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So I've had my car for almost a year.

A few times I have walked out to my car and noticed the flashers going off for no reason. (My guess is a loud exhaust or sound system triggered the alarm, if I in fact do have it)

In the back of my head I always wondered if my car had the factory alarm installed. Well, tonight I decided to pop off the rear interior light cover.



Is this the ultrasonic module?

Part number on the module reads: 65 75 6 972 064 01

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I should add:

my car does not have the factory hood switch, so the red clown nose blinks rapidly for about 10 seconds when I lock then car, after 10 seconds or so then it blinks once every 3 seconds.

[DrRobert]

Yes that is the ultrasonic module (see THIS LINK), and the blinking clown nose indicates your alarm is armed.

[1QuikWS6]

But you should also have the underhood switch for the alarm to be fully installed, & LED should not blink rapidly for the 1st 10 sec...

> Press & hold the trunk release button on key fob - this is Panic Alarm.

If the siren sounds, then the alarm is fully functional (it should sound whether the car is locked or unlocked), if not, you got some work to do.

You already know the hood alarm switch is missing, could be the siren module is not there either (it is located behind rear DS wheel well liner), or it could be car is not coded for alarm, or both.

Previous owner may have started to install the alarm system, not known what they were doing, left parts out, or not known that car also needs to be coded for the alarm to be active...

If you have iDrive - pretty sure you can check alarm functions there also

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Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

But you should also have the underhood switch for the alarm to be fully installed, & LED should not blink rapidly for the 1st 10 sec...

> Press & hold the trunk release button on key fob - this is Panic Alarm.

If the siren sounds, then the alarm is fully functional (it should sound whether the car is locked or unlocked), if not, you got some work to do.

You already know the hood alarm switch is missing, could be the siren module is not there either (it is located behind rear DS wheel well liner), or it could be car is not coded for alarm, or both.

Previous owner may have started to install the alarm system, not known what they were doing, left parts out, or not known that car also needs to be coded for the alarm to be active...

If you have iDrive - pretty sure you can check alarm functions there also

The wiring is under the hood, but not the switch. I also took the rear wheel off last night and there is no siren.

The LED blinking fast for the first 10 seconds is because the system can't recognize the hood switch.

Also, I don't have iDrive.

I have pieced together a list of part numbers for the pieces I need to complete the alarm.

Also I am talking to someone local to me who will code the car once the install is complete.

[Vin328IX]

I'm in the same situation. Can you please keep this thread alive with the information you find or the part numbers for the nessary parts. Thanks

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Originally Posted by Vin328IX

I'm in the same situation. Can you please keep this thread alive with the information you find or the part numbers for the nessary parts. Thanks

I'll update with the part numbers soon, but I bought all the parts I needed to complete the install. I installed them last week and had the car coded Monday. I love hearing that genuine bmw beep when the car is locked and unlocked

[wildcatcrazy]

You can easily go to bmwvin.com (registration is free) and enter the last 7 of your VIN and it will tell you what options it had when it rolled out of the factory.

Of course, this would not take into account of someone installed after they took delivery of the car. You should see the VO for the alarm or the VO stating its prewired. If it's the latter, you need the module and all the sensors, plus coding.

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as vin328ix requested, follow this link and open the pdf for the official instructions from bmw. it also has a part number list for individual parts needed for the oem alarm

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311200

[Vin328IX]

i just had my car serviced and i asked about the alarm and they said my car is not prewired for one. Before i start pulling panels off does that mean it doesnt have the parts or there is no harness installed?

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Originally Posted by Vin328IX

i just had my car serviced and i asked about the alarm and they said my car is not prewired for one. Before i start pulling panels off does that mean it doesnt have the parts or there is no harness installed?

well I know they stopped pre-wiring the 3 series for the OEM alarm right around Feb of 2009, so any 3 series made after that will NOT be pre-wired unless the alarm option was chosen when the car was made.

an easy way to check is to pop the hood and look for the wiring for the hood switch on the driver side near the brake master cylinder cover

example: my car already had the wiring sitting under the hood waiting for the hood switch

so for you specifically, you would need the full alarm kit that has everything including the wiring, and I have no idea how much they go for. I know the alarm retrofit kits from getbmwparts.com are right under $300

[wildcatcrazy]

Originally Posted by Vin328IX

i just had my car serviced and i asked about the alarm and they said my car is not prewired for one. Before i start pulling panels off does that mean it doesnt have the parts or there is no harness installed?

You can use the option I mentioned in my post above to see what you have from the factory.

Edit: sorry, didn't read the entire post. Yes you will need wiring harness.

[1QuikWS6]

If you need the entire alarm wiring harness it's basically not worth the time or $$ to install the factory alarm.

It's really nothing special, nor would it ever be construed as a high end alarm.

If the harness is there, it's prolly worth the 'piece of mind' that you get from the install, & cost is low (especially if you get used from forum), mechanical install is EZ, but there is coding involved. If you know how to code, or have someone to do it for you its great - if taken to dealer to code they want $300

My Build Date is 2/09, I was pre-wired. Bought alarm from forum, installed & coded myself. Total cost was $150