Factory fitted Anti-Theft system E30 Convertible

[ATWScotland]

I recently managed to get hold of an ALL orginal 1990 E30 320i convertible with FSH and only 1 previous owner. I want to get all items on it working again and have managed to get all problems fixed bar 1 and that is the Anti Theft system is dead.
Can anyone help me repair it or help me find someone near Oxford that can do it for me?

[StuBeeDoo]

Hi ATW, welcome to the 'Zone
You say it's factory fitted..... Does it have two lock barrels in the drivers door? If not, it's a dealer fit option as far as I know. If it's the latter, I may be able to give you some pointers, but if it's a genuine factory fit you may well have to take it to your local dealer or an auto electrician.
Stuart.

[A1BMW325iSport]

the magnetic key type is pretty useless.
if you have the scorpion or sigma dealer fit remote alarm then you
have a pretty good alarm,
let me know which system you have and i`ll give you all the details

[ATWScotland]

There is 2 lock barrels on the drivers door. The second has a red light at the top and I have what appears to be a magnetic key. From what you are telling me this is the pretty useless system. Is it not worth getting repaired?

[A1BMW325iSport]

it could be repaired but that system is years old now, s/h parts will be impossible to find i would have thought,

i remember the system on my old e28, it wasn`t very good, and i had trouble getting the key to work,

in the end i disconnected it, removed the lock and filled over the hole.

depends though on your preference whether you want to keep it original my advice would be to get it disconnected and have a good aftermarket alarm fitted.

if you had the dealer fit remote alarm they are quite good, i have it on my e34 and never had any problems with it

[StuBeeDoo]

depends though on your preference whether you want to keep it original my advice would be to get it disconnected and have a good aftermarket alarm fitted.

Sounds like good advice to me.

if you had the dealer fit remote alarm they are quite good, i have it on my e34 and never had any problems with it

and I've got one of these on my E30 and I've never had any problems with it

[gazm3]

Useless, that magnetic key loses its magnatism over time. It sticks to your others keys on your keyring. Having said that mine work, but I hardly use them. Possible if Im entering a Chav area/Council estate!.

[ATWScotland]

Thanks everyone. I will get straight down to the shops tomorrow to get a good aftermarket Alarm/immobiliser fitted. Any recommendations?

[StuBeeDoo]

Thanks everyone. I will get straight down to the shops tomorrow to get a good aftermarket Alarm/immobiliser fitted. Any recommendations?

Only recommendation I can give is get the best you can afford. Scorpion seems to have a "good name". Don't go for a real cheapie unless you've really got to! .....And make sure you get the right documentation from the fitting station, for your insurance company.
BTW, I just noticed your car's a 320i - Welcome to the 320i Massive!
Stuart.

[BrAdZ]

i have just had one installed by a mate who works for a local car security company, it cost me 400 notes fitted, its not a cat alarm, but the car rings me when the alarm goes off as it has an orange sim card, has window closure, tilt sensor, proximity sensor, remote start and a few other bits and bobs

I love it! especially when people walk upto the car and i start it with the remote... the look on there faces is priceless!!!

[StuBeeDoo]

I love it! especially when people walk upto the car and i start it with the remote... the look on there faces is priceless!!!

You wanna be careful with that one Dude, can get Plod's back-up, if you know what I mean.
Check out this thread http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ht=quiting

[BrAdZ]

yer i know had a few issues with my rs turbo and a turbo timer

Thanks for the warning tho

[ATWScotland]

Thanks to you all, you have been a great help. I will do some research on pricing etc and get a good system fitted. I like the idea of the unit that rings you if if it goes off. If you get a lot of accidental activations it will cost a few calls I should imagine.
I am enjoying some fantastic topless driving with that fantastic 6 cylinder chorus on the country roads. This weather is great!!!

[A1BMW325iSport]

i had a clifford concept on my 320i a while back, i know some people slate them for being unreliable but i can honestly it was a really good system and i never had a problem with it