[SoYank]

Originally Posted by aphall

Ah, ok. I thought that's how it might work. So, if you are in a panic, your trunk lid will pop open at the same time. Thanks!

Yep, gives you a place to hide and curl up into the fetal position. Then when you feel safe and secure you can even unlatch the trunk lid from inside by pulling the glow in the dark D-handle.

Wouldn't work for me, though. I'm claustrophobic. I'm shuddering now even thinking about it.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by Ryan 330i

if you want to drive a bit... stevens creek is doing them for 495 installed this month...

drive a BIT?!!! It's 8000 miles to San Jose! And yes, I DO know the way.

The e90 alarm system is ONLY available as an upgrade, not standard in the US.

It DEFINITELY must be programmed after installation, and the actual act of programming can take up to 4 hours, or more if problems arise. That 4 hours is once they start on your car. At the dealership which I'm a tech at, there are four programming stations, and generally 8-10 cars waiting for programming, so count on leaving your car for a day or two at a busy dealer.

You are able to install the alarm components yourself, they are bolt on, plug in, and your done, aside from the programming.

Programming an e90 is a flat rate job of about 1.6 hours, so at my dealer that would be 1.6 X $110 an hour. many dealers will offer to discount the labor in order to facilitate your purchase of the system.

I recommend NOT purchasing the e90 alarm at this time, however, as I recently read a BMW bulletin about the newest programming software having an unforseen glitch when activating the alarm for the first time, which will not allow your alarm to be activated, so you'd be spending your money to get an inop alarm until the next version comes out, which could be about two months.

Any other questions, just let me know. I do my best to be straight forward and informative about BMW dealership and our lovely e90's. =)

Matt

[deutschmann59]

Originally Posted by ScreaminE90

I recommend NOT purchasing the e90 alarm at this time, however, as I recently read a BMW bulletin about the newest programming software having an unforseen glitch when activating the alarm for the first time, which will not allow your alarm to be activated, so you'd be spending your money to get an inop alarm until the next version comes out, which could be about two months.


Matt

Hey matt, thanks for the info. If there's a software glitch, how will we know if we have it or not? Will there be a later update for it and will it be automatic--they send notice, or will we have to request it?

[Ryan 330i]

Originally Posted by SoYank

drive a BIT?!!! It's 8000 miles to San Jose! And yes, I DO know the way.

i was talking to Ascension... sorry.

[Ascension]

Originally Posted by ScreaminE90

The e90 alarm system is ONLY available as an upgrade, not standard in the US.

It DEFINITELY must be programmed after installation, and the actual act of programming can take up to 4 hours, or more if problems arise. That 4 hours is once they start on your car. At the dealership which I'm a tech at, there are four programming stations, and generally 8-10 cars waiting for programming, so count on leaving your car for a day or two at a busy dealer.

You are able to install the alarm components yourself, they are bolt on, plug in, and your done, aside from the programming.

Programming an e90 is a flat rate job of about 1.6 hours, so at my dealer that would be 1.6 X $110 an hour. many dealers will offer to discount the labor in order to facilitate your purchase of the system.

I recommend NOT purchasing the e90 alarm at this time, however, as I recently read a BMW bulletin about the newest programming software having an unforseen glitch when activating the alarm for the first time, which will not allow your alarm to be activated, so you'd be spending your money to get an inop alarm until the next version comes out, which could be about two months.

Any other questions, just let me know. I do my best to be straight forward and informative about BMW dealership and our lovely e90's. =)

Matt

Would you or anyone else recommend LOJACK as an alternative to the BMW Alarm system? Weatherford BMW quoted $844 when I purchased my car, but I decided that it was too much:mad: What to do, what to do

[aphall]

Originally Posted by SoYank

Yep, gives you a place to hide and curl up into the fetal position. Then when you feel safe and secure you can even unlatch the trunk lid from inside by pulling the glow in the dark D-handle.

Wouldn't work for me, though. I'm claustrophobic. I'm shuddering now even thinking about it.

