[toughluck]

I know a lot of people have been complaining how their local BMW dealership charges an arm and a leg just to activate the factory alarm. I got both the alarm in my E90 (sold) and in my E92 activated for free and wanted to share my experience and tips.

-Plan ahead and do the alarm installation yourself just before you have to bring the car in to the dealership for service or work requiring a progman update.

-When you bring your car in for service, talk to the service adviser and casually discuss how you have an minor issue about something - and let the adviser make their own conclusion that a progman update may address this issue. Act surprised, interested and happy about the service adviser's remarks and suggestion.

-Next, politely tell the service adviser your car already has a BMW alarm installed and you would like to hear an audible beep when you lock/unlock it.

After this step, I had two outcomes. The first service adviser immediately said okay, the alarm will be configured and at no charge. With my second car, in a separate visit a year later, a different service adviser explained to me that the alarm has to be properly activated and that it will cost a nominal fee.

-Explain to the service adviser that the progman has to be updated anyway and that you do not understand why an alarm activation requires progman changes in excess of 1-2 hours of labor. Sincerely act dumbfounded.

-After my service adviser and I negotiated the alarm activation down to $100 or less, ask the adviser that you are willing to give them all 5's on their customer satisfaction survey if they can do the activation at no charge. You may be surprised with the results. Your adviser might agree to this or negotiate even a lower price.

I just want to say my service adviser is a great person to work with.


One thing I learned in this world is 2 people can have 2 different answers to the exact same question. Be persistent and don't accept the first answer if you do not like it. I know this may be controversial so comment if you wish, but I know I do not need anything activated again for hopefully a long time.

[Kloogy]

Option 2. Send your hot wife/girlfriend in showing bOObage and have her ask.

[solefald]

yeah, i took my car in for the annoying skip between songs on gapless cd's and faulty ipod cable.

Asked SA to "make my alarm audible when i lock/unlock the car.... because i heard it may require some kind of activation?"
She said "oh, i think there is a nominal fee for that, but we will do it for you for free, and we may need to keep your car overnight"

i thought "sweet!" and was happier than shit all day

this morning i get a call from my SA
- your car is ready, you can pick it up any time
- oh yeah? did you guys fix it?
- well, we fixed the ipod cable problem
- really? what was it?
- oh, we just replaced your ipod cable and it seems to work
- ok... what about my CD player skip between songs issue?
- shop foreman told me that there is no problem with your CD and it works fine
- yes, there IS a problem with my CD player and it DOES NOT work fine
- well, you can explain the problem to the shop foreman when you come to pick up your car
- Ok, fine. What about the alarm?
- What about the alarm?
- You told me you would make it beep when i lock/unlock the car and you said you will do it for free, remember?
- Oh let me talk to the shop guys and i will get back to you

a call 5 min later:

- We can't make your car produce an audible signal because *YOU DON'T HAVE AN ALARM*
- yes i do. i installed it myself and it needs activation. you told me yesterday that you you guys will activate it for me
- Oh... is that a BMW alarm?
- yes it is.
- where did you get it from?
- from a BMW dealership and installed it myself. It just needs to be activated
- oh really? let me call the shop. ill get back to you

call 5 min later:

- unfortunately we can't activate it for free. it will cost you $132
- but you said....
- well, we can't do it for free


So i go to get my car, meet with the shop foreman and show him the problem with the CD player. He tries to convince me that everything is fine. When i tell him that Cd's dont skip on my friends '07 E90 he acts all surprised and tells me that he will give me a call later, after he does some research


So, they had to keep my car overnight, so they can replace my 6FL cable. Thats awesome.
This was my first BMW service experience.... but not very pleasant one.

[PIMPIN THE E92]

^^^^^LOL

[toughluck]

If the SA said 'but we will do it for you for free' then push back. Tell your SA if they do it for free, then you will give the dealership all 5's on the survey...

[TambourineMan]

If I could get it activated for a nominal fee, it might be worth it to buy one and install it it's an easy DIY.

[solefald]

Originally Posted by TambourineMan

If I could get it activated for a nominal fee, it might be worth it to buy one and install it it's an easy DIY.

activation would cost you around $130-150. and alarm kit itself is $240.
$300 savings

[monkeyboy]

Originally Posted by toughluck

-Plan ahead and do the alarm installation yourself just before you have to bring the car in to the dealership for service or work requiring a progman update.

What are common examples of service that requires a progman update (for a 2007 328xi) ?

thx