[toughluck]

This makes me sick. The SA wants to charge me 1.5 hours to activate my alarm even after I personally installed it myself. I showed the SA the alarm installation instructions, more specifically the page outlining the retrofit steps for the computer.

Their response is they are not sure if they have to update PROGMAN. And if they have to update PROGMAN, that could be another hour or labor.:mad:

I think it is wrong that I have to pay them to update my PROGMAN just so the car can correctly recognize the alarm. If the car cannot recognize the alarm, no matter what version of PROGMAN it is running, then I consider that a defect, and it should be covered under warranty.

Meanwhile, I saw an ad in the dealership, stating how the first 4 years of ownership and maintenance is free.... BS.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by toughluck

This makes me sick. The SA wants to charge me 1.5 hours to activate my alarm even after I personally installed it myself. I showed the SA the alarm installation instructions, more specifically the page outlining the retrofit steps for the computer.

Their response is they are not sure if they have to update PROGMAN. And if they have to update PROGMAN, that could be another hour or labor.:mad:

I think it is wrong that I have to pay them to update my PROGMAN just so the car can correctly recognize the alarm. If the car cannot recognize the alarm, no matter what version of PROGMAN it is running, then I consider that a defect, and it should be covered under warranty.

Meanwhile, I saw an ad in the dealership, stating how the first 4 years of ownership and maintenance is free.... BS.

You lost me on the 4 years of ownership and maintenance. What you are asking for is not covered by maintenance. You are adding an option and installing it yourself.

If they installed the alarm, any updates to Progman would be covered by warranty. But since they didn´t, the updates aren´t covered.

I would guess they wouldn´t charge much more than $180 to install the alarm and then the updates would have been included.

[dhmilosr]

One thing I didn't expect when I bought my BMW was to get away cheap. Prior to my 335i arriving, I had limbered up so I could assume the position when required...

[toughluck]

When I referenced the ad in the dealership, stating how 'the first 4 years of ownership and maintenance is free'.... BS... I was upset that PROGMAN updates were not free.

Look, I expect to pay to activate the alarm, not pay to address any glitches in my current version of PROGMAN that could conflict and cause the alarm to fail when the alarm is properly installed.

[typeszh]

They cannot assure it was properly installed, so they have to make sure it has been aka more labor time. BMW = $$$$$$$$ if you want anything done.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by toughluck

When I referenced the ad in the dealership, stating how 'the first 4 years of ownership and maintenance is free'.... BS... I was upset that PROGMAN updates were not free.

Look, I expect to pay to activate the alarm, not pay to address any glitches in my current version of PROGMAN that could conflict and cause the alarm to fail when the alarm is properly installed.

Understood - but (and it´s a big but) doing the programming updates is very time consuming and BMW won´t reimburse dealers for updates UNLESS it is in connection with an installation or there is a problem that the update fixes.

You could argue that, since they are doing part of the installation (they have to code the car), the update should be free - but it´s really not a strong argument based on how BMW defines these things. Still, you could try. It´s not THAT cut and dried.

[Alan(iX)]

Originally Posted by toughluck

This makes me sick. The SA wants to charge me 1.5 hours to activate my alarm even after I personally installed it myself. I showed the SA the alarm installation instructions, more specifically the page outlining the retrofit steps for the computer.

Their response is they are not sure if they have to update PROGMAN. And if they have to update PROGMAN, that could be another hour or labor.:mad:

I think it is wrong that I have to pay them to update my PROGMAN just so the car can correctly recognize the alarm. If the car cannot recognize the alarm, no matter what version of PROGMAN it is running, then I consider that a defect, and it should be covered under warranty.

Meanwhile, I saw an ad in the dealership, stating how the first 4 years of ownership and maintenance is free.... BS.

See if you can pay for actual time spent and not a flat rate price.
I had a previous agreement with my dealer to code my alarm.
IMHO this is one of the things that you have an agreement at the time of purchase (along with free carpet mats).

The E90/E92 alarm kit is part# 65-12-0-403-658.
I installed it on my E92 335 is less than an hour.

The dealer tried to code it but it identified that an incorrect alarm siren (part# 65-75-6-948-392) was installed. The coding software was looking for part# 65-75-9-117-900. It took ~15 minutes to determine this, plus moving car in/out.

A few weeks later I installed the correct siren (part# 65-75-9-117-900).
Coding software shows the processing steps. It made it thru siren identification, but it needed an update to Progman.
If I remember correctly, the patch took ~30 minutes to apply, plus 15 minutes coding time.

I was with the car in shop both times.
It took my car ~1.5 hrs of shop time to get coded.

Regarding: "first 4 years of ownership and maintenance is free"
That is for a repair or reprogram that is their fault, not a owner modification update.

[toughluck]

Just returned from the dealer, they activated my alarm for $0.00. I was amazed when they called and updated me that it would cost nothing. Definitely giving my SA a perfect survey. Still amazed but the car chirps now... The reciept shows PROGMAN was updated to 24.02.

[noidea]

[LEDZEP]

I'm going to step out of character here and argue on behalf of the dealer...

The markup on parts and the labor charges for installation is a big part of the income for most dealerships. It's one thing to negotiate a decent agreed price for an installed accessory, but I think it is unreasonable to expect the dealership to help you for free or very little. They lost out on making a few bucks on the alarm system, since you purchased it elsewhere. They also didn't get to install it for you and lost some labor profit there too. As jspira has indicated, they don't get reimbursed for updating your computer system unless it is warranty or installation related.

It's one thing to install bolt-on accessories one's self, but for me I would rather let them do the electronics for me, albeit at a higher cost. I don't begrudge the dealer his livlihood and I'd rather know the job was done right and is guaranteed.