how do you know if you have alarm?

[sonicbimmer19]

Hey guys,

All this time I thought I did not have alarm, but I was going through "features" page (unofficial, provided by my used car dealer) on my car and it says "factory alarm with keyless entry"
What are ways you can know for sure if you have alarm or not? And do all BMW's have "panic?"
When I first bought my car, I tried pressing/holding the buttons on my key fob and the "panic" didn't go off so I assumed for whatever reason my car did not have panic like most other cars.
But now I'm just wondering if the speakers that produce panic and alarm sound are broken?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. My warranty runs out in 2 weeks so if anything is wrong, I need to get it fixed.
Thanks!

[RimasRS]

Check is there on your rear view mirror "clone nose"
And man don't you know how to check do you have comfort access

[sonicbimmer19]

Ok, I'm pretty sure I don't have alarm. It just confused me all the sudden because the features says I have comfort access. But I don't; I can't push start without putting key fob in. What confused me further is 99% of cars have panics but my car doesn't but for a second I thought maybe the sound is dead lol.

[KingOfJericho]

If it beeps when you unlock the car, you have the alarm.

[Diver]

I think a long press on the lock button sounds the panic alarm.

[WPG D33Z]

Why not just try to set it off, seems like an easy test.

[cadeucsb]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

If it beeps when you unlock the car, you have the alarm.

+1. done and done

[Boosted_N54]

take a baseball bat and smash your windows or try to steal your own car?

lol JK

[1ToBeOn2Wheels]

Repeatedly pressing the trunk release button on the fob sets off the panic alarm. Also, as has been said, the red blinking clown nose and audible lock/unlock chirp are other signs.

Not sure if you are new to BMW, but one rule of thumb is never to assume something you want is standard equipment. BMW seems only second to Porsche in the "that's an available, extra cost option" department.

[peeti]

wow - so many owners and so few good hints noob to the rescue... to set off panic if you have alarm, HOLD for 3 seconds or more the trunk unlock. If all that happens is the trunk unlocks, you don't have at least the siren.

lock your doors, if clown nose on mirror blinks, you have alarm, but siren still broken.

Siren should be located in driver-side rear wheel well, behind the carpet-like covering.

Comfort access: if you have nubbins on the top of the handle and can go to the car when locked, grab handle and it opens, you have it. If it still won't start without key in ignition, then it's just a component failure on that portion. To lock comfort access without key, touch nubbins (sorry, wish I knew a better name for those).

FWIW, OP, most used dealers just load a base profile on the car. Only the good BMW used dealers list actual feature codes the car has as per the Monrone sticker.

best of luck!

[Lester]

Keyless entry does not mean comfort access. It means keyless entry, aka remote door unlocking - the standard fob does this.

It is easy to check if you have the factory alarm - lock the car - if the siren chirps and the clown nose blinks that is a good sign. Now open the door with the manual key, the alarm should instantly go off. If you have the early model with the manual trunk lock - that is another way to test the alarm, by opening the trunk with the manual key while the clown nose is blinking.

You can also lock the car with the windows open, with the clown nose blinking - stick your arm through the open window and move it back and forth - the motion sensor should set off the siren.

[Ammonia]

Find the area nearest to you with the highest crime rate and park it there, isolated, overnight.