I installed the MINI alarm system and had it activated by my dealer. My question is this. The booklet says that the device in the headliner is a motion detector. However when I arm the alarm and put my arm (no pun intended ) in the open window and wave it about the alarm does not go off. Thinking it was because I had left the window open I sat in the rear seat (small isn't it :smile: ), alarmed the system and moved about but it still didn't work.
Is this a motion detector or a glass breakage detector (if so how do I check that - and no I'm not going to break a window ).

 

Step #5 of the factory functional test is setting off the alarm with a hand wave thru an open window...

Official factory instructions at:

http://motoringfile.com/howto/Alarm.PDF

Personal insturctions:

http://home.comcast.net/~sfconnell/mods/alarm/home.htm

Problem with the motion sensor...?

-B

 

I may not have waited long enough for the motion sensor to activate - will try again tonight. Thanks

 

Hey 770 how much was the factory alarm and how long did it take you to install it?

Thanks

Chris

 

Make sure the motion sensor is not installed backwards. There is an arrow on the sensor housing that should point forward when the sensor is installed. The sensor 'appears' to have sensing elements pointing forward and to the rear, but the MINI version only has the forward set. Since it's the same sensor and housing that is used in BMW's bigger cars, they dipped into the parts bin for stuff to use on the MINI. The rear sensors were removed since they would not work very well being so close to the glass.

 

you also have to wait a few min for it to set. arm it, walk away, come back in 5 min., then stick your arm in. it should go off by the time you are wrist deep. if i have my windows open about 4 inch. and just walk by the car the alarm will go off. good luck.

 

CustomAV. It was $395 from my dealer (less than list I think). It took about an hour to install (04 is prewired). About half that time was spent untaping the horn/tilt sensor wiring from the main harness (I don't know why they tape it up so much). It's a bit fiddly getting the horn/bracket into the space allocated as they don't give you much slack in the harness. The wiper stalk install took about 15 minutes. The motion sensor took all of 30 seconds. I don't know why the dealer wanted $600 for the alarm installed - greed I guess .
Hope this helps.

 

'05 Mini Accessories catalog shows the price to be $295 USD [sans installation]. Looks like there is a part number change at the Fall '03 build date...
-B

 

I think you're right I paid $295 not $395. Still don't know why the dealer wanted $600 installed.

 

Does your alarm beep to let you know it's armed?

 

Yes, it does on both arm and disarm.

 

It's programmable.

Mine doesn't beep at all, but it flashes the signal lights on locking, but no sign except the cabin light going on when unlocking the car.

 

What build date is your car?

 

Hey folks thanks for the info. I have been considering the alarm install DIY and I think I'll give it a shot.

Cost for the alarm here in Honolulu at MINI of Hawai'i is also $295. I was quoted about 2-hours labor at $85.00/Hr.

Aloha!

JCW04

 

Do it yourself it's a breeze. Your dealer may charge you 1/2 labor to activate it. I think the one beep on lock and two beeps on unlock is programmable because I asked for it when they activated it.

 

they changed the alarm in 04 to have the tilt sensor up front inside the sound unit. so older units had a tilt sensor in the boot. i have a early model and mine only beeps at me if sothing is open and the alarm can not set. and like stock on my 03, the lights flash once when locked. i know i paid 300 for my kit close to two years ago, so the price might have changed due to product change. but i know anyone can install this item. it is really easy with all the plugs need right there and ready. all you have to do is go to the dealer and have them code it in.

 

tell your dealers that classic mini charged $250 (cause they did... umm for a while anyway).

They probably all hate them, so they might get all uppity and try to price match.

that goes for any part.

 

Except untaping the wiring harness for the siren unit. Jeez, they must have used a whole roll of electrical tape!

 

use a knife!

 

Yes I agree - it's a PITA to get that unwrapped. I used an Exacto knife but very carefully.

 

I made an appt with my dealer to get mine activated - a half hour = $50 here in Sacramento. My service advisor said he thought the "chirp" was an option, ie, it could be activated or de-activated. Since we live in a neighborhood with lots of houses close together and I keep weird hours, I told him I wanted the chirp off.

The manual that was in the box with the alarm (a multi-fold, single page brochure) is pretty worthless. There are a lot of qualifiers - depending on what market you're in, you may or may not get this or that feature. But it sounds like the motion sensor doesn't get armed if the windows are down. Maybe this is a "new feature" for 05? I know earlier MINI alarms did arm the motion sensor with the windows down.

I guess I'll know in a couple of weeks when mine gets activated.

 

I was actually going to ask this question before doing a search on the subject:

Isn't the cabin motion detector a separate option? When I order my MINI last year (its an '04), my sales person asked me about if I wanted the cabin motion detector...it sounded like it was an extra (read =more $$) feature of the alarm system. I said no thanks at the time. So I was considering whether to add it on now. However. from this thread it almosts sounds like it is already part of the alarm system. Maybe she was just asking me if I wanted it activated, instead of me assuming installed?

Can anyone answer this specifically- does the oem alarm available in '04 contain the cabin sensor in all cases, or was it an option?

 

Mine was installed when I bought the car. The installation was only $250. Don't pay more than that.

 

The motion detector is part of the alarm kit. I am not aware of any way that you can order the alarm without the motion detector. It is a small 4"x3" module that plugs into plastic case in the headliner above the rear seats.

 

I paid 150 for the alarm (siren/motion sensor) and 100 for the stalk. Install it yourself, its a breeze (except for the dirty thumb print on my headliner next to the motion sensor).