OEM Alarm Install Problems?

[m3f_firedancer414]

Hi, I just bought an OEM alarm + fob off Ebay and was having some trouble installing it. It's a 1999 two-button OBDII system. I plugged in the brain, siren, and LED and absolutely nothing happens. The LED has yet to make a peep, the siren I installed hasn't chirped. I tried the programming procedure and nothing happens. The fob seems to be OK, it lights up when I press the buttons. I checked the fuses, 3 in the box in the hood and 1 by the brain in the glovebox. Are there other things that I should check? Grounding issues? Should I be concerned that I received a bad alarm brain? I performed the install with the battery still connected, could I have shorted something out?


What do you think?

[m3f_JPoland]

Try the procedure to program the fob several times. I didn't get it exact on the first time. The LED won't lite up until you program the fob and actually lock the car with the fob.

[m3f_firedancer414]

Thanks -- I sort of got discouraged and wasn't sure if I should be hearing the alarm chirp + LED light mid-programming, I'll try going through the whole procedure a few times.

[m3f_JPoland]

Thanks -- I sort of got discouraged and wasn't sure if I should be hearing the alarm chirp + LED light mid-programming, I'll try going through the whole procedure a few times.

Yea the car doesn't knowledge that you're doing anything right or wrong through the procedure. I remember thinking the same thing. I felt like a crazy person running around my car opening and closing stuff with nothing happening.

[m3f_firedancer414]

I tried many times and still couldn't get it to work. I thought that it might be the hood trigger so I weighted it down, but no avail. I have a feeling that the alarm brain I got might have been bad. I ordered a second one and we'll go from there. The good news about buying used parts is that if it turns out I got an extra one or whatever I should be able to unload it for the same price I paid.

[m3f_roarE36M3]

I just got a 95 M3 with no alarm/keyless entry. How difficult is it to install yourself? I saw an OEM on craigslist for $50 with all wires etc. Was thinking about an aftermarket alarm, but afraid that is going to be $$$.

[m3f_firedancer414]

I just got a 95 M3 with no alarm/keyless entry. How difficult is it to install yourself? I saw an OEM on craigslist for $50 with all wires etc. Was thinking about an aftermarket alarm, but afraid that is going to be $$$.

I think that 99.9% of people don't run into the problems that I ran into. I bought my system from a sketchy source and I think I paid the price of having to buy a second system and waste $$. If I had to do it again, I would have originally just purchased it from Bavarian Recycling for $150, comes with everything you need:



LED, brain, intermediate wiring, siren, key fob

[m3f_JPoland]

I will be selling my "factory" system sometime soon. "Factory" because it wasn't installed at the factory but rather at the dealership. It did come pre-wired to accept the BMW alarm from the factory though. I just need to pull out the wiring.

[m3f_BimmerFr3aK]

Brian,

it took me forever to program mine. If you wanna shoot me a text and swing through sometime on the weekend we could get it going. It really is almost a science getting the thing going in the exact right sequence...its kinda ridiculous.

[m3f_firedancer414]

Good news / bad news: I'm glad I bought the second brain, since it schooled me in the difference between the OBDI and OBDII alarm brains . Does anyone have pictures of the OBDII alarm install, I'm having a hard time finding the molex connector down there ... Thanks!


In other news, I have a good quality (but untested) OBDI alarm now for sale


Learn from my mistakes!

[m3f_fun2drive51]

Pictures would help immensely. Also the main failing of DIYs including me is not staying within the time period from on-off-on-off 5 times. Also I have had cases where the alarm LED doesn't light. Just assume it did and close the door and the trunk and try it. I have had the system look dead but once I closed the door and the trunk and tried lock and unlock it worked perfect.

Of course you are programming the alarm to the Key FOB so I can understand why you had some OBDI issues since you have an OBDII car.

[m3f_firedancer414]

Pictures would help immensely. Also the main failing of DIYs including me is not staying within the time period from on-off-on-off 5 times. Also I have had cases where the alarm LED doesn't light. Just assume it did and close the door and the trunk and try it. I have had the system look dead but once I closed the door and the trunk and tried lock and unlock it worked perfect.

Of course you are programming the alarm to the Key FOB so I can understand why you had some OBDI issues since you have an OBDII car.

My bad, here's some photos of the power/molex connector. It's the white connector in the middle of the photo without a home. Help it find its home!








Any help appreciated!

[m3f_firedancer414]

All fixed. The hood switch was a bum, even when I rubber banded it shut or disconnected it I still couldn't program the damn thing. I got a new one from Tischer (getbmwparts) for around $40 and everything works. FWIW, the LED illuminated and the alarm chirped at all the places the install guide said it should when it actually worked.

[m3f_graphite9]

My 98 m3 has a led on the center console, but I didnt get a fob. How can I find out if I have an alarm system?

[m3f_firedancer414]

My 98 m3 has a led on the center console, but I didnt get a fob. How can I find out if I have an alarm system?

Gotta remove the cover under the glovebox and see if you have the alarm module in there. Fobs are $50 at Bavarian Recycling.