RE: Keyless Entry

Subject: RE: Keyless Entry
From: "Vahan D. Shahinian" <vshahinian@domain.elided>
Date: Wed, 04 Sep 1996 09:40:12 -0400
>Rich,< cimor@domain.elided>
>        You wrote:
>>> I'm thinking of adding the keyless entry system to my 328is. The dealer
>will sell and install it for around $550.00. Has anyone installed the
>system themselves, and what is involved?

I installed the BMW remote keyless-entry/alarm system into my 328i last
May without any major problems. (I also installed the BMW CD changer at
the same time, which is a piece of cake in comparison to the keyless
entry installation)

The instructions that come with the kit are reasonably good. The job is
tedious, but not terribly difficult if you are mechanically inclined.
The only tools I needed were a couple of screw drivers and two putty
knives. The putty knives were used to pry-out the OBC and to scrape off
the sound insulation from the panel under the glove compartment. The OBC
must come out to install the indicator LED on the console above the gear
shift.

The electronic module installs as described, but be aware that it's
pretty crowded with other modules behind the glove box. The only real
mystery I found was a small connector in the keyless entry harness,
close to the main module connector, that is not described in the
installation instructions and doesn't have a mate in the vehicle. I
suspect that it is for dealership diagnostic and/or programming uses.
The installation took me about 90 minutes to complete.

The system works great. I had to adjust the glass-breakage microphone
sensitivity to a lower setting, due to false alarms. This procedure is
described in the manual.

Feel free to e-mail me (vshahinian@domain.elided) for more info if needed.

Good luck!
Vahan
BMW CCA Motor City Chapter