OK, this is starting to drive me crazy. I know other people have had or are planning to have alarms installed by their dealers. I called mine today to order one, and she was genuinely mystified, saying she had not heard of this, and that about a month ago she had heard that MINI was again withdrawing the availablity of the alarm because of bugs...something about the difficulty of converting British frequencies to U.S. Does anyone know anything about this? Many thanks in advance for your help.

 

I just picked up my MINI with the factory alarm. The dealer told me that they had just gotten them and that I was the second install. It seems that the alarms are arriving on the East coast and working there way west. Hope this helps.

 

Getting my mini soon - sitting on US soil and waiting for a week to enter VPC. Talked to the dealer in Albany two weeks ago - had to find out- but the alarm is waiting at the dealer now for my car to arrive.
Keep pushing the sales person to find more info.

 

I enquired about the cost (installation & parts) for the alarm system on my upcoming '03MCS, the service department at Bill Jacobs hadn't priced it out.

Question: Is there a standard install time established by MINI service? Also, is ~$550 a good estimated total cost?

Thanks,
SMKKVK
(Keeper of the List, Name With No Vowels, MINI With No Name and Proud Fellow of the Fellowship of CWFFC)

 

My dealer MINI of St Louis has them for $550, and they have tried to talk me out of it. Because it has the passive no start feature. IE no MINI key no start.

So I am torn, but will probably get it installed when I pick it up.

jc

 

My MCS did not come with a factory installed alarm so I had a Viper Mod 300 ESP put in at a cost of $316.94. I spoke to the Mini sales rep about it prior to installation and I don't recall him saying anything against it. In fact, I think he told me I'd be better off with the Viper. The Mini key still functions normally but I use the Viper remote to lock - unlock the doors and to set the alarm. I've had no problem with it. I also had the Lojack recovery sys installed. This is probably the single most effective precaution you can take. It is not a preventative but may enable you to recover your car quickly and with a minimum of damage.

OK, so I'm a little paranoid but I added McGard Wheel locks and the Auto Lock Brake Pedal Club. No,
I'm not going to chain the pit bull to the steering wheel! The Brake Club makes it impossible to depress the brake pedal making the car unable to be driven. It is very heavy duty and seems to be unbreakable as the maker claims. One problem. The car can still be started (with the key), put in gear and driven away. Sans brakes. I know, because I've done this!

It would be much better to use the club on the clutch padal even though it doesn't fit as well. I hope this info can help.

 

I was told today that the dealer installed alarm would be available next week here in Philadelphia. No one made no mention of the key not working afterwards though. Can anyone shed some more light on this?

PS: How cool does the led on the end of the washer stalk look at night?

 

>>My MCS did not come with a factory installed alarm so I had a Viper Mod 300 ESP put in at a cost of $316.94. I spoke to the Mini sales rep about it prior to installation and I don't recall him saying anything against it. In fact, I think he told me I'd be better off with the Viper. The Mini key still functions normally but I use the Viper remote to lock - unlock the doors and to set the alarm. I've had no problem with it. I also had the Lojack recovery sys installed. This is probably the single most effective precaution you can take. It is not a preventative but may enable you to recover your car quickly and with a minimum of damage.
>>
>>OK, so I'm a little paranoid but I added McGard Wheel locks and the Auto Lock Brake Pedal Club. No,
>>I'm not going to chain the pit bull to the steering wheel! The Brake Club makes it impossible to depress the brake pedal making the car unable to be driven. It is very heavy duty and seems to be unbreakable as the maker claims. One problem. The car can still be started (with the key), put in gear and driven away. Sans brakes. I know, because I've done this!

 

I had the MINI alarm installed on Saturday at Patrick near Chicago. Cost was $595. I am also having LoJack installed tomorrow for $695. Since the car cannot be started without the key, anyone who steals it would have to get the key from me....or have me with them. The LoJack is just as much for recovering me as it is for recovering the car.

 

Just a word of caution...

A friend of mine had just bought a 2003 Honda Accord in late November and had only been driving it for about 6 days when he went to the local YMCA to work out one evening about 6PM. He locked the car, set the alarm, and went inside. Got dressed to workout and off he went. When he was done, he went out to go home, reached into his pockets and no keys. Wait a minute...no Honda. We suppose, along with the police, that someone had watched him walk inside, and broke into his locker, stole his keys (which had the alarm remote on the chain) and took his Honda.

