[aztec31]

Just bought a 335i sedan 2008 and the dealer threw in an alarm at no extra cost. I just got off the phone with the service dept. and they said it would take 2 hours to install and 3 hours to program. Does that sound about right?

[Gig103]

It sounds ridiculously high, as if they are doing a full software update instead of just activating the alarm... But if they are doing it for no extra cost, I wouldn't worry too much.

[ScotyH]

I installed mine in an hour & was charged $60 to program.

Check the DIY thread.

[aztec31]

Its not costing me a dime. Got the car at invoice and they included an alarm at no extra cost. I will let them do the work.

[1WickedE90]

Originally Posted by aztec31

Just bought a 335i sedan 2008 and the dealer threw in an alarm at no extra cost. I just got off the phone with the service dept. and they said it would take 2 hours to install and 3 hours to program. Does that sound about right?

Sounds like a rip-off. Alarm should take no more than 2hrs of labor to install. 1hr to install & 1hr to program, tops.

[rrandyy]

How can a free alarm + free installation be a rip-off? If they are reprogramming the whole car, I wouldnt be surprised if it takes longer than 3 hours...

[1WickedE90]

Originally Posted by rrandyy

How can a free alarm + free installation be a rip-off? If they are reprogramming the whole car, I wouldnt be surprised if it takes longer than 3 hours...

Free alarm + installation=good deal

It wasn't clear when I posted my response if labor would be charged but the parts were included.

[FrankoQ]

If alarm unit, installation, and programming are free... they can take a full day and I wouldn't care.
Guess the OP just wants to know if that amount of time is reasonable.
As others stated, it should take less unless they run into problems in the programming.

[goff]

Most dealers charge 2 hours for the alarm install. The "activation" as you guys call it requires retrofitting of the vehicles software. While doing so, any module that can be updated will be updated at that time, there's no way around the update.

Updates can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 6 hours, depending on vehicle and equipment. The likely told you 3 hours because they are expecting to have to update the vehicle. Most 3 series only need about 1-2 hours max.

[wj4]

Originally Posted by rrandyy

How can a free alarm + free installation be a rip-off? If they are reprogramming the whole car, I wouldnt be surprised if it takes longer than 3 hours...

+1,000,000. Before clicking in the thread..I thought the dealership was going to charge him $X an hour. At that point I would say it's a rip off. But upon reading that it's free...who cares if it takes 5 hours. I'm willing to bet they do this to overestimate because God knows how many cars there are in the bays and how many techs there are. If they promise you it would be done in 1 hour and the tech doesn't finish with the previous car in time to work on your car to get it done by the promised 1 hour...you will be pretty pissed that the car is now 'late'. If they promise you 5 hours and actually are done after 3 hours..it will be a good kind of surprise not the "sorry sir, but we need more time" kind of surprise.

[wj4]

Originally Posted by aztec31

Its not costing me a dime. Got the car at invoice and they included an alarm at no extra cost. I will let them do the work.

BTW, you got an excellent deal on your E90 335i, man.

[san~man]

Buy it from Tischer, install it yourself, then have them program it. Save some $$$

[wj4]

Originally Posted by san~man

Buy it from Tischer, install it yourself, then have them program it. Save some $$$

Originally Posted by aztec31

Its not costing me a dime. Got the car at invoice and they included an alarm at no extra cost. I will let them do the work.

Um, yeahhhhhhh.

[aztec31]

There was some confusion with this thread. I should have explained myself better. The alarm is free and installation is free. My question is/was whether the time the estimated to complete the installation is reasonable, it just seemed like a long time to complete the installation.

[canucklion]

if you're already letting them do the work, what's the point of asking if the hour quoted by your dealer sounds right or not? I don't get it.

Originally Posted by aztec31

Its not costing me a dime. Got the car at invoice and they included an alarm at no extra cost. I will let them do the work.

[canucklion]

and what if we say "no, it's not reasonable". Are you going to call up your dealer and demand them to speed it up?

FYI, take a look at the DIY guide and you would know that it doesn't take that long to install the alarm, the time-consuming step is the programming. But again I ask, what's the point? you're getting it done regardless of how long it's going to take your dealer to complete.

Originally Posted by aztec31

There was some confusion with this thread. I should have explained myself better. The alarm is free and installation is free. My question is/was whether the time the estimated to complete the installation is reasonable, it just seemed like a long time to complete the installation.

[dlwhite]

OP..please make sure you check not only the alarm when you pick it up, but other systems as well. After dealer installed mine I had no radio/cd/blue tooth etc. . My SOS would come on intermittently as well.

So check as much as you can before driving off the lot. It may save you a trip back.