1997 Z3 car alarm not working

[Don Frayne]

I bought a 1997 Z3 1.9 litre manual last November 2021 – it runs beautifully as it should as its only done 77,000 miles – lovely

Zelda came with one key, namely the Master key with battery powered light (see page 28 of the owner’s handbook for the Z3).

I have a key lock on the driver’s door of the car but not on the passenger’s side door car

I can lock and unlock both the doors manually by using the key lock on the driver’s door and this locks the boot as well.

Unfortunately, the hazard warning flashes do not operate once to indicate the alarm is on as advised on page 33 of the Handbook. The alarm system tell tale does not work either.

Hence, it seems the alarm system is not working which makes it impossible for me to make re program a radio remote key (see page 138)

I have checked the fuses for the central locking system (7, 35 & 43) and the electronic immobiliser (31, 45) and they seem fine.

The only other thing that may have caused the problem is that the original radio has been replaced – I still have the CD stacker in the boot that seem to work – I’m thinking of going to the radio shop that installed the news radio and see what they have to say.

the car alarm is under the fuse box and seems to have been undisturbed from since it was installed

Does anyone have any suggestions about what can be simply checked by me to fix this problem with me going to an auto electrician?



Many thanks



Don



ally. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CM12-EUR-09-1999-Z3-BMW-Z3_19&diagId=65_1011

 

[Ian&Sue]

The car should have a separate remote fob with it (commonly referred to as the brick!) I believe the alarm is only set if you lock the car with with the remote fob. I'm not certain as to the exact dates but I think all pre-facelift cars like yours had a key + a remote fob & post-facelift cars had keys with buttons in them to operate the alarm.

Not sure that this gets you any further but I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will offer further advice.

Ian.

 

[andyglym]

My September 97 build Z3 operates the same, if I lock the doors with the key it just locks the doors, if I want to activate the alarm I need to lock the car using the remote control alarm "brick". The doors lock and the indicators blip.

 

[Don Frayne]

Thanks for the feedback

I think that my Z3 did not come with a RC brick as the handbook makes no mention of one – there is no photos or reference to a separate remote-control device but has references like photos etc to the remote-control key

Also, the boot loom seems to be totally intact and in good condition

BAck to the drawing board

 

[Ianmc]

Yes, using the key to lock the car does not initiate the alarm. I often do this when parked with roof down or else the interior movement sensors set of the alarm with a gust of wind or like. My April 1997 car has a BMW Anti-theft system 3G.Ews fitted by dealer, before original delivery (with the so called "brick").
"Bricks" get lost/malfunction; guess next step is to see if system was fitted.

 

[jonco]

As others have said this vintage of car usually had the separate remote to set alarm and in the UK they were dealer fitted. What intrigued me in your opening comment was that there is no lock on passenger door? Maybe Aus. market different but I thought EU models had locks until face-lift.
Do you have a BMW alarm installed or maybe aftermarket? Easy check is to look under bonnet/hood for siren.

 

[Don Frayne]

thanks Jonco
Apologies - i have just checked and there is a key lock on the left / passenger door
there is a siren just like the one in the picture under the fuse box
i attach a photo of a sticker on the right / drivers front door so i think my Z3 has a factory fitted alarm
I defer to your experience but I am I relying too much on the handbook that makes no mention of a device like the brick but only the remote car key
I am thinking of taking off the front drivers door panel as the door lock "pin" to indicate locked or open door is very loose - it twists easily and that may be the course of the problem - a big step from what i see of one line videos
the handbook definitely says that the alarm / immobiliser comes on when locked by key.

I am interested to learn more of the changes made to Z3s after the facelift

Many thanks for getting back to me

 

[Don Frayne]

Yes, using the key to lock the car does not initiate the alarm. I often do this when parked with roof down or else the interior movement sensors set of the alarm with a gust of wind or like. My April 1997 car has a BMW Anti-theft system 3G.Ews fitted by dealer, before original delivery (with the so called "brick").
"Bricks" get lost/malfunction; guess next step is to see if system was fitted.

I attach a copy of page 33 of the owners handbook that says locking the car by the door lock does activate the alarm

I seem to have a bmw fitted alarm - se my reply to Jonco - the mystery deepens
BTW My car is bostongrun - metallic which seems pretty much like the colour of your (?) car in the thumbnail .

 

[jonco]

I am thinking of taking off the front drivers door panel as the door lock "pin" to indicate locked or open door is very loose - it twists easily and that may be the course of the problem - a big step from what i see of one line videos
the handbook definitely says that the alarm / immobiliser comes on when locked by key......

Whereabouts are you Don - and which market was the car made for. We may not be talking like for like here.
It may be you have a later version handbook. The ~98 EU/UK models has a supplementary manual for the alarm (see below) - it was not contained in main manual.

