E36 M3 alarm question

[hoshy]

Hey folks,

Any thoughts on this one... I lost my keys on NYE and have everything spare expect that alarm fob for the M3 - so I can drive the car and have disabled the alarm siren but even when driving the hazard periodically go off, which basically means I can't drive the car...

I'm leaving the battery dsconnected overnight tonight but if that doesn't help then I'm out of ideas.

Any thoughts on how to completely disable the alarm?

Cheers,
Ash

[Andyboy]

What year is the car? Is it a BMW alarm?

If it had the long thin remote and is a post 1994 car with EWS. it will have the later type alarm that doesn't have an on/off key on the siren. Just cut the cable to the siren, remove the glovebox assembly and you will see the alarm control unit against the bulkhead. It's a simple enough job to unplug it from the car loom and join the wires together (snap connectors). There is a wire going to each courtesy light switch, another one to the hazard light switch and two motion sensors that go up behind the A pillar trims. The best place for the old BMW alarm in in the bin.

[hoshy]

Yeap it's the OEM BMW one but it does have a key switch on the back - turning it seemed to only turn the siren off though. It's a 98 car. Got the square key fob, not key integrated, with one red and one grey.

There's a box with a blue connector above the EWS module in the glove box, is that the one to remove?

Cheers Andy.

[tim_s]

ash, pop the hazzard switch and snip the cable soldered in there. BM UK always did them there. JD!
And yes, I may have done that before

[hoshy]

Tim. Legend. Nuff said.

[tim_s]

oh btw, i can (with a bit of faffing) hook up a new fob to your alarm if you get one off the bay or something

[hoshy]

I do have a spare, light comes on but it does nothing. I wonder if it just needs recoding cos it didn't have a battery for a long time.

[hoshy]

Hmm... So this morning I popped out the hazard button and didn't find and (obvious) alarm related wires. I pulled the switch completely out also and that didn't help either.

Back to plan A? Remove the alarm module itself?

[Simon]

Drop the glovebox (complete with the vents) find the control (normally to the left) box, and either unplug the larger of the 2 connectors going to this box, or remove the inline fuse if it has one fitted. At least with this method, if you do want to reinstate the system at a later date you hav the option.

[mattrs]

I know a garage near Chelmsford/wickford that will remove it for 40-50 quid. Let me know if you want details.

[hoshy]

Thanks Simon - I'm definately looking for a a temp disable as I've had no problems with the alarm, i just need to stop the damned indicators while I source/recode a key fob.

matt - cheers - will give you a shout if I get completely stuck.

[tim_s]

ash, did you get anywhere just snipping the wire? Should take 2 secs! Where's the car? If you need a hand I can pop around and code up your spare one if I can bloody remember how to do it!

[hoshy]

I'm at my place in london mate. If you could nip over that would be great! You've got my number.

[tim_s]

cool, i'll give you a shout. Snipping the wire isn't touching the car's orig wiring btw, the alarm wire is just tapped there. can be soldered back up so no-one would ever know...

[hoshy]

ok - the wire you mean is not in y hazard switch - i have only the 4 oem wires.

[tim_s]

ah balls, not the same place as the one i did then is the alarm brain up above the psgr speaker (behind glovebox)?

[hoshy]

yeah i think so. I've swapped the EWS in the past and there's another similar box above it that I think is the alarm.

[Simon]

I had the same problem with mine, follow my advice above, and it will disable the system.

I've got mine working again now though, I bought a brand new control box from the parts auction site for £33.

[tim_s]

sounds like good advice if you can't find the hazzard wire, but I wouldn't bother with a new control box if there's nothing wrong with yours ash, at least not until I've tried hooking up another fob for you. I've done this successfully on a T reg 323 with the red and white buttoned remote - bmw uk alarm.

[hoshy]

you know the procedure? maybe i can give it a go ?

[hoshy]

Got this sorted in the end. Mostly by following this post: http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f92 ... fob-t2962/

Cheers gents.

[tim_s]

good work dude! Good job you found that, I was scratching my head trying to remember how to do the recode! I should have quite a few spare fobs at my folks' place, I'll try to dig one out for you so you can have a spare. My bro appears to have got the evo stuck at the bottom of a hill in the snow today, says it's pretty lethal, you been out in yours?

[hoshy]

oh dude... lethal is not the word. the iS even with the on/off throttle and supercharger was much tamer in the snow/ice - Power delivery is very progressive in the M3 so I think it's mainly the 245s that are the problem. Have to be really careful!