Recommend me a car alarm

[allantheboss]

I've recently bought a 1999 BMW e36. It's got a Clifford Concept 300 installed but it's a pile of poop** and the fob only works up to 10% of the time. My options are to replace the fob for about £65, get the alarm removed for £70, and maybe even buy another.

Can anybody recommend a dead-simple system, where I push a button to unlock the car and disable the immobiliser, and I can push the button again to do the opposite? At most, an additional auto-lock feature that activates after a minute or so, not 20 seconds! I don't want any fancy-pants extra-modes or features! We can say budget is up to £200 for now.


**I don't really like this Clifford Concept 300 alarm. It seems quite temperamental, and if I don't start the car withing 20 seconds of unlocking, it reactivates the immobiliser, so I have to push the fob button again once I'm already inside the car. It's also got an auto-lock feature meaning that if I leave the keys in the closed car for 20 seconds, my keys are stuck in there! And, if the engine is running, the door lock upon closing immediately! Seems like bad design. It's also got lots of gimmicks like a button to open the boot, valet modes, blah blah. I don't want any of that. Apparently the alarm will drain the battery in 3 weeks of being idle.

[Specialone]

Don't bother mate, waste of time, nobody gives two hoots if they hear an alarm going off, better off with a mechanical deterrent or a tracker, or at the most just get an immobiler fitted.

[allantheboss]

This is what I thought. I've never had anything tampered with (albeit living in statistically favourable postcodes) so I wasn't sure if it was really worthwhile. I think that the fact the BMW key works both to open the doors, and also has a transponder for the immobiliser (once it's in the ignition) should be enough. My father has never had a car even vandalised in his life, so I wasn't sure if it's worth it all together!

However, I like being able to push a button to lock/unlock the car. It's an oldie (1999) so that didn't come as an option originally. Is there a way I can quite simply get a new key with a lock/unlock feature on it?

[allantheboss]

OR, are you just saying all that so you can track my IP to an address where there is a poorly-secured car..... :smt024 :driving: :smt018

[allantheboss]

Don't bother mate, waste of time, nobody gives two hoots if they hear an alarm going off, better off with a mechanical deterrent or a tracker, or at the most just get an immobiler fitted.

And funnily enough, for the past few days whilst the alarm has been tempramental, it's been going off at night when I try to get into the car. I coincidentally typically dress like a robber; black leather jacket, black jeans and boots. Nowadays I'm even wearing a black rolled-up beanie and hoodie. All my neighbors would have heard an alarm going off on a car which is new to the road, with a robber-look-a-like in/around the car at night trying to get in, and I have yet to get a visit from the police. So I guess, they just make noise but make no difference!

[Doinitmyway]

I can highly recommend the TOAD Ai606 alarm immobiliser. Works the central locking as you mentioned. Has its own battery in the siren so even ripping it out wont stop it.


I don't give a stuff if anyone hears the alarm and doesn't do anything, the fact is that with a decent aftermarket immobiliser the car will probably still be there in the morning. This is why the thieves have started to break into the houses to get to the keys. Hopefully they will just move onto an easier target...


Some OEM immobilisers seem to be about as good as a chocolate teapot from what I hear. My brothers boss had his 2 week old Transit nicked from outside his house. Apparently there is a device/box available which can override the factory system and off they go. The copper reckoned they had 20 go on the missing list in the previous fortnight.

[BanannaMan]

Don't bother mate, waste of time, nobody gives two hoots if they hear an alarm going off.




This.

When is the last time you heard a car alarm and thought, hey someone is stealing a car?

[cb1000rsteve]

The Clifford's I've had in the past have all been great bits of kit. You can work the different elements of the alarm from the fob ie leave the immobiliser on and turn off the alarm. It's been a good few years since I had one but surely you can find info on google??

[allantheboss]

The Clifford's I've had in the past have all been great bits of kit. You can work the different elements of the alarm from the fob ie leave the immobiliser on and turn off the alarm. It's been a good few years since I had one but surely you can find info on google??

Of course I tried google! I also said that I don't want the complications of "different elements". I just want ON/OFF.

[allantheboss]

Can I get an LED which will flash constantly, so thieves can look into my car an think there's an alarm when there isn't? I've already got "This car is equipped with a Clifford alarm" stickers on my windows. Maybe the combination of that and a flashing red LED can be a slight deterrent? Haha...

[DarrenSV650S]

Can I get an LED which will flash constantly, so thieves can look into my car an think there's an alarm when there isn't? I've already got "This car is equipped with a Clifford alarm" stickers on my windows. Maybe the combination of that and a flashing red LED can be a slight deterrent? Haha...

You should get a sticker saying "This car is a 1999 BMW e36"



Sorted :thumbsup:

[DJ123]

[QUOTE=Doinitmyway;2924765]
I don't give a stuff if anyone hears the alarm and doesn't do anything, the fact is that with a decent aftermarket immobiliser the car will probably still be there in the morning. This is why the thieves have started to break into the houses to get to the keys. Hopefully they will just move onto an easier target...

QUOTE]

Maybe its just me, but I'd prefer them to nick the car from outside rather than breaking into my house as well . . . .

[cb1000rsteve]

You can set the Clifford to be just an immobiliser. Turn the other sensors off and just leave the immobiliser on. This is done from the remote fob. Then once set its just a case of using it as normal without all the alarm going off.

You can buy a flashing led off eBay for a few quid. use to make em when I was an apprentice incase someone wanted to nick my 15 year old battered escort!!! The circuit board wires and led where more expensive than the car! Lol

[allantheboss]

You should get a sticker saying "This car is a 1999 BMW e36"



Sorted :thumbsup:

I could have one saying "I have anal leakage and leprocy". Then they'll be less inclined to sit in the driver's seat.