HELP - Information on factory fitted alarm

[martinclan]

I have just bought a 318is that seems to have a factory fitted alarm. The device in question is mounted on top of the nearside inner front wing. There is an LED and what appears to be an ultrasonic detector on the dashboard. The problem is that I have no information about its operation. I have a remote control for it but it dosen't work (I think that the battery needs changing) Does anyone on the forum have any experince or information on this option? I guess there must have been a manual at some time.

Picture to follow...

Cheers

Robin

[martinclan]

C'mon guys - someone must know something about the factory fitted alarms

Here is a pic of the thing...

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/martinclan/images/alarm.gif

[Brianmoooore]

That doesn't look loke a BMW OE alarm to me. It looks like a Scorpion alarm, apart from the colour, which is normally red.

[A1BMW325iSport]

looks like a scorpion or a sigma,

take a photo of your remote please and post it up

[billyboy193]

I have a standard BMW alarm and what you have is not a OE alarm

[martinclan]

OK - I will take a picture of the remote and post it tonite. What made me think it was a factory fitted alarm is the fact that it is plugged directly into the car's wiring loom - no bodged connections - just a BMW plug.

The remote is black rectanguler about 2cm x 3cm x 0.5cm. There is an orange circle on one side where you press to (presumably) arm and disarm the alarm and a single LED. The remote has a 12 volt battery and judging by the technology inside is about the same age as the car. There is no identiying mark on the remote although there is a sticker inside with what I assume is the serial number.

Anyway - picture tonite....

Cheers - Robin

[Brianmoooore]

The OE BMW alarm does not plug into a single connector as such. Several moifications are made to the standard loom, to which the alarm loom is than attached. This loom then terminates in a couple of sockets, into which the alarm modules are plugged.
Most alarms are made like this. i.e. You splice an aftermarket wiring loom into the cars loom at several points, and then the alarm plugs into a socket on the end of this.

[A1BMW325iSport]

it was probably fitted by a dealer as a bmw approved alarm, but the alarm was not actually made by bmw, anyway i`ll check out the photo of the remote later

[Brianmoooore]

An alarm like this one was fitted to one of my Tourings from new, or very shortly after, but it was not fitted by a BMW dealer as all the connection points into the car loom are wrong. A dealer should at least know where the alarm connects.

[Brianmoooore]

There is a keyswitch under the rubber boot on the alarm, and an adjustment, probably for ultrasonic sensitivity.

[martinclan]

Here is a pic of the remote for the alarm

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/martinclan/images/remote.gif

I tried it just now - although the LEd on the remote flashes indicating that it's doing something there is no response from the car

As I mentioned in my previous post the alarm is connected straight into the cars loom with a pukka connector - no soldered joints, scotchlocks or anything - it looks like it was 'designed in'

So - anyone got any more idea's?

Cheers

Robin

[A1BMW325iSport]

its a BMW approved alarm

same remote as i have on my e34

and i have bmw instructions for it as well

[A1BMW325iSport]

do you have the key for the alarm, maybe its switched off?

if you don`t have the key there is a another way to get it working

[martinclan]

Hello A1BMW325iSport

Progress! This forum is the dogs b...

There's a funny looking key in the toolbox - a circular affair - is that likely to be it? Is the alarm supposed to have a couple of ultrsonic transducers on the dash? There was one mounted and a hole where it looks like the other one should be.

Any chance of scanning or photo copying the destructions that you have ?

So if its an approved alarm do you know who made it and are spares still available?

Cheers
Robin

[A1BMW325iSport]

scorpion is the make i think.

i can copy my instructions but i may have 2 sets if you wanted me to post a copy to you? i`ll check if i have 2 sets

the keylock on mine is under the bonnet on the back of the alarm horn its a standard type key.

pretty sure mine has 2 ultrasonics

[A1BMW325iSport]

i have 2 sets of instructions for the bmw alarms i think
you have the scorpion system so check out the 1st set...

have copied them best i can with digi camera...







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[martinclan]

Thanks m8

It seems it must be a Scorpian alarm then. I am gonna try it 2nite and see if it's still operational - I can just read anough of you photographed manual (thanks) to do that.

It seems Scorpian are still in business so maybee I can get some more infor from them.

Thanks again

Robin

[A1BMW325iSport]

Robin, let me know your address and i`ll send a photocopy of it for you.

