new here - United Bimmer Community

**Brandy** · 03-27-2006, 04:34 PM

Hi everyone -

We recently purchased our 2nd BMW, a well-taken care of 1998 323IS with 142k on the odometer. We ran a Carfax on her before we got her, so she's been babied since day1. We used to have a '98 Z3 a few years ago, but thanks to the hubby's determination to NOT learn how to drive a 5 spd, we now have a nice little automatic. Outside of a possible paintjob next year, we have no major complaints for this great little car..

Our other cars are a '95 Toyota 4Runner (with over 240K on it; great vehicle, but with absolutely no pickup), a '69 Camaro that is hubby's Baby (and gets 4 mpg PREMIUM gas), I have an even 'littler' Datsun
240Z that I am restoring. The BMW is pretty much the only car we own which we have no clue what is under the hood, nor how to fix anything, but we want to learn ASAP since the local dealership is a ripoff. The car runs perfect, and we want to keep it that way.

First thing, though, is, can anyone point the way to where we can find a keyless entry remote system (the car has the hookup all ready in the trunk)? The dealership gave us a price quote of over $400 with $180 to install it (and they said it with a straight face). Once I stop worrying about someone stealing the car, then I can add all sorts of fancy stuff and upgrades to this little car.

**doughboyea** · 03-27-2006, 04:57 PM

Welcome. I had the alarm installed by the dealer on my E46. Cost me ~$460. Just know that not all dealers are the same. Some will rip you off while others may give you a good deal (and by may, i mean, it's still alot, just not excessive).
You could just purchase the parts yourself, install them, then just have the dealer activate it. If you want OEM alarms, you could contact Circle BMW or Pacific BMW, someone correct me, but i believe they are one of, if not, the cheapest dealers to get parts from. There are third party sellers, I think Viper is an example, that'll hook into your system as well. Perhaps others could enlighten you on this better than I can.

Now for specs....
1998 323IS ...(E36 3-series)
2.5L straight six cylinder
HP ~168
Torque ~181 ft-lb
0-60mph in~7.1sec (that could be with a manual)
Weight: 3075lbs

And that's the basics for now.

Again, welcome and you'll find alot of E36 users here with lots of info.

Dough

**c1apton** · 03-27-2006, 05:02 PM

Welcome... check www.bmwsecuritysystems.com (they'll save you a bundle & it's "plug & play"

witeshark · 03-27-2006, 05:08 PM

Welcome to UB.C

**gold panda** · 03-27-2006, 05:31 PM

[QUOTE=Brandy]Hi everyone -

Welcome to UB! Sounds like you have yourself a superb Bimmer there also, in addition to your other fleet additions! ALL THE BEST!

**BMWLotAttendant** · 03-27-2006, 07:12 PM

Hey hey!

Speaking of alarms.

Just be careful, if you try and install the BMW alarm, you have to have the dealer activate it in order for it to work.

AND

OEM alarms....SOME have problems with the lock/unlock function with the car. I've seen several...with a e46 and Z4.

With that said.

I hope you continue to search for the best possibility and tell us what happens...we like to hear the what happened type stories.

One last thing....Since I work for the dealer, I'm very biased....so if you are troubled...just bite the bullet and have the dealer do it.

That's what my answer would be.

Relax, enjoy and have fun learning here. We are semi-knowledgable about MOST things....so feel free to ask anything.

And, if we don't know...I'm pretty sure we can find out about ANYTHING.

**Brandy** · 03-28-2006, 03:53 PM

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. We're on the southernmost tip of Texas, with my office literally on the border/river, so having an alarm is something that is actually 'elective'. If someone takes a car and gets it across a bridge (easier to leave the US than to re-enter it), then all the fancy alarm systems in the world mean diddles. It's mostly for our own peace of mind. We have it garaged and my parking spot is in our storage yard a few feet from law enforcement. It's just that as a former New Yorker, I want an alarm system.

As for the local mechanics, in the mission to restore my little Datsun, I've had to learn how to read electrical schematics and I re-wired the body harnesses, though I know better than to tackle anything like the setup in the Bimmer. I just also learned the hardway that being a woman (and this is not to talk less of dealerships) tends to have mechanics think that I'm an idiot and I won't question their estimates of what could be wrong with my car. In the past, this has saved me literally thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs. I just like to deal with car repairmen who at least respect the fact that I am interested in my car and how it works, especially since my husband, a merchant marine engineer, is away at sea more than home and our cars tend to misbehave when he's away. The BMW dealership also is co-partnered with the Toyota dealership which I've already had several 'dealings' with regarding our trusty old 4Runner, so I'm pretty familiar with the guys, just not with the 'BMW stuff'

I'm going to check the websites listed for the alarm system, and as soon as I get the car cleaned and shiny, I'll post her, plus add a new list of 'what now?' questions I'm sure I'll have.

Thanks again, and I'm really glad I found this site.

**Rooz** · 03-28-2006, 08:45 PM

welcome to UB

**TJsBimm** · 03-28-2006, 10:44 PM

Welcome to UB........to bad about the manual....hubby....lol

**gold panda** · 03-29-2006, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJsBimm

Welcome to UB........to bad about the manual....hubby....lol

love your rims dude! what brand and size do you run???

BEST REGARDS!