DIY: OE Keyless Entry Retrofit

[m3f_TC2]

OE Keyless Entry Retrofit


In a quest to have a good keyless entry system on my E36 it recently dawned upon me that it would be possible to retrofit an OE keyless entry system.







The keyless entry system people always think of in regard to the E36 is the Alpine system that was either dealer or customer installed. It consists of a separate module that plugs in to a prewired harness behind the glovebox along with a siren in the engine bay and two separate remote fobs.



What most people in the US don't know is that a keyless entry option was offered from the factory in the ROW market. It used the GMIV module as the keyless entry and alarm module, just like the 2001-2002 Z3 models with option SA305. When optioned from the factory the key had the remote built in.



Click the picture for the writeup.

[m3f_Braymond141]

Nice job. If the UAS system wasn't around I'd be doing this too.

[m3f_TC2]

Nice job. If the UAS system wasn't around I'd be doing this too.

Thanks. I had wanted keyless entry for several years now, but was never able to find a decent Alpine system for sale. I am very happy I did this retrofit and wish that I had thought of it sooner. Totally makes a difference not having to unlock the car with the door lock anymore.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Nice. So this means you also installed another rearview mirror as the remote controle electronics for the factory system is inside the rearview mirror.



Which means you must have used an 8 series mirror, which has this and with the for US correct 315MHZ frequency.



The keyfob posted there is from an early e46 or e38 model as it has the trunk pop symbol.



The E36 version of this key has a lightbulb symbol that remotely turns on the interior lights. This also deleted the function to do this by pulling the driver's doro handle.



Both my E36's have with #302, which is the factory alarm system



Since you now have the GM4, you could also fit the factory alarm system.















And if you change rearview mirrors, might as well fit a cool one (auto dimm, + alarm led + compass)

[m3f_TC2]

Nice. So this means you also installed another rearview mirror as the remote controle electronics for the factory system is inside the rearview mirror.



Which means you must have used an 8 series mirror, which has this and with the for US correct 315MHZ frequency.



The keyfob posted there is from an early e46 or e38 model as it has the trunk pop symbol.



The E36 version of this key has a lightbulb symbol that remotely turns on the interior lights. This also deleted the function to do this by pulling the driver's doro handle.



Both my E36's have with #302, which is the factory alarm system



Since you now have the GM4, you could also fit the factory alarm system.



[images removed for quote]



And if you change rearview mirrors, might as well fit a cool one (auto dimm, + alarm led + compass)



[image removed]

I had an E31 mirror from when I bought my Interlagos M3 (the original owner put it in because the oval mirror went bad). I disassembled the E31 mirror and removed the remote control module. I had originally planned on putting it in a plastic enclosure behind the glovebox, but it quit working on me. Not sure if I damaged it or not.



I found a cheap 2001 Z3 mirror on eBay that had a remote control module inside of it and decided to just use that mirror in my E36 and run the wiring to it.



The key I used is a Chinese replica since I can't buy uncut keys from BMW. No one makes a key with the light symbol. I had to settle with one with a trunk button. The light symbol on your key is for 433MHz systems. The US 315MHz system light buttons look like a wave.







That button does work and it does turn on the interior lights for me.



What did you mean by this?

"This also deleted the function to do this by pulling the driver's doro handle."



I didn't swap in a GMIV module, my E36 already had it. I had thought about adding an alarm system, but I am not sure if it would work. I activated the alarm in NCS Expert and coded visual lock confirmation where the lights would flash when locked and unlocked with the remote, but it isn't working.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

I see. Can't say why that last thing doesn't work, would need to investigste.


Yes, the US got the wavy symbol. That's because for it's for the panic alarm function. These are sound waves. And also turns on the lights. Longpress vs shortpress.


In EU we didn't get the panic function, it hardware disabled. Don't ask me why, hence the light symbol button.


Funny enough, the dealer installed DWA 3/4/5 systems do have it. Also shame the GM4 has no remote opening/closure function, which the GM5 does.

[m3f_TC2]

I see. Can't say why that last thing doesn't work, would need to investigste.



Yes, the US got the wavy symbol. That's because for it's for the panic alarm function. These are sound waves. And also turns on the lights. Longpress vs shortpress.



In EU we didn't get the panic function, it hardware disabled. Don't ask me why, hence the light symbol button.



Funny enough, the dealer installed DWA 3/4/5 systems do have it. Also shame the GM4 has no remote opening/closure function, which the GM5 does.

I activated panic mode through NCS Expert on my Z3 with DWA alarm and keyless entry and was never able to activate it with the key. I should look into that and see why that is.



Does your car have selective unlock like the GM5 cars or does it unlock all doors when pressing the unlock button?

[m3f_scoobiedoo2029]

nice wright up,



anyone know what the e38 trunk "pop" system looks like, thats a feature i would very much so like to have. its so convent when you have your hands full. ive been intending to try and tear into a e38 since they have started appearing in the local junkyards but i havent gotten that far.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Nope GM4 doesn't have selective lock, so neither does my car.


Don't recall panic mode parameter in GM4. But since it's hardware disabled it doesn't matter even if it could be turned on.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Just checked the GM4.c01 and .c03 daten files. There is no parameter Panic Mode to set on or off.


If you did it on your Z3, it must be another system as the factory system doesn't have that function and since the factory system was not offered in the US...