[jaffab]

Quick Q....

How do I tell if my car has an alarm? Is there any way? The reason I ask...

1) I read on the BMW sales site that my 4-series M Sport has an alarm as standard
2) But I read on forums, if it has an alarm, there is an idrive DOORS configuration option to make it beep when the alarm/doors are locked
3) But it has a red flashing light on the rear view mirror which seems to indicate an alarm
4) But I see the alarm as an option on the M sport, as Alarm for £400

Regards

Confused, from Hampshire

[F30Andy]

Leave a window down, lock all doors, press button only ONCE. Pressing it any more switches off internal sensors.

Wait one min, waive your arm around through the open window.

See if BMWs excuse for a siren comes on.

[RobUK]

Originally Posted by F30Andy

Leave a window down, lock all doors, press button only ONCE. Pressing it any more switches off internal sensors.

So does that mean pressing and holding the lock button to fold in the mirrors after you've locked it will deactivate the internal sensors?

[Torquein]

Leave the kids in the car and lock it as you go into the fuel station to pay - tests mine every time!

[jaffab]

So - really - other than trying to set it off - there no way to tell?

[r1cey]

Originally Posted by RobUK

So does that mean pressing and holding the lock button to fold in the mirrors after you've locked it will deactivate the internal sensors?

No, that will arm it as normal (since it's one continued key press).

Pressing the lock button twice is for disarming the internal sensors, if you have say kids or a pet in the car (e.g. While going into the garage to pay for fuel)

[Steven1077]

Looks standard to me, where does it say £400?

[jaffab]

On my original quotation sheet from the dealer from Feb2014 - see? (waves sheets of paper at the computer screen). The only reason I ask, it the same sheet of options also lists folding rear seats at £125, and they magically appeared (I would have been cheesed off if I had paid £125 for the seats when they are standard).

Also - I really wanted my car to beep once when I lock/arm it, so I know I have done it (sometimes miss the wing mirror flash), so then have to walk back (that oh, moment of doubt), unlock it, and lock it again.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Torquein

Leave the kids in the car and lock it as you go into the fuel station to pay - tests mine every time!

Did that to my daughter, she was so not impressed.

Me, I think it's excellent

[Torquein]

Originally Posted by r1cey

No, that will arm it as normal (since it's one continued key press).

Pressing the lock button twice is for disarming the internal sensors, if you have say kids or a pet in the car (e.g. While going into the garage to pay for fuel)

if you remember

[brommy]

Originally Posted by RobUK

So does that mean pressing and holding the lock button to fold in the mirrors after you've locked it will deactivate the internal sensors?

Press and hold once to lock and fold without deactivating the sensors.

I have shortened the hold time to 0.3 seconds which is still a deliberate hold but a fair bit quicker than normal. A lock without folding is still easy as a normal press with no hold is probably less than 0.2 seconds.

[Steven1077]

Is it even an option to beep in the UK? I think I read it wasn't, but could be wrong

[....,,,,..,,..]

From looking at the manual, the internal light on rear view mirror flashes and stuff.
This is the online American version, so may be slightly different to UK.

If it's the same as UK, then there is a full thing on how to tell if active, if it's been triggered etc.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

Is it even an option to beep in the UK? I think I read it wasn't, but could be wrong

Correct, you can code the beep option if you wish however this is for North America.

Alarm is standard in Europe, optional I the US.

[F30Andy]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

Correct, you can code the beep option if you wish however this is for North America.

Alarm is standard in Europe, optional I the US.

Really? I thought it was only standard for UK spec, I thought LHD models for the rest of Europe only had it if you ticked the option.
Someone whom I deal with in my line of work is French and when he comes over he brings his X5.
Someone smashed the window on it once because he left an iPhone on the seat, that's how we discovered it didn't have one. He had his dealer in France retrofit one after that.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by RobUK

So does that mean pressing and holding the lock button to fold in the mirrors after you've locked it will deactivate the internal sensors?

No, pressing once quickly deactivates motion sensors (handy for being on ferries, learned from bitter experience) holding the button to fold in mirrors is different.

[nordberg]

Hmmm...

Does the LED blink when the internal sensors are disabled?

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by nordberg

Hmmm...

Does the LED blink when the internal sensors are disabled?

It does something a bit different when you disable it can't quite recall but it's visibly different yes.

[j.s.]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

Correct, you can code the beep option if you wish however this is for North America.

Alarm is standard in Europe, optional I the US.

It is not standard in Cyprus, an option at EUR 499. Pretty sure it was an option too in the German configurator.

[MWA]

Lock the car with the remote, 60 seconds later, unlock it manually with the key (detach it from the key fob) that should set the alarm off