Remote Starter

[leemoney]

Anyone have one? Anyone want one?

I am looking to get a alarm system and am thinking about a remote starter. Someone told me before that they don't work with bimmers because of the ECU. And yes I have an auto.

Any help would be appreciated.

[DSK M3/4]

yeah, i won't tell you about my friend, whose truck would start up and roll down the windows- randomly.

[e36driver]

You don't want to do remote start on a manual car. I had a roomate who did that on his Honda and one day he left the car in first gear and you can guess what happened.
An auto car is fine since it's safer.

Originally posted by leemoney
Anyone have one? Anyone want one?

I am looking to get a alarm system and am thinking about a remote starter. Someone told me before that they don't work with bimmers because of the ECU. And yes I have an auto.

Any help would be appreciated.

[e36driver]

Oh, and you can do that on BMW w/ EWS system because you need the key on the ignition to start the car.

Originally posted by leemoney
Anyone have one? Anyone want one?

I am looking to get a alarm system and am thinking about a remote starter. Someone told me before that they don't work with bimmers because of the ECU. And yes I have an auto.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Kenshiro]

I believe he means 'can't'

I'm pretty sure you can fool EWS with some MODIC setting, but I'm not sure.

Any BMW Techs want to comment? Jon? (Nice feature in european car, btw)

[BMWguy206]

Unfortunatly, the BMW Diagnostic computers at the BMW Centers DO NOT have a feature to disable EWS.

I personally think it so silly to have a remote system. A push button would be easier but I say WHY?

KISS - Keep It Simple Silly

[M3RACER]

i know for a fact you can get a remote start on your car . I'm thinking of getting a new alarm for my car so i started researching and yes you can. your goning to have to get a extra key made or give up one of your spares to make it work. Also if you have a manual tranny you can still get a remote start to work on your car without the risk of leaving it in gear and taking off. You have to use a better quality remote starter.

[Kenshiro]

So how do you defeat EWS with the key? Leave it in the ignition?

Yeah, there are various sensors on the higher-end remote starters that detect whether the p-brake is on and whether the car is in gear before starting the car

[HK_M3]

M3Racer is right, you can have autostart installed on your BMW. They make a thing called a "Transponder Bypass....or Box" This item mounts in a place unique to the car (Usually under the drivers side footwell) this holds the key (or take one of your master keys and if your installer is good...he can just remove the chip so you still have full use of your master key since the electronic part of your key is already there) and presto you have autostart on your BMW. Unfortunatley this neccesitates a full functioning alarm with both ignition and starter kill otherwise anyone with a key or screwdriver can start your car.

[jmciver]

Those "high end" remote starters that see the parking break, etc are crap. You have to go through a long song and dance (holding the break, setting the e-break, opening the door, etc., etc.,) to get it to work before you leave your car each time.) I have a remote start in my manual tranny, and yes, you can defeat the EWS but you will have to give up a key. For my system to work I needed a special module that holds the key permanently (well not really permanently, but the module is under the dash and would be a pain in the ass to get to!!!). Once in the module and the car is remote started, the EWS is tricked into thinking there is a key in the ignition. I ended up using my valet key since I never used it anyway.

As far as the safety issue, a remote start in a stick is definately more dangerous. I never leave my car in gear (I learned that way) so I don't worry about it in my case. You could, however, make your own safty switch for a stick. A company a while ago made one, but went out of business (most likely due to lawsuits) due to failures of the switch. Their switch was mechanical in nature and that is why I think it may have had some failures (think of how many times you shift your car in a day, week, etc.) Right now there is currently no switch on the market that can sense whether the car is in gear. Your only option is to use the sytem above or design your own switch. I am designing a switch for my car as an added precaution but it won't have any moving parts, at least that is the goal.

One more thing for all you stick guys, you may need to bypass the clutch switch. This was not a problem for me since I don't need to push in the clutch (or break for that matter) to start my car.

[HK_M3]

Clifford DOES have an autostart (with an alarm) that works with a stick shift...one of the few left...and it is sanctioned by the company (previous model years of the alarm required one to have a trusted shop do it...and if left in gear...bye bye)

[leemoney]

It sounds like getting a remote starter is more trouble than it's worth. It also sounds that you are opening yourselft to car theft.

If a car theif does not have one of your keys is there anyway he can take your car? With the electric signal from the key and all.

[HK_M3]

He can jam a screwdriver or some kind of key mechanism in your keyhole and start your car up...if you have the transponder box installed.....but as stated above..if you get the autostart with an alarm he will not be able to start the car...plus...how does he know you have autostart....

