[Gavvo]

So I custom ordered my Cooper S and miraculously arrived 5 weeks after placing the order in the US !!. Once the dealer got the car I had them install their side of the fence options, namely full JCW and security system. What defines factory installed alarm as 'security system' is an Accessory now and I have the premium package which one would expect alarm to be part of?

The security system works fine, key fob (un)locks the doors, flashes the lights and does the audible chirps... but no LEDs anywhere, I was expecting one under the rear view mirror like BMWs, and then at the end of one of the stalks, the wiper stalk already has the yellow light. I spoke to the dealer about this and he says there's no flashing LEDs on the alarm systems anymore. This has me dismayed a little having read on the forum about the red wiper stalk flasher, and couldn't possibly think why an OEM alarm system wouldn't have any visual deterrent to would be thieves.

Did the dealer forget to install the stalk flasher and trying to pull a fast one, or has Mini done a step backward in the alarm dept?

Thanks for any insight !

[jdefontes]

Same with my 05 MCS. I thought the dealer had forgotten to install the alarm, until it was going off on a parking lot the other day...

[StitchMINI]

Maybe it's the MCS's that are missing the red flash?

I have a 05 MC and there is a red flash on the left of the MFSW indicating my alarm and the yellow one indicating the wiper fluid.

[DEVO]

ok somebody is being real lazy. I just got my 05 MCS last week along with the OEM alarm system and my light stalk has a red led on it, just like the wiper yellow stalk led. when armed, it blinks. tell them to stop jerking you around.

[Pamlico]

Your dealer needs to finish the job.

On the '05 cars the left stalk is replaced with one with a red tip that flashes when the alarm is active. On previous years the alarm indicator was on the right stalk but was moved to the left when the low washer fluid indicator went into production.

The part number for the stalk with the red LED depends upon the car's configuration. A couple of weeks back Motoringfile had an article, incuding a link to a pdf file, of the install instructions for the factory alarm on the convertible. While the instructions would differ somewhat for the sedan, the part numbers for the correct stalk are noted in the pdf file. Since these are instructions for the convertible you should verify the part numbers to be sure they are the same for the sedan.

Look here for the article.

[Gavvo]

Thanks all... I'll go beat the dealer up.

BTW: What about that round nipply thing in the middle of dashboard a few inches from the window, its begging to be a wannabe alarm LED

[Pamlico]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gavvo

Thanks all... I'll go beat the dealer up.

BTW: What about that round nipply thing in the middle of dashboard a few inches from the window, its begging to be a wannabe alarm LED

That's a sensor that detects the amount of light entering through your windshield. Used by the auto A/C system.

[twouptons]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pamlico

That's a sensor that detects the amount of light entering through your windshield. Used by the auto A/C system.

And source of lots of bad nipple jokes...

-Eric

[DEVO]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pamlico

That's a sensor that detects the amount of light entering through your windshield. Used by the auto A/C system.

Hmmm... I think it's used for the AUTO light option. Not the A/C. The auto a/c uses a different sensor. If you cover that thingy, the headlights go on (assuming you have your lights set to AUTO)

[Pamlico]

Quote: Originally Posted by DEVO

Hmmm... I think it's used for the AUTO light option. Not the A/C. The auto a/c uses a different sensor. If you cover that thingy, the headlights go on (assuming you have your lights set to AUTO)

Nope, at least in previous years, the purplish little LED-like thing in the middle of the dash close to the windshield is a light sensor for the auto A/C. Maybe it serves a dual purpose with auto lights.

[DEVO]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pamlico

Nope, at least in previous years, the purplish little LED-like think in the middle of the dash close to the windshield is a light sensor for the auto A/C. Maybe it serves a dual purpose with auto lights.

I'm confused, what does light have to do with the auto a/c? The auto a/c works on temp sensor. Unless that is the temp sensor?

[Pamlico]

Quote: Originally Posted by DEVO

I'm confused, what does light have to do with the auto a/c? The auto a/c works on temp sensor. Unless that is the temp sensor?

It measures the amount of sunlight coming through the windshield. More intense sunlight = more radiant heat. There are also temperature sensors, but this one possibly can be thought of an an early warning so the auto A/C can boost up before the temperature begins to rise dramatically as it would then have to play catch up.

Check these two threads:

Thread One

Thread Two

[Cadfael_Tex]

My '05 MCSCa has the red light on the stalk with the alarm. It's a late June Build.

[Gavvo]

Okay, so I tracked all this down and figured what is going on... for model year 2005 and on the security alarm kit is part # 82-11-0306852 and does NOT include the red turn signal stick, you need to additionally order it part #6131-6-946959 which is $75. It'd be interesting to see if the cost of the 2005+ alarm kit is $75 less than the 2004 alarm kit... yeah right.... perhaps MINI's way of making an additional 'pound' :-) . Why on earth they'd remove a flashing LED from the standard security system accessory option is beyond me, but its what they've done.

Guess I'm off to part with $75

[Eric_Rowland]

Originally the OEM alarm was $295 w/stalk. It then changed to $195 w/o stalk, which was available (left or right) for $100(!). If the stalk is now $75, did the alarm price go up?

[Voodoo]

I'm going to be disappointed if my 06 arrives without the red LED. This seems like an important feature, especially given that a typical theiving jamoke looking at your stereo knows nothing about minis.

As I recall mine was $295, but $400 installed. $ $ $ $

[MINI Division]

I'm with MINI USA. Here's the deal on the indicator light:

Yes - there absolutely is one. For vehicles manufactured 12/04 and earlier, the indicator light is located in the wiper control lever.

For vehicles manufactured 1/05 and later, there is now a windshield washer fluid indicator light on the wiper stalk. This required a change for vehicles having the alarm system and the alarm indicator light for these models is now located in the turn signal control lever.

If your vehicle was manufactured as of 1/05, your authorized MINI center must install a new switch. Due to a variety of options, the switch is not included in the alarm kit and must be purchased separately.

[Gr8Dain]

But shouldn't it be included in the cost? OK, the dealer must order two parts to get all of the required pieces, but is this the new owner's responsibility? It should not be additional, and the dealers should know about the need for both parts when placing the order.

I hope everything gets sorted for you. Ours was a 12/04 build so we have the one light (red). No windshield fluid indicator. I would not have been happy without the alarm indicator. In fact that was the only way that I could prove to the dealership that the alarm had indeed been installed when we picked ours up. They kept telling me that they had not received the parts yet and that we would have to schedule an appointment in a few weeks. I guess I got the first one with the alarm installed at delivery.

Dain

[StitchMINI]

When I ordered my MINI in June, I ordered the alarm. My MA never told me about two different parts for the alarm and when I received the car, the alarm and red LED was there. I figured that was all there was to it. Weird that it's two seperate purchases...

[DEVO]

I ordered my MCS 05 in July, got it in August with the alarm and did not have to request a special 2nd part. On the turning signal stalk, there is a red led tip, on the right wiper stalk, there is a yellow led. When I ordered the alarm the picture showed a red led stalk tip.

Your dealer screwed you over imo. Why would you only get just the alarm and no indication that you have an alarm? doesn't make sense.