Sharp, the software glitch is not present in your vehicle, it's in the programming software at the dealer. The program in question is called "Progman version 22". In version 22, if you have just installed a factory alarm, when you try to activate it, and subsequently update the vehicle software, Progman has an error, and incorrectly reports the need for a different part number alarm before programming will continue. It WILL NOT program the vehicle unless that part number gets installed, and it's the wrong part number.

As far as them contacting you, no. Your best bet is to call periodically and speak with the shop foreman, and ask him what version Progman is being used. Once we update to 23, you should be able to purchase, install, and program the alarm.

Ascension: does your vehicle have bmw assist, or nav? if so, that is BETTER than lojack, because it gives bmw an EXACT global position of your vehicle, whereas, to MY understanding, lojack uses a series of radio towers to attempt to triangulate on the vehicles approximate location.

Lojack is a viable option. If installed at the dealer, I would see no reason not to.

Just keep in mind, lojack is NOT an antitheft device. it is a RECOVERY device.

Matt

[rickmckee]

Here's a question for you ScreaminE90... How were the dealers able to program the numerous cars that they themselves have installed the alarm accessory at point of sale?

[rickmckee]

What are "Black Line Tailights"? The pic shows a friend who touched my car and left a handprint on it... oops! SHAME on him! (Notice the BMW shrine behind the car)

The glitch is only present in the current version of Progman, v22. Any e90 with working alarm was programmed with v21.2.

[Silver bullet]

Thanks for you help ScreaminE90, If you don't mind I'll keep you in mind if I have questions seeing you are a BMW technician.

Anytime

[saini023]

Originally Posted by Ryan 330i

if you hold the trunk for 1-3 seconds it will pop the lid. if you hold it for 4-6 it will set off the panic feature.

good to know..i was trying to hold the lock button down to try the panic mode..was going to ask the dealer..good to know its the trunk button..odd but i guess gotta deal with it.

[rickmckee]

I got the alarm from Huntingdon off Ebay in record time! Cudos to you FrankQ for the heads up on this one! I have istalled it and the "clown nose" is blinking but nothing else works. Haven't had it programmed yet. At the very least, I have a deterrant if people see the blinking light, until I can get it programmed. ScreaminE90, Can I get the dealer to use the "old" (v 21.2) software to do the progamming? Again can someone tell me what "Blackline tail lights" are?

[backtofront001]

Originally Posted by rickmckee

I got the alarm from Huntingdon off Ebay in record time! Cudos to you FrankQ for the heads up on this one! I have istalled it and the "clown nose" is blinking but nothing else works. Haven't had it programmed yet. At the very least, I have a deterrant if people see the blinking light, until I can get it programmed. ScreaminE90, Can I get the dealer to use the "old" (v 21.2) software to do the progamming? Again can someone tell me what "Blackline tail lights" are?

Go to google and search E90 Blackline Tailights. Thats how I found out

If the dealer has an Un-Updated programming station, that will work, but I doubt they have that... also, do you know if your car was in service and programmed recently? If it's already been programmed with 22, 21.2 won't overwrite it.

///Matt

[aphall]

Originally Posted by rickmckee

I got the alarm from Huntingdon off Ebay in record time! Cudos to you FrankQ for the heads up on this one! I have istalled it and the "clown nose" is blinking but nothing else works. Haven't had it programmed yet. At the very least, I have a deterrant if people see the blinking light, until I can get it programmed. ScreaminE90, Can I get the dealer to use the "old" (v 21.2) software to do the progamming? Again can someone tell me what "Blackline tail lights" are?

here's a good comparo thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ine+comparison

[rickmckee]

Thanks Aphall for the link to the comparison thread! ScreaminE90... My car was in service recently because the car forgot how to close the sunroof and they said they had to reset the memory. Whether or not that involves the programming or not, I don't know. Thanks for the info.

When you left your car for service, was it in and out, or did it take all damn day, or longer?

///Matt

[rickmckee]

It was out within 3 hours...

[rickmckee]

I talked to my dealership today... I was told they have already changed over to v.22. Bummer!