Introduction
After having the BMW alarm system installed for a few months, I was not happy with the lack of features. I added a proximity sensor but that was not enough. I wanted a dual stage proximity sensor and a dual stage shock sensor, both adjustable from the remote. I also wanted the hazard lights to flash on arm/disarm, auto lock with ignition on, auto unlock with ignition off, automatic rearming, remote garage door opener and remote window roll up. All this for under $200 but I was willing to install it myself. Oh - it should also plug into the existing BMW alarm socket behind the glove compartment.
After a great deal of research I came up with the Ungo MS8300 alarm. It was top rated in the annual "Car Audio and Electronics" 1998 security issue and had all the features I was looking for. I got it at AutoToys (www.autotoys.com) along with the BMW plug in security adapter. Total cost was less than $200. The alarm has the flexibility to do everything listed above and more. It can be installed to act as a basic alarm with remote entry or configured to perform up to four auxiliary functions.
Disclaimer
Everything below is for a 1997 2.8 Z3. There were wiring changes made between the '96 and '97 model year and of course BMW could make wiring changes at any time. Please use this information at your own risk.
Features
As installed I have the following feature available:
Presentation
I will provide two wiring diagrams, one for the basic, no frills alarm and one for the more advanced set of features identified as "advanced" in the list above. The advanced features except for the garage door opener share wires and therefor require diodes. Diodes are recommended for some of the basic functions also. All advanced features require relays.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Harvey Miller for discovering that BMW will not allow a double lock with the ignition on and for his invaluable input in several other areas. I also wish to thank Carl Ball for his useful input and for being the first "customer".
Relays
A word on relays. They are useful for a couple of purposes - isolation and polarity inversion. You can use high current automotive relays, but for the Z3, only low current lines will be switched and you do not need heavy duty relays. I used Radio Shack catalog number 275-248 which can switch 10 amps and only draw 30 ma (at 12 VDC) when active. I have also shown a diode (1N400x) wired in reverse across the relay coil. This prevents reverse EMF, which occurs when the current is switched off, from effecting the switching circuit. It provides cheap insurance to protect the alarm module from potential damage.
Diodes
In addition to their use on relay coils above, diodes are used to isolate lines where multiple lines need to be driven or sensed from the same circuit. Any 1N400x diode will work. You can buy a package of 25 of these types of diodes from Radio Shack at a reasonable price - catalog number is 276-1653. You can, in some cases, leave out the diodes but undesirable side effects may occur. For example if you leave out the diodes for the hood and trunk sensors, the trunk light will go on when the hood is opened. Diodes must be installed so that the cathode (banded end) is in the correct direction as shown on the wiring diagram.
What you need to know
I will not describe how to remove the glove compartment or where to mount the siren etc. Other alarm installers have described these operations. I mounted the alarm module in the same location as the BMW alarm module. The siren was mounted in the recommended BMW location below the air filter ('97 2.8). The shock sensor was mounted with double stick tape and wire ties to the metal frame behind the glove compartment. The motion sensor was mounted under the center console near the drink holders. Note - leaving a drink with melting ice in the holder will set off the alarm (ice moves when it melts). I mounted the valet switch in the dash knock out opposite the fog light switch. I used Radio Shack part number 275-644 which is black and less noticeable than the switch included with the alarm. I mounted the LED in a blank knock out on the center console next to a heated seat switch.
Dome light
We get a little break here. You do not need to worry about dome light supervision - it is provided free by BMW. There is no need to make any connection to the dome light wire in the harness. Merely unlocking the doors with the alarm will turn on the timed dome light circuit. The dome lights will dim then turn off after 30 seconds or so.
Setting the internal jumpers
There are four internal jumpers which need to be set in the Ungo alarm as follows:
| Jumper | Setting |
|---|---|
| Cancel auto rearm | Auto rearm ON |
| Parking light polarity | Negative (-) |
| Dome light polarity | Negative (-) |
| Auxiliary Function 1 | Positive (+) |
Note - some of these settings can be changed to suite yourself - see the manual for details.
Setting the function switches
There are six internal switches which need to be set as follows:
| # | Function | Setting | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Door lock/unlock pulse width | OFF | 1 second |
| 2 | Passive door locking | ON | Enabled |
| 3 | Ignore dome light delay | ON | Enabled |
| 4 | Alarming output | OFF | Pulsing |
| 5 | Comfort closure | OFF | Disabled |
| 6 | Remote space shield adjust | OFF | Enabled |
Note - some of these settings can be changed to suite yourself - see the manual for details.
Programming the alarm
The alarm has eleven functions which can be programmed via the remote. Set as follows:
| Step | Function | Setting |
| 1 | Ignition controlled door locking | On |
| 2 | Logic sensor II warn away level | Low |
| 3 | Logic sensor II defeat by remote | On |
| 4 | Audible tamper alert report | LED only |
| 5 | Door unlock pulse | Single pulse |
| 6 | Siren duration for instant triggers | 40 seconds |
| 7 | Siren duration for motion/shock | 20 seconds |
| 8 | Radar sensor warn away trigger | Warn only |
| 9 | Full time system diagnostic delay | 20 seconds |
| 10 | Auxiliary function 2 output | 30 seconds |
| 11 | Auxiliary function 3 output | Momentary |
Note - some of these settings can be changed to suite yourself - see the manual for details.
Locking and double locking
BMW gives you the ability to double lock the doors on the Z3. Double locking means that a dead bolt is activated in the doors and they can not be opened from the inside handles. To double lock you need to pulse both the lock and unlock lines at the same time. As wired, the alarm will double lock the doors on arming. If the ignition is on, the lock pulse generated by the lock with ignition on feature (if enabled) will not double lock the doors. This behavior is determined by BMW, not the Ungo alarm.
I originally had a separate circuit for double locking using the auxiliary 3 function on the alarm. This is no longer necessary (see the acknowledgments above), but I left the relay in. This allows aux function 3 to lock the car without activating the alarm (useful in some circumstances). Aux function 3 is programmed for a momentary pulse and activates a relay for polarity inversion.
Remote window roll up
You can do window roll up on the Z3 by holding the lock line active after locking occurs. The Ungo has a "comfort closure" feature which will hold the lock signal active for some time after the alarm is armed. This could be used to automatically do window roll up on arming. I did not try this and chose to implement window roll up as a separate function from the remote. I sometimes arm the alarm with the top down and rolling up the windows in this case would be pointless. Auxiliary function 2 is used for window roll up. It is set to provide a 30 second pulse when activated so you do not need to hold the button while the windows roll up. Note that this function can be used to roll up the windows whether the alarm is armed or not but it will cause the car to be locked. Aux function 2 is tied to a relay for polarity inversion.
Garage door opener
I used auxiliary function 1 and a relay to activate my garage door transmitter. This allows opening/closing my garage door from the remote. This function can be activated regardless of whether the alarm is armed or not. For details about how to switch your garage door transmitter see Alan Riley's excellent article on mz3.net. I simply replaced Alan's switch with the relay contacts. (I also reused the switch Alan recommends as the valet switch for the alarm). Thanks Alan! Auxiliary function 1 is set for a momentary pulse and the relay is used for isolation.
Summary
I hope this helps anyone wishing to install their own after market alarm in their Z3. I have spent a lot of time behind my glove compartment getting this alarm wired the way I wanted it. I feel that I now have a first class alarm for an excellent car and I never want to remove the glove box again.
Lou Voerman
'97 2.8L red/black/black