Does my 128i have an alarm?

[texasmojo]

I have had my 128i for 2 months now and i bought it used. I dont know if it has an alarm, or if it is not working. My rearview mirror has the big red light thing under the mirror. I have never seen it turn on or anything since i've had the car. I can roll the windows and open sunroof when i hold down the open button on the keyfob. When i lock/open the doors thru the remote only the headlights turn on then turn off after a couple seconds. No horn honks or electronic chirps.

Another question i have is about the phone button on my steering wheel. Howis this used? Note i dont have iDrive. My car did not come with the factory manual but i just downloaded the online one from here. Been reading it but these topics dont come out there. Any info would be very helpfull, thanks.

[jbenington86]

Originally Posted by texasmojo

I have had my 128i for 2 months now and i bought it used. I dont know if it has an alarm, or if it is not working. My rearview mirror has the big red light thing under the mirror. I have never seen it turn on or anything since i've had the car. I can roll the windows and open sunroof when i hold down the open button on the keyfob. When i lock/open the doors thru the remote only the headlights turn on then turn off after a couple seconds. No horn honks or electronic chirps.

Another question i have is about the phone button on my steering wheel. Howis this used? Note i dont have iDrive. My car did not come with the factory manual but i just downloaded the online one from here. Been reading it but these topics dont come out there. Any info would be very helpfull, thanks.

Sad to say but you should have known what was installed in the car before you spent the $$$

[texasmojo]

Well i did not buy it at a bmw dealership. The place i bought it from wouldnt know. Its ok if it does not have it. Just want to know if having the red light thing in the rearview mirror is normal when not having a factory alarm.

[jbenington86]

Originally Posted by texasmojo

Well i did not buy it at a bmw dealership. The place i bought it from wouldnt know. Its ok if it does not have it. Just want to know if having the red light thing in the rearview mirror is normal when not having a factory alarm.

If you don't have auto dimming mirrors just give that little red knob a twist so you don't get blinded from the traffic behind you at night.

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by texasmojo

Well i did not buy it at a bmw dealership. The place i bought it from wouldnt know. Its ok if it does not have it. Just want to know if having the red light thing in the rearview mirror is normal when not having a factory alarm.

I would suspect that you dont if it does not have an audible chirp. all the mirrors have the red light. Alarms are dealer / port installed options. Most people buying 1ers didnt want to spend the extra 895.00 to have a siren installed.. You do have anti-theft, as in the coded keys, but that is all.

The handest button on the steering wheel is to toggel to your bluetooth, if equipped.. if you have the sos button by the sunroof switch then you have bluetooth... you are going to have to read the manual on that one as it is involved if you never paired a phone etc etc etc ...

Good Luck... enjoy the "new to you" car..

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by jbenington86

If you don't have auto dimming mirrors just give that little red knob a twist so you don't get blinded from the traffic behind you at night.

Explain please ??????

[texasmojo]

Originally Posted by DriveHard

I would suspect that you dont if it does not have an audible chirp. all the mirrors have the red light. Alarms are dealer / port installed options. Most people buying 1ers didnt want to spend the extra 895.00 to have a siren installed.. You do have anti-theft, as in the coded keys, but that is all.

The handest button on the steering wheel is to toggel to your bluetooth, if equipped.. if you have the sos button by the sunroof switch then you have bluetooth... you are going to have to read the manual on that one as it is involved if you never paired a phone etc etc etc ...

Good Luck... enjoy the "new to you" car..

Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense. I dont have the SOS button up top, so i guess the steering wheel button is just for looks.

[KMart03]

Originally Posted by DriveHard

Explain please ??????

It's pretty straight forward if you don't have an auto dimming mirror twist that red knob at night to dim it from traffic behind you... It's not rocket science

[Technic]

Originally Posted by texasmojo

I have had my 128i for 2 months now and i bought it used. I dont know if it has an alarm, or if it is not working. My rearview mirror has the big red light thing under the mirror. I have never seen it turn on or anything since i've had the car. I can roll the windows and open sunroof when i hold down the open button on the keyfob. When i lock/open the doors thru the remote only the headlights turn on then turn off after a couple seconds. No horn honks or electronic chirps.

Another question i have is about the phone button on my steering wheel. Howis this used? Note i dont have iDrive. My car did not come with the factory manual but i just downloaded the online one from here. Been reading it but these topics dont come out there. Any info would be very helpfull, thanks.

There's no alarm or Bluetooth in your MY2008 128i, but both can be retrofitted by you or a dealer. Both require coding to activate, only done at a dealer or at an Autologic shop near you.

Search for more details, both retrofits have been done in this forum several times.

[Barry45RPM]

Our ordered 2010 128 Conv did not come standard with an alarm. We too have the clown nose under the mirror. It has no electronic alarm function. We do have auto dimming mirrors. We do have Bluetooth in the car as part of the Lux package.

However your car is equipped you'll really like it. Its a good fun spirited ride.

[Lester]

The red 'clown nose' is standard equipment on all BMW's. It is used as the rearview mirror 'dimmer'. If you have the factory alarm, you will hear a 'chirp' and the headlights and lights will blink when you lock the car. The 'clown nose' will also start blinking. Another way to test, is unlock and open the door with the manual key, if it has the factory alarm installed it will be triggered when you do this and the alarm siren will sound.