Alarm or not??? That is the question....

Romanian nightmare · 02-09-2011, 04:19 PM

I've been looking to figure out if my new (new to me) 2007 e90 sport package has an alarm or not. I'm almost embarased to ask here, but hey, that's why we have this forum to sometimes ask stupid questions....

So....how can i find out if my car has an alarm? If not, how can i find out if it is pre-wired so i can install a factory alarm myself?

brocklanders · 02-09-2011, 06:53 PM

if it beeps when you lock the the doors it has an alarm, if not it is prewired if it has a red dome on the rearview mirror.

GenePoole · 02-09-2011, 06:59 PM

In all likelihood, it has no alarm, but is pre-wired. If it doesn't beep when you lock it with the FOB, then it doesn't have one. You can get the retrofit kit for about $250, but you'll need to have it coded. I did it myself with an ebay cable ($32 for k+can and easily available NCSExpert--your 07 may need a d-can cable depending on when it was manufactured).

Romanian nightmare · 02-10-2011, 09:29 AM

Thanks guys. That's what i thought too, but wanted to make sure. Good thing i keep my car in the garage just in case.

wrickem · 02-10-2011, 09:53 AM

It won't beep unless it's set to beep in your car's settings. All '07 3's mirrors have red domes on the bottom of the mirror.

If the red dome in the mirror flashes when you lock your doors, you have an alarm installed. You can also try a quick test of holding the trunk button on the fob down and see if it sets your panic alarm off.

your '07 should be prewired, there's a good DIY on here or have someone do it for you but you will have to get it coded after it's installed.

hipnotic · 02-10-2011, 10:38 AM

waste of money

Romanian nightmare · 02-10-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josh06lau

waste of money

Waste of money why? I like the peace of mind, but if i know that an alarm is trully not worth it, then i may just not do it..... I'd like some input....

brocklanders · 02-12-2011, 11:34 AM

i got it, i dont believe it is a waste of money, bmw factory alarms are as good as any aftermarket alarm ive ever had and the ease of install is worth the extra dollars. it is extremely easy to install the kit but as mentioned you will need to get it coded, and also there is a different dome light assembly that no one told me about so i cut holes in the existing one, i dont recommend it, just pay the hundred dollars for the one with holes in it.

///M3NACE · 02-12-2011, 11:45 AM

^^no its not!! In my bmw x5 e53 i have the alarm and someone hit it and it didn't even go off. When i mean hit it i mean it bumped it while parking quite a bit where it moved. ANY aftermarket alarm would've went off

fdriller9 · 02-12-2011, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihsanshaik

^^no its not!! In my bmw x5 e53 i have the alarm and someone hit it and it didn't even go off. When i mean hit it i mean it bumped it while parking quite a bit where it moved. ANY aftermarket alarm would've went off

That's because OEM BMW alarm systems don't have a shock sensor.

Only a hood switch and a ultrasonic sensor in the cabin.

Though what puzzles me is that when my family went on a ferry with our 745i, the alarm kept going off. Idk if that's because someone knocked the mirror cover off or because of the motion of the boat.

brocklanders · 02-12-2011, 06:33 PM

i dont know why you care it didnt go off when someone ran into it, its not like your car was stolen and im sure thats possible too.

claykin · 02-12-2011, 10:23 PM

OEM alarm has a motion sensor. It detects rocking beyond a certain point like when a tow trucks picks up the car. No shock sensor.

Like wrickem said, if the rear view mirror clown nose blinks when locked then you have the alarm. If it does not, then in all likelihood you have no alarm installed. US cars in 2007 were all prewired.

02-09-2011, 04:19 PM	#1
Romanian nightmare Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 M50i Alpine Weiss Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: South iTrader: (0)	Alarm or not??? That is the question.... I've been looking to figure out if my new (new to me) 2007 e90 sport package has an alarm or not. I'm almost embarased to ask here, but hey, that's why we have this forum to sometimes ask stupid questions.... So....how can i find out if my car has an alarm? If not, how can i find out if it is pre-wired so i can install a factory alarm myself?
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02-09-2011, 06:53 PM	#2
brocklanders Major 106 Rep 1,428 Posts Drives: the uno, mineral white Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: houston iTrader: (3) Garage List 06 325 [0.00]	if it beeps when you lock the the doors it has an alarm, if not it is prewired if it has a red dome on the rearview mirror.
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02-09-2011, 06:59 PM	#3
GenePoole Lieutenant 46 Rep 541 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 328i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Brighton, IL iTrader: (0)	In all likelihood, it has no alarm, but is pre-wired. If it doesn't beep when you lock it with the FOB, then it doesn't have one. You can get the retrofit kit for about $250, but you'll need to have it coded. I did it myself with an ebay cable ($32 for k+can and easily available NCSExpert--your 07 may need a d-can cable depending on when it was manufactured).
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02-10-2011, 09:29 AM	#4
Romanian nightmare Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 M50i Alpine Weiss Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: South iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys. That's what i thought too, but wanted to make sure. Good thing i keep my car in the garage just in case.
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02-10-2011, 09:53 AM	#5
wrickem Big Beaver Smile 2101 Rep 3,791 Posts Drives: What he wants to Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: lambertville nj iTrader: (0)	It won't beep unless it's set to beep in your car's settings. All '07 3's mirrors have red domes on the bottom of the mirror. If the red dome in the mirror flashes when you lock your doors, you have an alarm installed. You can also try a quick test of holding the trunk button on the fob down and see if it sets your panic alarm off. your '07 should be prewired, there's a good DIY on here or have someone do it for you but you will have to get it coded after it's installed. __________________ ______________________________________________ Current- '21 430 , '19 911, 07 M6 ,'17 Jeep Wrangler, "23 Bronco OBXluxsquatch
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02-10-2011, 10:38 AM	#6
hipnotic Major General 149 Rep 6,604 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [7.00]	waste of money
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02-12-2011, 11:34 AM	#8
brocklanders Major 106 Rep 1,428 Posts Drives: the uno, mineral white Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: houston iTrader: (3) Garage List 06 325 [0.00]	i got it, i dont believe it is a waste of money, bmw factory alarms are as good as any aftermarket alarm ive ever had and the ease of install is worth the extra dollars. it is extremely easy to install the kit but as mentioned you will need to get it coded, and also there is a different dome light assembly that no one told me about so i cut holes in the existing one, i dont recommend it, just pay the hundred dollars for the one with holes in it.
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02-12-2011, 11:45 AM	#9
///M3NACE Banned 168 Rep 3,900 Posts Drives: E36 M3, E36 Vert , E90 N52 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Downers Grove, IL iTrader: (5)	^^no its not!! In my bmw x5 e53 i have the alarm and someone hit it and it didn't even go off. When i mean hit it i mean it bumped it while parking quite a bit where it moved. ANY aftermarket alarm would've went off
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02-12-2011, 06:33 PM	#11
brocklanders Major 106 Rep 1,428 Posts Drives: the uno, mineral white Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: houston iTrader: (3) Garage List 06 325 [0.00]	i dont know why you care it didnt go off when someone ran into it, its not like your car was stolen and im sure thats possible too.
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02-12-2011, 10:23 PM	#12
claykin Brigadier General 1588 Rep 4,553 Posts Drives: various BMW Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	OEM alarm has a motion sensor. It detects rocking beyond a certain point like when a tow trucks picks up the car. No shock sensor. Like wrickem said, if the rear view mirror clown nose blinks when locked then you have the alarm. If it does not, then in all likelihood you have no alarm installed. US cars in 2007 were all prewired.
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