Not sure if this has been posted before so if it has I apologize in advance.

Anyway, I installed my OEM alarm in my '04 Mini this weekend (got a 15% discount using my BMWCCA discount at the local dealer !!! ). I was unable to get the alarm system coded at my local Mini dealer since it is not local to me now (I am TAD in the military) but I did take it to a local BMW dealer and got it programmed.

At first the BMW dealer was not sure if it would work since they are not a Mini service center and they do not have Mini diagnostic software. However, when it comes to convenience items, like the alarm for example (since it is made by BMW after all) they could program it just fine. And they even did it for free!

This is nice to know since Mini dealerships are not as common as BMW dealerships.