all cars that have the BMW factory alarm have this sensor installed. The three BMW Factory Alarm kits I have installed in my cars all had this sensor to install. You will know because once the cover is pulled, you will see the sensor. Honestly, this is the quickest, and easiest, way to determine if you have the factory alarm installed in your BMW... :thumbsup

[mmiller2002]

Pics?