Viper Smart Start....

[Z4-VILLA]

Im gonna have this installed tommorrow.....looking for last minute reasons why or why not to install thanks

[Arxangel]

Well, I looked through their website and the product really looks interesting. It is very cool. However, I can't help but think that there might be some issues, for instance, IF you lose your phone, or it gets stolen. They will have no trouble finding your car in the parking lot, starting it, and disarming you house's alarm system (depending on which product you have).
I am not saying you will lose your phone for sure, BUT this possibility is something that will make ME think twice before buying this stuff, even if its only for the car. Normally, a phone is a very unlikely target for a thief, but if he knows that it can start your car it becomes a bigger target.
Usually people are very careful with their car keys and not so much with their phones. I am not saying you shouldn't do it, its just something to think about.

[Z4-VILLA]

good point but you have to log into the app anyways and bmw also has the assist plus stealing a bmw let alone an M is quite balsy....

my concern was how viper start could potentially interfere or mess up pther systems in the car

[esqu1re]

Don't know anything about viper--- but with a remote starter on a standard transmission, do you have to leave the gearbox in neutral before remote starting?

[Z4-VILLA]

that is correct e brake well applied should work fine right?

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Z4-Villalona

that is correct e brake well applied should work fine right?

how do you get around the fact the clutch has to be pushed in though? i guess if you modify the clutch stop, you could get around that...

[Arxangel]

Originally Posted by Z4-Villalona

that is correct e brake well applied should work fine right?

It will work, but I believe that there is a chance it could freeze during the winter. I am not sure how cold it gets where you live, but here we do have that problem and when I drive a manual, even during the summer, I always leave it in gear and do not use the handbrake that often.

If you have to log into the app before using it, that really increases the security of the whole thing. We do not have BMW assist here so I might be thinking differently.

And yes, the clutch problem is a valid point. Getting around that will involve messing around with the car's management programmes, which could at some point result in some errors.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Arxangel

It will work, but I believe that there is a chance it could freeze during the winter. I am not sure how cold it gets where you live, but here we do have that problem and when I drive a manual, even during the summer, I always leave it in gear and do not use the handbrake that often.

If you have to log into the app before using it, that really increases the security of the whole thing. We do not have BMW assist here so I might be thinking differently.

And yes, the clutch problem is a valid point. Getting around that will involve messing around with the car's management programmes, which could at some point result in some errors.

Diokaef installed a push start button so talk to him or read his thread b/c he would've addressed the clutch question. Me personally, I think it's a neat gadget but not something I'd deem necessary so I wouldn't bother, it's one of those thing's that's cool to show someone but I wouldn't see the benefits beyond that. If it's for warming up the car during the winter, these cars weren't really meant to warm up by idling anyway...

[Hawkeye]

I like listening to my car start so no thank you!

[Z4-VILLA]

oh shit clutch stop........

[Z4-VILLA]

im told it has proven successful even in 08 335i manuals

[Z4-VILLA]

maybe the insaller is full of bs....i hope not

[Z4-VILLA]

any help here?

[nadaclue]

I've seen remote starts installed on a ton of manual cars, even diesels that require the glow plugs to warm up before attempting to start the car/truck. I grew up in ND, so pretty much everyone had a remote start.

I've never personally done an install on a manual, but I can't imagine it's that difficult assuming the clutch is an actual switch and not some sort of location based sensor (i.e. how far the clutch is pushed in being measured by the obd). You just basically bypass the switch so the remote start computer always thinks the clutch is pushed in, the e-brake switch becomes the remote starter safety switch. Some may even have a 2nd switch to ensure the car is in neutral, I'm not positive.

I looked into this exact system a while ago, the biggest complaint I saw was that so many people initially bought it that the servers were overwhelmed, causing server crashes which lead to service outages which equals not being able to remote start the car. My plan was to wait and see if they upgraded the server end, but I left it at that a couple months ago so I don't know if those issues ever went away.

[Diokaef]

How about the immobilizer? Ews III it's a very good system and not make use of it.

[Z4-VILLA]

ive searched and have not found a single m series z with remote start.....will i be the first?

[SCHMOUPE]

this thing has pretty terrible reviews on Amazon. let us know how it works out and how much it is going to cost you out the door

[Z4-VILLA]

thank god i did not try this....found out its garbage on bmw cars