M3: if no alarm, then why clown nose?!
 

Ugh... I'm rapidly getting VERY annoyed with all the weird electrical inconsistencies with my ne M3.

So if you've read any of my prior posts, I would REALLY like to get some sort of audio/visual cue when I lock/unlock my doors. But BMW of SD that because I don't have an alarm system in my car, there's no way to get such a cue.

However, I just read the following at Bimmerfest:

BUT I DO HAVE A FLASHING CLOWN NOSE WHEN I LOCK MY DOORS!!!!

So, why can't the dealers activate the door lock/unlock cues?!?!

What gives?!?!

ok, to summarize, here's my confusion:

I don't understand, based on what i've read, how it is that the clown nose blinks ... but the signals do not.

i mean, do i or do i NOT have an alarm system after all?! BMW SD said no i don't ... but i've read (bimmerfest) that IF you have a clown nose, THEN you have an alarm system. And REGARDLESS of whether you have an alarm system, you should DEFINITELY be able to get the signals to flash once/twice when locking/unlocking the doors.

this was dicussed in the X3 forum a couple of days ago. all BMWs have the clown nose but the 3, X3, and Z4 are only prewired. the blinking means it's armed. try holding the trunk release button on your key fob; it should trigger the alarm.

Well brother all I can tell you is my M3 did the same thing. I think you need to go drive it some more, you're getting too hung up on small stuff :thumbup: Click the sport button and lay into that bad boy....you'll forget all about your "issues".

It can be done....
 

I have a 2005 M3 ZCP with no factory alarm. When I picked up my M3 I had the dealer program the system just like that. When I lock/unlock my car, there is an Audio/Visual cue that it's been locked or unlocked. The clown nose will start to flash after a couple of seconds. This was discussed on the Roadfly forum back in 2001 when the E46 was introduced. Dealers have been saying it cannot be done, when it actually can.

Good luck.

dude.. you should've asked all these questions BEFORE you bought the M3! Spend $200, install alarm yourself, bring it in get it coded, you're done.. Can I get any more whine with that cheese???

yup.. agreed.

Clearly, you're not driving your M3 hard or fast enough.

YES you can get the side turn signal lights to flash to acknowledge lock/unlock regardless of alarm or no. You can only get the audio cue (beep) if an alarm is installed.

yea the dealer should be able to get your flashers to blink when you lock/unlock your doors. Mine do.

yup i'm taking the car in tomorrwo for a huge list of things lol ........ thanks guys :) ... i miss xoutpost.com ........... i gotta come back and kick it here more :)

i am LOVING my M though .......... now that the sun is finally back out in SD ... let's just say it's been hard studying for midterms lol!!!!!