Alarm worth it?

andyffer · 07-03-2008, 08:22 PM

I have the SOS/BlueTooth. Would it be worth having the alarm installed? With that SOS they can remotely shutdown the engine, track the car, and obviously tell the person who stole the car police are on their way.

So would it be worth it?

uabimmer · 07-03-2008, 08:24 PM

i just want a blinking clown nose

... oh yeah and the *beep* haha

andyffer · 07-03-2008, 08:26 PM

ok your right, its worth it

magmd · 07-03-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyffer

I have the SOS/BlueTooth. Would it be worth having the alarm installed? With that SOS they can remotely shutdown the engine, track the car, and obviously tell the person who stole the car police are on their way.

So would it be worth it?

well, alarms are not much help these days.

But then again...there was a member here that had his car stolen due to keys being taken. Cops, BMW, SOS, Assist...nobody was able to find the car for couple of days. It was sitting in a parking lot few blocks away.

In the end...it was retrieved, but only because someone found it...and eventually figured it was a reported stolen car.

Only you can judge if you are really protected. And whether adding an alarm truly adds any protection.

If you want lojack protection...get lojack. The rest is up to you.

rrandyy · 07-03-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyffer

I have the SOS/BlueTooth. Would it be worth having the alarm installed? With that SOS they can remotely shutdown the engine, track the car, and obviously tell the person who stole the car police are on their way.

So would it be worth it?

SOS can't remotely shutdown the engine or "tell" the person who stole the car that the police are on their way. The only thing it can do is unlock your doors if you call BMW or give the location of the car to the police once a report has been filed.

Is the alarm worth it? Thats up to you to decide...

andyffer · 07-03-2008, 09:12 PM

They can call your car and talk to you, am I wrong? No. I may be wrong about the remote shutdown.

nasdakboy · 07-04-2008, 09:29 AM

I love the BMW alarm. Add a $20 DEI shock sensor and your alarm will go off if a kid's basketball rolls into your rim

John 070 · 07-04-2008, 10:33 AM

Put it this way, my wife's cousin's vehicle (like a 2k8 A6) with all of the above was stolen in broad daylight in Elizabeth, NJ. Sure, that's not a good place so the risk is high. I would say that imho an alarm is not worth it, it accomplishes nothing. I would say invest in a clunker and just park it behind your car at the mall, that's about the only way to prevent it from being taken. If someone wants it, it's gone. Plain and simple.

Haywire · 07-04-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John 070

Put it this way, my wife's cousin's vehicle (like a 2k8 A6) with all of the above was stolen in broad daylight in Elizabeth, NJ. Sure, that's not a good place so the risk is high. I would say that imho an alarm is not worth it, it accomplishes nothing. I would say invest in a clunker and just park it behind your car at the mall, that's about the only way to prevent it from being taken. If someone wants it, it's gone. Plain and simple.

good point, soooooooooooooo true. if someone REALLY wants the car...they are going to get it.

futhermore, sure, it may stop a hack at getting into your car and that kinda deal: but its not going to stop anyone from keying your car - smashing in a window - bashing in your windshield or slashing all of your tires.

I have always had an alarm on my other cars, mostly because i had an expensive stereo system and valuable electronics INSIDE THE CAR. so unless youre running a few LCD screens and a kick ass sound system....i would say dont bother.

but if it gives you PEACE OF MIND, well then...fu@king go nuts!

bsd107 · 08-28-2008, 03:15 AM

I just can't believe how much they charge for how little you get with the E90 dealer-installed Alarm accessory. I mean, all it adds is a siren, interior motion sensor, and a tilt-sensor.

Is there anything else it adds?

All the "SOS" stuff is based entirely on the BMW Assist option and independent of the Alarm, as far as I can tell.

In Southern California, nobody pays any attention to alarms anyway....

PoorMan · 08-28-2008, 07:49 AM

Good insurance coverage is the best protection you can have.

jeveryday · 08-28-2008, 02:16 PM

Gives me a better sense of security.