You can only imagine the horror this guy went through after realizing this had happened. Anytime I go anywhere now, I just make sure that my keys are with me. I even take them with me when I don't drive the MINI now, just in case someone decides they want to visit my house when I am not home. Unfortunatly, we live in a country and a time, where many people feel like they can take whatever they see. I don't quite understand this infant mentality, but it happens everyday. (just had $3100 worth of video equipement stolen from my office). Be careful and never think that just because you have an alarm, that your MINI will always be safe. I want an alarm, but if the thief has my key, the alarm does no good.

 

I called Assael MINI (in SoCal) today and they have the alarms in so I'm getting it installed next week for $575. Hope it works well..it will be a welcome addition to my Deluxe Club I have on the steering wheel...

 

I have an 02 S with factory alarm and think
it is as good as any out there.

 

I finally got a message from my dealer. She said they just got a new catalog listing all the MINI accessories and options, and the dealer alarm was listed. Problem solved. Thanks to all for your input.

 

>>I enquired about the cost (installation & parts) for the alarm system on my upcoming '03MCS, the service department at Bill Jacobs hadn't priced it out.
>>
>>Question: Is there a standard install time established by MINI service? Also, is ~$550 a good estimated total cost?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>SMKKVK
>>(Keeper of the List, Name With No Vowels, MINI With No Name and Proud Fellow of the Fellowship of CWFFC)
>>

I guess YES, I am paying $612




:evil: :evil: :evil:

 

Towne MINI is charging $699 for the install I think. Starting to sounds a bit dumb to get the alarm at that price, so I'm not sure if I sitll want to. I'm going to ask them if that's as low as they go because everyone else here seems to be quoted lower.

 

Just ordered an OEM alarm from Classic Auto Campus. Paid about $300.00 plus shipping. Will install it myself. They come with instructions and anyone with electronics experience should be able to install one. *** Motor On ***

 

HI CharlesWil
Let us know how the install goes. I figure if I can fix a watch, I can install an alarm system!
JB

 

Hi jbs111
If I can borrow a friends digital camera, I’ll take a few picts and post them. The alarm should be here next week.
*** Motor On ***

 

I wish I knew how to get this alarm, but it's out there somewhere if you're paranoid enough to look for it....

My friend is a valet, and couldn't start this Mercedes S600 (ooooh, aaaah), so the owner came out to start it. He turned the key to the "on" positon, pulled the headlight switch out, turned it clockwise a full 360 degrees, pushed it back in, and started the car.

 

>>Just ordered an OEM alarm from Classic Auto Campus. Paid about $300.00 plus shipping. Will install it myself. They come with instructions and anyone with electronics experience should be able to install one. *** Motor On ***
>>
>>

I'm thinking of doing the same thing. Have you done the install yet? How'd it go?

 

Hi 0wen0
I received my alarm system the other day. Will try to install it this weekend. The instructions say install time is approximately 1.25 hours. By the way, if my car is not coded for an alarm system my MINI dealer must re-code it.
*** Motor On *** :smile:
Charles

 

The instructions look pretty straight-forward. The only thing that worries my a bit is tearing out the interior. Section 2, "Preparations", shows a list of what needs to be done. Is there somewhere on the web where the instructions on how to do these things can be found?

Now, are you doing it on a 2003 or 2002? I have seen people on this board saying the 2003s come pre-wired. Does this mean that I won't have to put the new harness in?

Good luck with the install!

 

0wen0
I have a 2003 MINI Cooper S. The instrutions to my alarm system are for a MINI Cooper as of 9/02 & MINI Cooper S as of 9/02. I’m not sure what you mean about tearing out the interior. Taking out a few parts around the steering column isn’t that bad. As you say the instructions are pretty straight-forward. The only thing that worries me is if the dealer is going to charge me to re-code the car. Don't think so, but who knows?
*** Motor On *** :smile:
Charles

 

0wen0
From MINIUSA:
"Charles, thanks for writing in.
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but no, the 2002 Model Year MINI Cooper and Cooper S were not prewired for the alarm system. This option would have to have been installed as a factory option. However, there are other alarm options, such as LoJack, which the dealer can install as an aftermarket alarm. I would suggest speaking to your service advisor about available options. The MINI Cooper and Cooper S started being prewired for the alarm in the 2003 Model Year. Let us know if you have any more questions.

LET'S MOTOR.
Jen Schuelke
MINI Division
Customer Relations
Sorry :smile:

 

Here are the instructions that I saw. http://www.bridger.us/mini/howto/Alarm.PDF They are dated 10/01. So, they are probably out of date. I'm going to order mine tomorrow.

Good news about the prewiring!