Hi everyone,
We have planned to take the Amtrak Auto-Train from Florida to DC next month.

On Amtrak's web page it is strictly advised for passengers to disable the auto alarm before the car is loaded onto the train. This is to prevent the alarm going off while the train is in motion and effectively draining the battery out.

Is it possible to disable the alarm system in the W204? If yes, is there a quick way to enable it back?

Thanks!

On the overhead console there is a switch that shows the car being lifted at the rear. Take your key out of ignition then press this switch, the switch light then comes on your alarm is now de-activated. To reactivate just unlock the car.

More Info in this link.

http://www4.mercedes-benz.com/e/cars...en/N13F26.html

I dont think canadian spec cars have this. Interior motion sensor would be cool! if it was available I would of opted for it!

Have they not got tow away protection

US cars have motion sensors? My dealer didn't tell me anything about that. Where is the sensor located? Has anyone tried it out?

I recall IMS being a Euro only option, although for most models they can be added later on (in the U.S.).

I would love to have this, actually make the alarm useful.
for most thieves they dont mess with these type of cars, for the ones who know how to, will take it, if they want it

Thanks for the response! I took it to the service advisor and he mentioned that this option is not available in the US cars. I guess I would have to pray that the alarm doesn't go off during the train ride!

That's odd that they took off the glass breakage and tow alarm on the W204. Is it not possible to lock the doors without the key fob?

new 204's aren't suppose to let the battery go so dead that the car can't be started. At least that is for normal systems. Not sure about the car alarm and if it bypasses this and will kill the battery.

Also I know if you unlock the doors with the mechanical key blade the alarm will sound until you insert the smart key into the ignition. This to me says that the alarm will only arm/disarm with the smart key fob. I haven't tried to lock doors with the blade to see if the alarm activates.

I don't see your location in the profile, but if true for US spec cars as well, this is cool news. But how? Do all lights/accessories/etc automatically turn off when juice is low?

..We have planned to take the Amtrak Auto-Train from Florida to DC next month......Is it possible to disable the alarm system in the W204? If yes, is there a quick way to enable it back?..
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The US market W204 does not have a motion detector or anti-towing sensor and since you live in Florida all these posts about Canadian and UK cars do not apply.

I just did a test. The W204 can be unlocked with the blade key but cannot be locked. So, I locked it normally and shook it as violently as possible left to right and then up and down. The alarm was silent.

I conclude, then, that you may lock the car normally on the train. BTW, I have taken my C300 aboard a ferry boat with no alarm activation whereas my '01 C320's motion detector would activate the alarm unless the dashboard off button had been depressed.

MB attempted to incorporate a motion detector in their factory alarms in the early 90s and it was a failure. Many falses and so their solution was to eliminate it. Of course, they could have asked any one of many US alarm manufacturers how to do it but they didn't.

My 1995 W202 without factory alarm nevertheless had a starter cutout which was activated by the driver's doorlock.

My '01 C320 had that plus the anti-towing sensor (with manual deactivation) integrated with the standard TeleAid system which would call TeleAid if the alarm went off.

I don't believe any MB has ever had a glass breakage detector. All those are aftermarket.

My ML has a glass breakage sensor not in the way that it trips the alarm through vibrations or impacts when hitting the windows, but by sound.

I can test if it's working by sitting in the ML, locking the doors with the remote, waiting a minute for it to arm, then yell or do something loudly without shaking the car. The alarm will go off if I do it.

Well, that's news to me. Regardless, features other models may have here or in other countries have little to do with the original question. We already know that features and configurations vary all over the place depending on the whims of MB's marketing nerds.

..On the overhead console there is a switch that shows the car being lifted at the rear. ..

On my US model, there is a blank in that position, just to the left of the sunroof switch.

Drat!

Can't you just disconnect the battery?