Mk23 · 08-28-2008, 02:34 PM

I plan on getting the OEM alarm and a Lojack system.

methodtim · 08-28-2008, 02:36 PM

Alarms are so 1988.

simp0man · 08-28-2008, 02:36 PM

No, just a noise maker.

BMW! · 08-28-2008, 02:37 PM

alarm is useless

Mk23 · 08-28-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW!

alarm is useless

I also plan on carrying my Glock 30 for car jackers.

try and tell me thats useless...

Majikthese42 · 08-28-2008, 03:31 PM

For $235 (the basic kit from Tischer) it's an easy DIA and makes the clown nose blink. Which is what I wanted so the ne'er-do-well will pass by my car and instead go for someone else's that doesn't have the blinking clown nose.

(I did spend the $120 to have it activated, but the clown nose and the alarm sticker I got from my insurance company are the main benefits.)

seanl · 08-28-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mk335i

I also plan on carrying my Glock 30 for car jackers.

try and tell me thats useless...

That's great if you're in Florida (or Texas) but here in the Democratic People's Republic of Kalifornia that's not a viable option.

3er858 · 08-28-2008, 04:28 PM

IMO, the only alarms that are worth anything are the ones that "page" (transmitter beeps when alarm is going off up to 1/4 mile away) you when there going off. Like someone else said, nobody pays attention to alarms going off anymore. YOU are the only one that cares about your own car. I think LoJack is pretty useful also. Viper makes a pretty good "paging" alarm that might be worth looking into.

BMW! · 08-28-2008, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mk335i

I also plan on carrying my Glock 30 for car jackers.

try and tell me thats useless...

I like Glock 19 more :P

bsd107 · 08-28-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3er858

IMO, the only alarms that are worth anything are the ones that "page" (transmitter beeps when alarm is going off up to 1/4 mile away) you when there going off. Like someone else said, nobody pays attention to alarms going off anymore.

I totally agree.

What is frustrating is the BMW used to have this. I had a MY99 E39 with Nav and in ~2001 I installed BMW's CPT8000 phone, and if the alarm was activated the car would call BMW Assist, and then BMW Assist would call whatever phone number you put on file. (That system wasn't perfect, as it depended on you leaving the cell phone in the car, and that the thief would not disconnect it. But the idea was right.) I can't believe that BMW Assist dropped this feature on later versions....