If you find the alarm is switched of at the key on the alarm horn and you don`t have the key, let me know and i`ll tell you how to enable it without the key.

Matt

[martinclan]

Well I turned the alarm on and it works - sort of...

The switch in the remote is on its last legs and you have to squeeze the case pretty hard to make it work - I guess that can be fixed.

The alarm itself initially had one indicator permanently on and the other off - I guess the relay that drives them in the alarm is US. Temporary solution - disconnect the indicators from the alarm. I have visited the Scorpian web site and they still list the alarm - managed to get the wiring diagrams and the instructions! I will call them tomorrow and see if its still possiblle to get replacement transmitters unlikley I would have thought but you never know.

Thanks for all the help.

Robin

[A1BMW325iSport]

excellent work!

[martinclan]

Alas Scorpion are no more they have gone to the great receiver in the sky. However tha name has been bought by Electro Systems that offer a repair service for Scorpion. Unfortunatly they no longer repair the alarm fitted as a BMW approved accessory to many E30's. However they do still keep some of the bits that go wrong, relays, horns etc if you fancy a bit of DIY. There fone number is 01257 249928 and the guy to ask for is Tony Hayes.

The wiring diagrams are still available on the Scorpian weg site however.

The news on the remote side is better. You can get replacements from www.alarmremotes.co.uk albeit at a price tha's not tot nice (but cheaper than a new alarm!) about Ԛ£32 plus postage.

Robin

[A1BMW325iSport]

maybe repair the remote? it may have cracks in the solder on pcb or even a loose component, have a look and re-solder anything suspect,
a bit on contact cleaner in the microswitch should also help.

[sabrje]

Robin

Looks like you have the same alarm as me - I have some problems too. You don't happen to know which model the alarm was - there's lots of diagrams on Scorpions website!

Cheers
Richard

[martinclan]

Its the 838 model in my car. It looks slightly different in the pics on the Scorpion website but the wiring diagram seems to be correct.

Mine is working OK now - albeit the relay that operates the flashers is US (new one on order) and the range of the remote seems a bit pitifull - still getting it working was easier that installing a new one

Cheers

Robin

[sabrje]

Cheers for that - I've had a look and although it is slightly different the wiring does appear to me the same. Mine arms and disarms but without flashing the indicators and without activating the central locking.... This means you never know when its on or off and so I tend to open the door and wake the neighbours!! Did you happen to find where the connections were spiced into the BMW loom??

[Andy_magic]

For repairing the alarm itself I'd open it up, have a look at the relays.

You should be able to buy relays cheap from somewhere like www.maplins.co.uk of www.rswww.com

The remote fob itself will probably need a new microswitch. again the above people should have one, if not. Get a blown up car stereo and rob one from the control panel, they are all much of a muchness.

Good luck with it mate

[Brianmoooore]

Sabrje - The alarm connections should all be spliced in around the back, top and left side of glove box, IF the original installer knew what he was doing.

[martinclan]

You will probably find that the reason the flashers are not working is the relay in the alarm module. It is poor quality. You can still get replacements from the company that bought the Scorpion name - see my previuos post in this thread for the phone number. They have just sent me one (relay) and I will be fitting it this weekend.

I guess the problem with the central locking could be the same - duff relay.

What range do you get with your remote? Even with a new battery the range on mine is poor - you have to be virtually standing next to the alarm in the car to arm and disarm it.

Cheers
Robin

[Brianmoooore]

There's a little trimmer in the alarm, that tunes the transmitter's tank coil. Make sure you know where it is set now, and try tweaking it a bit. Also check the alarm modules aerial wire isn't coiled up or cut off. Black wire going into a little hole by the keyswitch if it's the same as mine.

[Brianmoooore]

that should read "there's a little trimmer in the alarm remote"

[sabrje]

Cheers guys - thats a little project for the weekend then....

[martinclan]

Yep I've seen the trimmer - haven't dared to tweak it yet but I suspected this might be the next step. I'll mark it first and then have a play - I haven't had so much fun with electronics in years

Cheers - Robin

[redrobbie]

The wiring diagrams are still available on the Scorpian weg site however.



Robin

I know this thread is old but does anyone have the scorpion website address with the wiring diagrams.

Thanks