 

[Ianmc]

BTW My car is bostongrun - metallic which seems pretty much like the colour of your (?) car in the thumbnail .

Yep, best colour!!

 

[Paul H]

My 97 came with the brick fob.

I just lock it with the key, if I use the fob it drains my battery in a week or two.

Cba to trace the fault

 

[Don Frayne]

Whereabouts are you Don - and which market was the car made for. We may not be talking like for like here.
It may be you have a later version handbook. The ~98 EU/UK models has a supplementary manual for the alarm (see below) - it was not contained in main manual.
View attachment 217195View attachment 217197

thanks - very helpful - just checked the leather purse the manuals came in and found the supplementary owners manual that is the same as manual you sent me (I also have a manual in Spanish for a 2.8 l Six cylinder Z3 - I definitely have a 1.9l 4 cyl though

So it seems i need a brick and a key - foes anyone have a preferred supplier?

I live in Perth Western Australia - but the dealer told me that my Z3 was made in Germany for the English market before it was exported to Australia by owners who bought it in the UK.

thanks again for the responses

see https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/BMW - useful site - verifies that my Z3 was made in Germany in 1997

 

[Don Frayne]

Whereabouts are you Don - and which market was the car made for. We may not be talking like for like here.
It may be you have a later version handbook. The ~98 EU/UK models has a supplementary manual for the alarm (see below) - it was not contained in main manual.
View attachment 217195View attachment 217197

BTW - thanks for the electronic owners manual !

 

[jonco]

You are better off trying to get one from main dealer if still available - they are not cheap I paid £50 for mine ~8 years ago . Used ones do come up on eBay but it's very risky if they will work.
These links may help if you can source one.

BMW Z3 ALARM 3G EWS Gemel User Guide

BMW Z3 ALARM 3G EWS Gemel User Guide Article reproduced by kind permission of Paul Lynch I’ve seen a lot of posts on here whilst browsing regarding the factory fitted option alarm on early Z3′s – the 3G EWS (the one with the large house brick...

zroadster.org

3G EWS remote fob programming

Subject: 3G EWS remote fob programming Background I have a ’98 1.9 Z3 with the old style `house-brick’ remote and had problems with it not operating. I sought help on the zroadster forums and as is usual, there were lots of useful comments and...

zroadster.org

 

[Mint]

...I live in Perth Western Australia - but the dealer told me that my Z3 was made in Germany for the English market before it was exported to Australia by owners who bought it in the UK...

Good luck with sorting your alarm out, I hope you can find a fob at a reasonable cost.

However, I think your dealer needs to check where Z3s were made as they were all made from 1996 to 2002 at the Spartanberg factory in South Carolina, USA, then shipped around the world.

 

[Althulas]

I can’t see any fobs on eBay uk at the moment but it was Gemel/Serpistar who made the alarms and coincidentally they have new remotes https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Don’t get buying one yet as I’ll take my fob apart in the morning to compare it to the circuit board in the listing to check that they match up.

but just found one secondhand one with key for siren but there are several keys for the alarm so may not fit yours but could be sold on as rarely see these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E36-...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

 

[Don Frayne]

Good luck with sorting your alarm out, I hope you can find a fob at a reasonable cost.

However, I think your dealer needs to check where Z3s were made as they were all made from 1996 to 2002 at the Spartanberg factory in South Carolina, USA, then shipped around the world.

Thanks - looked up Wikipedia and you are quite right - all z3s were made in the USA - The things you learn

Doing a bit of research on the process for matching a new fob to the alarm system in the Z3 – the removal of the glove box to get at the alarm unit that also needs to be removed looks tricky (!)

 

[Don Frayne]

I can’t see any fobs on eBay uk at the moment but it was Gemel/Serpistar who made the alarms and coincidentally they have new remotes https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Don’t get buying one yet as I’ll take my fob apart in the morning to compare it to the circuit board in the listing to check that they match up.

but just found one secondhand one with key for siren but there are several keys for the alarm so may not fit yours but could be sold on as rarely see these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E36-...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Thank you for your help!

 

[jonco]

[QUOTE="Don Frayne, post: 735393, member: 18303"
................. the removal of the glove box to get at the alarm unit that also needs to be removed looks tricky (!)
[/QUOTE]
It's a bit fiddly and you need to be a bit of a contortionist if you are tall - see the link I sent you earlier

 

[Althulas]

As you can see the serpistar layout is slightly different or updated compared to mine.

The black chip in between the buttons has a different number on but the silver item below the ?ring antenna is numbered the same. Overall it appears to have less components but could be a newer tech part that does away with some of the transistors. Looks like the only way to find out if they are compatible is to buy one. I’ll take the hit and have been cheeky and sent the seller an offer to get one a bit cheaper. I’ll update once I get one and are able to test it out.