07-03-2008, 08:22 PM	#1
andyffer Banned 152 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 700hp M3 - Interlagos E92 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Paradise Valley, Arizona iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Bugatti Veyron [0.00]	Alarm worth it? I have the SOS/BlueTooth. Would it be worth having the alarm installed? With that SOS they can remotely shutdown the engine, track the car, and obviously tell the person who stole the car police are on their way. So would it be worth it?
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07-03-2008, 08:24 PM	#2
uabimmer Україна 24 Rep 868 Posts Drives: JB e90 330i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sac. California iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2003 330i [0.00]	i just want a blinking clown nose ... oh yeah and the beep haha __________________ IN THE PASSING LANE - e90 330 JetBlack / 6000k D1S / 40% all around / LED Lic.Plt. / LED reverse lights / 7500k Fogs
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07-03-2008, 08:26 PM	#3
andyffer Banned 152 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 700hp M3 - Interlagos E92 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Paradise Valley, Arizona iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Bugatti Veyron [0.00]	ok your right, its worth it
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07-03-2008, 09:12 PM	#6
andyffer Banned 152 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 700hp M3 - Interlagos E92 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Paradise Valley, Arizona iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Bugatti Veyron [0.00]	They can call your car and talk to you, am I wrong? No. I may be wrong about the remote shutdown.
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07-04-2008, 09:29 AM	#7
nasdakboy Lieutenant 18 Rep 453 Posts Drives: 08' 328i coupe Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	I love the BMW alarm. Add a $20 DEI shock sensor and your alarm will go off if a kid's basketball rolls into your rim __________________ 08' E92 328i coupe 07' Audi A4 Quattro S-Line 04' BMW 325Ci
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07-04-2008, 10:33 AM	#8
John 070 Lieutenant General 1725 Rep 14,825 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	Put it this way, my wife's cousin's vehicle (like a 2k8 A6) with all of the above was stolen in broad daylight in Elizabeth, NJ. Sure, that's not a good place so the risk is high. I would say that imho an alarm is not worth it, it accomplishes nothing. I would say invest in a clunker and just park it behind your car at the mall, that's about the only way to prevent it from being taken. If someone wants it, it's gone. Plain and simple.
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08-28-2008, 03:15 AM	#10
bsd107 Captain 50 Rep 627 Posts Drives: 2009 335i E90 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: US iTrader: (0)	I just can't believe how much they charge for how little you get with the E90 dealer-installed Alarm accessory. I mean, all it adds is a siren, interior motion sensor, and a tilt-sensor. Is there anything else it adds? All the "SOS" stuff is based entirely on the BMW Assist option and independent of the Alarm, as far as I can tell. In Southern California, nobody pays any attention to alarms anyway....
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08-28-2008, 07:49 AM	#11
PoorMan Hello my name is... 23 Rep 539 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 M3 6MT Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Good insurance coverage is the best protection you can have.
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08-28-2008, 02:16 PM	#12
jeveryday Colonel 81 Rep 2,335 Posts Drives: 2012 535i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Long Island, New York iTrader: (6)	Gives me a better sense of security.
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08-28-2008, 02:34 PM	#13
Mk23 Major 116 Rep 1,148 Posts Drives: 09 E92 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Central Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 335i Coupe [0.00]	I plan on getting the OEM alarm and a Lojack system.
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08-28-2008, 02:36 PM	#14
methodtim Brigadier General 384 Rep 3,885 Posts Drives: Audi RS Q8 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Darkness there, and nothing more iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 Audi RS Q8 [0.00] 2021 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 Toyota Tacoma [0.00]	Alarms are so 1988. __________________
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08-28-2008, 02:36 PM	#15
simp0man Not looking 2 SPEED, just looking GOOD 47 Rep 2,513 Posts Drives: 07 328i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stockton, Ca iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	No, just a noise maker. __________________
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08-28-2008, 02:37 PM	#16
BMW! Captain 68 Rep 653 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: May 2008 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	alarm is useless
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08-28-2008, 03:31 PM	#18
Majikthese42 Philosopher-king 20 Rep 1,113 Posts Drives: 2008 E91 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: People's Republic of New Jersey iTrader: (0)	For $235 (the basic kit from Tischer) it's an easy DIA and makes the clown nose blink. Which is what I wanted so the ne'er-do-well will pass by my car and instead go for someone else's that doesn't have the blinking clown nose. (I did spend the $120 to have it activated, but the clown nose and the alarm sticker I got from my insurance company are the main benefits.) __________________ E91 6MT Alpine, Terra, Xenons, ZSP, ZCW, ZPP, PDC, CA, alarm, M shifter and M brake handle, Euro rear fog light switch, Euro aspheric mirrors, rear power outlets, Garmin nüvi custom cupholder mount, Lidatek, V-1 built-in remote display, tire pump, jack, floor mats.
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08-28-2008, 04:28 PM	#20
3er858 First Class Privates 44 Rep 616 Posts Drives: AW F10, CW Mk6, 1299S Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: SCV SoCal iTrader: (0)	IMO, the only alarms that are worth anything are the ones that "page" (transmitter beeps when alarm is going off up to 1/4 mile away) you when there going off. Like someone else said, nobody pays attention to alarms going off anymore. YOU are the only one that cares about your own car. I think LoJack is pretty useful also. Viper makes a pretty good "paging" alarm that might be worth looking into. __________________ F10 M-Sport \| xdrive LTMW \| Velgen VBM6\| V12's \| CKS coilovers \| wrapped roof \| wrapped mirror caps \| wrapped door handles \| Gloss Black Grills \| M5 rear Lip
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