does the x3 have a standard factory alarm or is it an option?

[stangmatt66]

Originally Posted by pseto

alarms are dealer-installed, so negotiate this into the price of the car

You can purchase the alarm after you buy the car, as alarms can also be self-installed (dealer's will charge you an arm and a leg for labor to install it even though they probably have a third party alarm company come in to install it, I know Crevier BMW does this). However, self-installation will require the dealer to activate the alarm. The activation is a simple update to your car's computer. I don't know if you will be charged for the activation.