[jmciver]

It is true that Clifford does have a remote start for sticks. But as I said before, you have to go through a long procedure of opening doors, setting the e-break, turning the ignition off, placing foot the break, etc., etc., in some special long sequence that makes getting out of the car a real chore. And if you screw up any part of that sequence you have to start all over again. Also, Clifford was just bought out by DEI, the makers of Viper and they have no intentions of making a remote start for sticks (my installer told me this stuff, and he is very good). Clifford does not use an actual sensor on the stick itself. The method the use (mentioned above) is designed to make the the module think you don't have the car in gear without actually sensing the stick position.

As far as theft goes, no more than any other car with an alarm. Most alarm makers use code hopping technology to prevent anyone from disarming your car. Of course, no matter what alarm system you have, if a professional car thief wants your car, he will get it. All cars can be hot wired, some are just harder than others (BMWs being one of the hardest but not impossible). Alarms are really just a deterrent from the "joy riders."

[HK_M3]

True...but the Clifford unit is quite simple......you must put the stick in the neutral position...and before you shut the engine off hit a button on your remote......not too bad for autostart eh? Viper plans on keeping the Clifford and Viper entities completely seperate....Viper lacks in certain higher end departments..that Clifford compliments......My family owns a Stereo and Alarm shop...and I personally will not put an alarm in my car.....if they want my car...they can have it....I don't want a chopped up car that was torn apart.....and they didn't take it...it's too easy for the insurance company

[leemoney]

well if your car is running and your not in it you would know it has autostart!!

[jmciver]

That is true about not wanting to get your car hacked up. I was lucky to find an installer who really knows his stuff. In fact, the only guy who works on my car is the owner of the place. But like I said before, if a professional thief really wants your car, he can get it, alarm or not.

[AlexT]

My wife has a remote start w/ clifford alarm on her 98 328. The way the shop made it work cheaply is by removing the chip from one of keys and glued it under the key hole where the coil is to pick up the chip. No extra "box" to hold the key. I would suggest using epoxy to keep it from coming off. As far as anti theft duties, the clifford system take over the factory duties. I heard that they have ways to even defeat Lojack systems now. So, if a pro really want a 4 year old 3 series, he can have it. I'll get her a new 330.

It's really convenient since we have really cold winters and hot summers in the Big D. She never had a glitch from the system either.

[EUROCLIQUE]

Really - I didnt know our keys have a chip in them. Even the thin key has a chip?

Also how do you know if you have remote starter. I have a car with a remote starter keyless entry button but when I press the button the radio comes on for a couple seconds as well as the lights then shuts off and then turns back on.

EUROCLIQUE

[EUROCLIQUE]

holy smokes I have remote start. So I put the key in the ignition and pressed the autostart button and whola the engine started. You can imagine the grin on my face - so cool - thank you previous owner and thanks to the post - this is not the first time I read post, stop, scratch my head, and go to the car to try.

Question now is how do I get the thing to autostart without my key in the ignition. I heard you place the other key somewhere but dont know where.

Also if you dont turn the key to position one or postion two and drive the car will everything work fine?


I should try this out but sitting here and tired of going to the car a third time but with the code lock I am sure the car wont start - I think

EUROCLIQUE

[EUROCLIQUE]

Ok went to work out a bit and played around with the remote starter. I put the code in and tried auto start and it didnt work. I tried putting the key close to the ignition but not in the ignition but that didnt work too consistently. I got it to start once out of many time so not good. The only way it works consistently is to place the key in the ignition.

I also noticed if you step on the brake the ignition will shut off. I have to turn the key to position II to make it work. In postion I if I step on the brake the engine dies as well.

So the only way to make it work is to not put the code locking feature on, keep the key in the ignition at all times.

I also tried putting the key in the ignition, and closing the doors and locking the car. The car will start up when the car is locked. I can then remote unlock the door.

This would be cool if I can just get the car to auto start without the key in the ignition. I am not too cool with pulling out the chip in the reserve key but I have heard about the box that puts the extra key in it. Where do I get this box.

EUROCLIQUE

[jo2k]

No Good for a manual - didn't you just read this thread:M3 arrived today..crashed today..

[EUROCLIQUE]

Yeah I saw the misfortune on the Avus Blue M3. But its really cool to have this options so I ventured forward. I took AlexTs example and I took the chip which is a small Phillips IC out of my key and placed it around the ignition area and the one place it seems to work is on top of the round thing that covers the ignition. Now if you put it too deep the coil cant sense the chip. Has to be pretty far out but if your doing this experiment first before gluing that the car starts up because just alittle bit of position makes a difference. Right now I have it temporarily on to make sure it starts up all the time then I will probably epoxy it or super glue it down.

EUROCLIQUE