Sadly, you can no longer buy the factory BMW alarm for Z3 cars, part number
82111470403. I had to buy a used one on ebay. It came with one remote, and that remote did not work with the alarm right out of the box. I bought a second remote on ebay, also used, and programmed them both to the alarm unit I had. To program the 2 fobs to this particular alarm "head unit",
I followed this guide from mcoupebuyersguide and also it's listed in the original BMW alarm instructions/owner's manual. To keep the car fresh, I also installed new alarm fob covers which I bought on ebay. 2 covers with new buttons and new batteries included was $17.95. They don't say BMW on them, but the plastic is new and they aren't worn and shiny any more. I was able to locate the
original alarm owner's manual here and print a PDF for my
3-ring binder.
In the process of installing the alarm, I discovered the hood switch had failed so I replaced it. Once the hood switch was replaced, the alarm would chirp but would not arm. So something was still "open". The door switches work, the hatch and hood switches work, so the only other possibility was the radio switch. Behind the radio there is a switch that closes if you remove the radio (people used to steal car radios... does that happen any more?). When I got the car, the radio was already slightly canted out at the bottom which bothered me and was on my list of things to perfect. So better now than later. I removed the radio, replaced the switch, and now it sits perfectly flush and proper. And the alarm works.
While I had the glovebox out, I removed the steel reinforcement panel in the door to make it lighter weight and less likely to sag. I had previously removed the driver's side knee crash protection too, in order to make trim panel disassembly easier. I did have an old anti-sag glovebox reinforcement plate in stock, so I put that on too. The striker panel trim inside the glovebox was cracked, so I replaced it with a new part. The individual parts of the glovebox all have separate part numbers, which is nice for repairs.
Also while the box was out, I installed a
LeatherZ Footwell Light kit. We have sold hundreds of these over the years and they are a really nice mod. The Z3 was always lacking in some of the basic E36 features, especially when it comes to accessory lighting. When I was installing the footwell light kit, I also noticed the driver's dead pedal had a small crack at the very inner corner. I reinforced this point with fiberglass tape and many layers of epoxy.
Used BMW Alarm, ebay, $125.00r
LeatherZ Footwell Light Kit, $65.00r
Second BMW alarm fob, used, ebay, $59.95r
2 new alarm fob covers and new batteries, ebay, $17.95r
Hood switch, 61319119052, $44.82r
Radio switch, 65758366215, $35.20r
Glovebox striker plate, 51168410477, $11.66r
Total cost of this mod = $359.58r
Total investment in vehicle to date = $6851.90
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| LeatherZ footwell light kit |
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| Alarm/keyless fobs in new aftermarket cases |
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| The correct alarm for the Z3 is the one on the right that ends in part number '925'. The '445' is identical except it has the glass breakage microphone integrated into the base unit. The Z3/925 unit has a female jack for an external microphone for it. I think either would probably work in the car. I don't have an external mic for my alarm yet but I am looking for one. |
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| You can see the teat on the right has been over-stressed and is bent. This prevented the radio from sitting right in the console and prevented the radio switch from working properly. |
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| Radio switches. Bent is on the left (now clocked 180 from the previous pic) and new is on the right. |
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| Reinforcements on the inner corner of the dead pedal |
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| Tiny crack in corner of dead pedal... will see if the fix works. |
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| New hood switch. |
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| Blue/yellow loom will run the alarm LED, which will mount into the new, not-installed electrochroamatic auto-dimming MY 2000 rear view mirror. |
