Im thinking of getting an alarm for my R56S but i have no idea what specs a good alarm should have. Can some one direct me to a solution that he has used and is satisfied with?
Frankly, alarms are useless these days. No one responds to them when they go off and jerks like me with loud exhausts like to set them off in parking garages by blipping the throttle when I hear one arm when I go by.
This one offers the best protection.... No alarm.... Just a whiff of smoke, the smell of burnt meat.... And some ash residue by a crowbar next to the drivers door....
Nope not one bit. Locking your doors is the best way to prevent burglars. You would be surprised how many people don't lock their doors and it's easy picking for burglars to access a car. They really don't slimjim car doors anymore.
Leaving nothing in view prevents burglars from even wanting to get in you car. This means nothing of any value at all. No change in the cup holder. No charger wires visible. No sunglasses in the cup holder. If there is nothing tempting there is no temptation. They look in, see nothing of value, don't smash your window and grab whatever.
I agree with all the alarm sediments posted here. If you have to get an alarm to make you feel better get the oem MINI one. I sure wouldn't trust someone hacking into the wiring of my MINI to install an aftermarket alarm. I had the good folks at Helix program the alarm light on the tach in my wife's clubster to blink like it has an alarm even though it does not. Hopefully that blinking light will keep honest folks out. Crooks are not stopped by alarms.
Why would you suggest the oem as the best? How much did they charge you just to make it blink? To be frank i think that is a very interesting idea!
I say it is the best because it is a plug & ply. No need to cut into the wiring harness of your MINI. I had several coding changes done to my wife's clubster. As I recall it was under $75 for 4 or 5 coding changes. Helix is a sponsor here on M/A. Give them a call I'm sure they can help you.
The tach light code works with the regular key fob. For details on the alarm & how it works contact eMINIparts.com.
the factory alarm kit is really the best. But if you have a 2011+ it is pretty expensive to install as they are not prewired like the earlier cars are. The other thing is we often just program the car for the alarm light to flash like it has an alarm and that should turn thieves away.
The 2011+ JCW has a tach with a black dial. Otherwise, a JCW uses exactly the same tach as a regular S.
When I purchased my Mini, instead of buying an alarm I purchased Lojack with the option for the Early Warning System. The best $800 dollars I ever spent! An alarm doesn't tell you where your Mini is once it's been stolen, having a Lojack with the (EWS) is the only sure way you'll ever see it again. If my Mini moves 2 miles without a special device on my key ring, I get a call from Lojack. Alarms cause more problems and aren't effective since they know no one is going to pay attention when they are triggered. If somebody wants to take your car and are skilled enough, there going to take it period! Whether towing it or driving it.
The best alarm is a big dog. My yellow lab rides in my pickup truck with me whenever I drive it. I forgot to lock the driver's door once, when I came back to the truck, the drivers door was ajar and Bailey had a part of a shirt sleeve in his mouth. Dave