I love my 2008 R56 Hardtop Mini (non-s) and been driving it without alarm just fine. Recently, our neighborhood has alot of car stolen and broken in. A few weeks ago, I noticed the plastic panel on my passenger has been tamper with as it was popping out. I think the person was trying force entry and perhaps take my car radio?

Since I parked in a car port, I would need to get a alarm that would notified me if it's being tampered with. I did some research and OEM doesn't notified me and the best so far I can find is Clifford Alarm System.

Does anyone have any recommendation? I live in Southern California if anyone knows a great place.

So sad someone has tampered with my car.

 

When I was dealing with car alarms the best ones were built by Directed Electronics. From what I have been told in the past year is that it is still one of the top manufactures. There are several different brands that are made by them. Google it and look at what the different ones have to offer. Sorry to hear about the damage to your MINI.

 

Another suggestion is to wire up motion activated flood lights in your car port. Most people will run when they turn on. You can even mount a fake camera, but make it look good.

 

Thank you for the suggestion and turns out Clifford is a umbrella company of Directed Electronics. This was extremely helpful and was able to find a few places that install within my area.

 

I wish I can just install flood lights. The odd part is this particular night I actually parked my car in front of the car port where there is plenty of light. Instead of breaking in from the driver side which is concealed from plain view they did the opposite!

 

Bastards, it's hard to protect against stupid.

 

Don't forget about Lojack with the early warning system, car moves more than 2 miles you get a call. Car alarms can be bypassed while Lojack can't, nobody pays any attention to alarms anymore because most of the time it's user error or it's too sensitive.

Somebody steals your Mini your alarm doesn't retrieve your vehicle, LoJack does.

 

Viper alarm has the 2 way system that notifies you when the alarm has been activated.
On all my cars, i installed one extra buzzer inside the car to blast on the intruder wile trying to hot wire/steal radio.

 

Haha that's funny. If there was a way to sense stupidity and set of alarm.

 

Thanks for the suggestions! I am not too worry about the car being stolen because they were opening the window on the passenger side in open view and light. I don't think they were after my car as it is hard to steal without a fob key. I am more concern about tampering and breaking in!

 

Yes, I was looking at Viper they're actually umbrella company of the Direct Electronics. They have plenty of other brands that sell 2 way systems.

 

Sorry to steal thread, but aftermarket alarms can be added to our cars????
That's a relief, good to know
now that i know i will probably go with viper alarm system
i am worried about my car getting robbed than stolen also

 

You're not stealing anything! haha I think we can? So far from what I am reading it seems so but I will let you after I call a few places. As I don't know exactly how to verify that.

 

Definitely recommend anything from Directed as well! I work mostly with Viper, but ALL Directed brands are pretty excellent.

Whichever alarm you choose, they do offer proximity sensors as well. Excellent for convertible owners who forget to put tops up (I've seen it), but also very useful if you just do not want people "crossing the line."

Even without sensors, anything 2-way is highly recommended.