First Bimmer with a question . . .

[ElfinForest318ti]

I'm a novice when it comes to BMWs.

Just purchased this '96 318ti, the first BMW in this family. As always with any used car there are things to take care of and with this 318ti, it was missing the remote control transmitter for the keyless entry/security system. So I visited my local BMW dealer parts department, Brecht in Escondido, and dropped $100 for a remote. But now I have to do the "code learning initialization procedure".

I'm referencing the Owner's Manual. To start this "code learning" procedure requires disarming the alarm and no key to be in the ignition. The description for disarming is to switch the ignition key to the 'ON' position. And by golly, it disarms. But then pull out the key and it is armed again. This seems to be the perfect "Catch 22" of procedures.

So my question is: how does one keep the alarm disarmed after removing the ignition key?
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Honda VTX1800S

[lkwd318ti]

Hey! Welcome to our board!
As for reprogramming the remote,
If your remote looks like this one,

Here's the procedures for reprogramming!!!

BMW REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM REPROGRAMMING

PREPARATION:

1. Close all doors, trunk, and hood.
2. The security system must be in 'disarm' mode. The key must be removed from the ignition key slot.

ENTER CODE-LEARNING MODE:

3. Open the trunk and leave it opened.
4. Open the driver's door and sit in driver's seat.
5.Close the driver's door.
6. Cycle the ignition switch five times between the 'OFF' position and position, (ignition 'ON', all dash warning lamps will illuminate). The red status LED will illuminate continuously, and the siren will 'chirp' once, to indicate that the code-learning mode has been initiated.

DO NOT START ENGINE.

THE IGNITION SWITCH CYCLING IN STEP #6 MUST BE PERFORMED WITHIN TEN SECONDS. THE SEQUENCE IN STEPS #1-#6 MUST BE PERFORMED WITHIN 45 SECONDS.

REGISTER ID CODES:

7. Open driver's door. (remain seated in driver's seat).
8.Close driver's door.
9. Press and release any button on the remote you wish to register into the system. the status LED will shut off momentarily to indicate that one ID code has been registered.
10. Repeat 7 through 9 to register the remaining three ID codes.

EXITING CODE-LEARNING MODE:

11. Open driver's door, and exit from vehicle, leaving the door opened.
12. Close trunk.
13. Close driver's door. The LED will turn off and the siren will 'chirp' twice.
14. The initialization procedure is now completed; test all remotes to confirm operation.

Good luck!

-Randy

[grm]

wow!

[cali-ti]

i'm surprised there isn't mention of monkeys in that procedure somewhere ... sheesh.

[andyman7931]

can a remote be programmed to work on more than 1 car? I'd like my remote to work on both my ti's...

[ElfinForest318ti]

lkwd318ti -
Thank you for the welcoming. The remote looks just like the photo in your message.
The security system operators manual came with the car and has the instructions as you stated in your message. But I can't figure out the disarm process.
My question is about #2 in 'PREPARTION'; the disarming of the system. The LED flashing on the center console indicates the alarm is armed. I put the key in the ignition to the 'ON' position and the LED stops flashing indicating that the alarm is disarmed. I assume the alarm must stay in the disarmed mode during the whole 'learning' process. To start the learning process, there should not be a key in the ignition. But, when I remove the key from the ignition, the LED flashs again indicating the alarm is armed.
So I'm not getting it.
________
CL360

[lkwd318ti]

Well...your alarm should be disarmed because you can drive it around and stuff...
Disarmed means what you can open the door without setting the alarm off.
I'm not sure why your LED is flashing though, sorry...
The key should be in the ignition from step 6 until you finish.
If you have any questions just ask again haha...

As for 1 remote working on both cars, I'm not sure.
I only have 1 E36 so I can't test it out hahaha...

-Randy

[ElfinForest318ti]

I hope these questions don't sound too stupid, I'm not familiar with car alarms.

The LED that I'm referring to is on the instrument panel (radio) - see attached jpeg (lousy focus), not the LED on the remote. The flashing LED is above the On/Off/Volume control knob. To the left of the LED is the label "ANTI-THEIFT". When reading the instructions, I thought that LED would go off.

Background info: That radio is not the original. The previous owner (multi-BMW family) had a 1994 525i with this radio that he swapped out with the original 318ti radio before selling the 525i in 1998. This radio also has a 6 CD changer unit in the trunk. I don't have the owners manual for this unit. Would this "ANTI-THEIFT" LED be just for the radio unit or is it part of the auto alarm?
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[lkwd318ti]

I think that one is just for the radio itself...unless it's different for 95 and 96...
My car's a 97
My LED for the alarm is right next to the cigarette lighter thingy below the instrument panel.
If you still aren't able to get it and I see you at a meet er sumthin, I'll do it for you haha...assuming that you're from SoCal
Hope that helps...

-Randy

[bullmand]

Yeah, I agree with LKwd. Unless the previous owner did some really creative wiring, that light is probably for the radio. Was the previous owner using the alarm?

[ElfinForest318ti]

OK, I now see the LED next to the cigarette lighter. It has not functioned since I got the car, so definitely the alarm is disarmed. Now I need to verify that the alarm system works to begin with before proceeding with the "reprogramming" of the new remote.
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Honda VT750CD

[ElfinForest318ti]

BTW, the BMW 6 CD changer unit in the back is a CDX-M91ZBM-02, Spec No. /XH/US, Serial No. LE 00808. It works fine, but it is just strapped down to the trunk floor. What's the best way to figure out if there is a proper BMW mounting hardware to anchor it somewhere in the trunk? I'd like to see a picture of a stock BMW CD changer hardware mounted in the back of a 318ti.
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SXV550

[T-Huss]

hey guys i have a 95 318ti and when i got it the remote was broken. so i went to bmw and they wanted like $160 for a new one! so i told him okay and i asked him if they needed my vin # to program it... he said no..i went on ebay and saw the same one i have for $14 do i have to use the same one or can i buy a cooler looking one? (i have the ugly square one with 3 buttons)