couple stupid questions

[nmulax]

The dealer wasn't the most educated about the car, so I didn't bother asking them these questions when I took delivery. Hell, until I got there and showed it to them, they were convinced the car did not have an AUX outlet.

When my car's locked, the clown nose blinks; I know on the E90s this is a sure sign the vehicle has an alarm installed. Is this the same case for the Z4?

Do I have to visit the dealer for programming the 3-blink indicator, the auto lock (at 5-10 mph), and the audible lock/unlock? Or can I do this myself?

Also, how do I view the service information? Can I cycle through that information on either the OBC or the Nav screen? I've tried every button I can think of with no luck.

[BimmerZ408]

Originally Posted by nmulax

When my car's locked, the clown nose blinks; I know on the E90s this is a sure sign the vehicle has an alarm installed. Is this the same case for the Z4?

Do I have to visit the dealer for programming the 3-blink indicator, the auto lock (at 5-10 mph), and the audible lock/unlock? Or can I do this myself?

Also, how do I view the service information? Can I cycle through that information on either the OBC or the Nav screen? I've tried every button I can think of with no luck.

The dealer has to program your keys, and other features such as the 3-blink, and auto lock at 20 miles pr/hr. The car lights will flash once for lock & 2 times for unlock (via key). This does not mean you have an alarm, unless you bought the car with one. It is pre-wired for one, but you have to have the dealer install it for you. If you have an alarm, the car will chirp with the lights, which indicates an alarm is installed.

Hope this helps some? At least this was my experience when I bought my car; I had to have the dealer program my car to do all the features I wanted.

[nmulax]

That's what I figured.

On my E90, I can change all those settings myself, but the Z's OBC doesn't seem to be as indepth. I know the flashing parking lights doesn't mean I have the alarm. But once locked, the red clown-nose under the mirror will blink repeatedly. I thought that only blinked when the alarm was installed - thinking maybe the chirp is just disabled.

[BimmerZ408]

There is actually a list of all the features you can have the dealer set for you, which I printed out & took with me to the dealer - because their list is a small list.

The list I took with me was this one - post #12:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=130986

Hope this helps.

[BimmerZ408]

Originally Posted by nmulax

But once locked, the red clown-nose under the mirror will blink repeatedly. I thought that only blinked when the alarm was installed - thinking maybe the chirp is just disabled.

Yeah, I know what you mean - I too thought this as well, at first. One would think for as much as we pay for our babies, that it WOULD come with an alarm!

[DM1]

They should do it for you for free,... since I assumed the lease of mine, they charged me $60 to activate:

-3 blink turn signal
-Autolock
-DRL (Inner halo on all time)
-Pathway (which I'm not sure they did)

[BimmerZ408]

Originally Posted by DM1

They should do it for you for free,... since I assumed the lease of mine, they charged me $60 to activate:

-3 blink turn signal
-Autolock
-DRL (Inner halo on all time)
-Pathway (which I'm not sure they did)

WOW! I didn't have to pay for any of my setup - so that sux, that you did! Supposedly the 1st time you take it in for setup it's free, but if you take it in again to add more setup features they will charge you. However, I guess I was lucky, because I took mine in 2 different times for setup & activation, and there was no charge.

[thekurgan]

I requested ahead of time for the 3-blink, even though the car isn't in yet, and the dealer thought it wasn't possible on the Z4, until I printed out the bimmerfest how-to, so if they give you a hard time, hit bimmerfest on that! So where are your pics?

[nmulax]

I'm at work, so I gotta wait till I'm home to upload pics. I was waiting for my buddy to send over the ones he took when we picked up the car and drove home - but he's slow and I'm getting sick of waiting. I'll post some tonight.

[KevinC]

You went through with the deal... congrats!

The E86's electronics are straight out of the E46, so they're somewhat ancient at this point (not necessarily a bad thing in many ways) and as such you have the different behavior of the clown nose, etc. I really like the fact that it blinks w/o an alarm, because IMHO the blinking nose is about 85% of the alarm's effectiveness anyways.

So as of yesterday, when the last Z4 rolled off the line in Spartanburg, there are officially NO BMWs left that start with a key - they're 100% pushbutton now. I'm happy to have a key, thankyouverymuch.

[iamwiz82]

The clown nose will blink whether or not you have an alarm installed.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by KevinC

So as of yesterday, when the last Z4 rolled off the line in Spartanburg, there are officially NO BMWs left that start with a key - they're 100% pushbutton now. I'm happy to have a key, thankyouverymuch.

Someone over on M3forum posted that a buddy works at the plant and says the last Z4 rolls off the line at noon tomorrow.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by DM1

They should do it for you for free,... since I assumed the lease of mine, they charged me $60 to activate:

-3 blink turn signal
-Autolock
-DRL (Inner halo on all time)
-Pathway (which I'm not sure they did)

With pathway (usually 45 second but can be 30 seconds or 1 minute) after you turn off your car if you flash your high beams it will keep your headlights on for the preset amount of time. Kind of a path through the darkness. I don't really use it but that is what it is.