Just got car and already have questions.....

[az-bmw]

Hello everyone. Just got a 2004 330Ci Convertible and man do I like it so far. Had it for 24 hours and already ran a tank of gas through it just joy riding.

Anyway, couple of questions for you all.

1. I read some where that the 2004's come with the factory alarm, but when I lock the car using the remote (remote in key) nothing appears to happen, like no flashing light under rear view mirror. Does the alarm have to be activated from the dealer? Does it actually come with an alarm? Am I working it correctly if it does come with the car and if it is activated?? Read the manual, appears with an Astrict so thinking that the alarm does not come with the car??

2. Stereo - ok it is nice but I really want my XM radio. Is the radio satelite compatible? I heard that it is and that it is Sirius. If the head unit will work for satelite, can I find a unit to plug into the head unit so it goes through stock? Do they make one for XM? Where could I hide the antenna?

3. I have this one tacked to another thread, (fuse box thread), but, is there any information on here to do a hardwire for a radar detector to the fuse box over the glove box? I've seen a few different ways people hooked up theres but mostly it was done on a coupe and at the interior lights. I guess I can wire to there if I have to. Is there any instruction for convertible? Last thing I want to do is fry the electrical. Detector is a 8500 x50 that I'll be hooking up via phone cable.

Other than that, I think that is all I want to tackle for now.

Thanks in advance.

[BMWLotAttendant]

Wow! Nobody has replied to this one.

I'll take it. Welcome to the forums btw!

1. I don't know if they come factory. Try and find your sticker options and it should be there. Yes, the dealer has to activate the alarm if it is equiped. Or, go to your dealer and have them give you a history of the car and it should be at the top what options you have available to the car.

2. Yes, satelite radio is compatible. Doesn't matter what you want it is. Sirius works with the headunit....stations, songs, etc. But if you want XM, you have to get a different headunit and hook it up. I've seen it on LOTS of e46s. You could hide the XM antenna inside your car on the dash...at the front in the middle...looks cheezy but this is from my experience. OR the XM and Sirius antennas are small circular magnetic recievers...and uaually put at the rear of the vehicle near the trunk...usually in the middle.

3. I don't know about which way is best, but if you go to Escorts website it talks about hardwiring your X50 to your vehicle. You have to get a modual to connect to the power supply to your headunit and then you're good to go. Converitbles aren't any different than Coupes or Seadans....

I think I was vague on #3, but maybe somebody else will chime in.

[az-bmw]

Yeah thanks for the reply. I went hopping to another forum because no one answed any of the questions..........

Anyway, I already hooked up the radar detector directly to the fuse box above the dash. Used phone cable to connect to the detector and then ran the positive to an open fuse spot (I think I used 35 or 39), used a fuse tap to a 5 Amp fuse. Ran the negative to the negative on the glove box light. 35 or 39 will actually switch off with the car ignition and will not turn on until you hit the start position, that way there it will not comp on when turned to assesories which is nice if you are sitting in a parking lot and don't have to keep hearing the false alarms from the store doors.

XM/Sirius - yes that is what I found out. I wanted XM since I already have an account with several radios. (Probably will not make a difference in the future when they merge.) I went the XM route. Bought the XM 1000 by Terk from a local electronics place here. Have on order a blitzsafe connection that will connect the XM unit to the car harness in the trunk. The blitzsafe also has a pass through for the CD changer so you can still use the CD Changer. Not sure where to actually hide the antenna module, BUT, I think the other day when I popped the deck to drop the top I saw mounted to the underside of the deck lid a satellite connection or the Sirius/gps antenna????? Not really sure. If that is the case then I most likely will mount the new antenna to the underside of the deck lid if it will not have a problem getting through the deck lid material (plastic/composite???) If anyone knows what this piece is that I'm refering to please let me know. It looks like it has the same type of pink connection and same type of cable/wire used for satellite antennas.

Alarms.....I assuming mine does not have it. Does anyone know where to check to verify? My car says it is prewired. I found them on e-by for $149 if the car is manufactured to MArch 04. Basically what you get is something that makes the alarm work with all the door pins plus a siren. There is no motion sensor for convertible pre March 04. Almost seems useless, but then again so is a non-blinking clown nose.......

[Rooz]

Poop the hood, if you don't see a siren, you have no alarm!

[Dudesky]

In the passenger side footwell open up and drop down the panel just below the glovebox. The alarm is located right on that panel, if you have one. If not, then all your prewire harnesses will be there.