rodelu

I'm in Vancouver BC, I bought a 2007 C280 4Matic Avantgarde two months ago as both me and my wife's big 5-0 present.

My wife came out of work yesterday to find the window all smashed in, the glovebox broken and the door frame a bit bent (

I'm looking around to install an after market alarm in it. When we bought, it at the dealer, they did not offer this as an option, I asked.

Now my question is this: Is it possible at all?

One outfit told me that the after market alarms interfere with the onboard MB computer when the alarm is connected to the existing pins (door, trunk, etc) and it would mess up the computer (not to mention the warranty) and that is why they wouldn't do it.

Other outfits said it would be OK. I'm confused.

If the trouble is that both systems, alarm and onboard computer, tap into the same pins, could the alarm wires be somehow opto-isolated so there is no interference?

Does anybody have a C280 with an aftermarket alarm? What are your experiences?

Thank you for your input.

vettdvr

I thought your car had a factory alarm. None of the ones I know about will alarm with a broken window except for movement of the car. However after reaching in and opening the door the alarm will sound if it was locked with the key fob.

So. do you have a factory alarm. If so, I would not install a after market on a MB. Just my $.02

rodelu

My car DOES NOT have a factory alarm. I wanted it but it was NOT an option. I thought that was weird but the salesperson said that we have an inmobilizer so we didn't need an alarm. Maybe for the same reason that when I lock the doors remotely only the lights blink 3 times but there is no horn sound.

I was told at the dealership that this sound indication is not an option because the siren/battery was ONE unit and was very expensive when it needed to be replaced.

That is why I'm looking for an after market unit to put in. Again only one guy said it would interfere with the computer but nobody else said that.

I am looking for somebody that HAD an after market unit installed to make sure it CAN be done. Anybody?

blown93lx

I don't know if it's possible but I have a 2007 C-350 and with the doors closed, locked by the fob, if i take the spare key and unlock the door and open the door the car makes a terrible high pitched alarm sound... I tried pounding on the glass as if i was trying to break in and it did not make the sound...

Just an FYI .....

Sorry to hear that happened and good luck!

rodelu

Thanks - we are getting it fixed slowly and bit by bit (I don't know why it takes so long to get Mercedes parts here).
I think I'm gonna go with a complete separate system, install new pins etc. seems it's the only way not to screw up the on-board computer system
What a pain in the *ss....

benz-tech

i've found that most salesmen know very little about our cars so i would recommend trying what "blown93lx" did to test it: roll down the drivers window, lock the car and wait about 15-30seconds. reach in through the open window and pop open the door- it must open not just unlock-. if you have the factory alarm than you will hear the high-pitched siren. some countries have the glass-breakage sensors but i don't think we have them here in the US- just a tow sensor. i'll go out on a limb and say that maybe the tow sensor to be switched to a glass breakage sensor ( if the still make them for the 07 c-class- and then correct the version coding. that would be a long long shot and i've never tried anything like it. maybe someone else could chime in on that one.

rodelu

That will not work. Why? Read my post above. You gotta start with something....

SpaceCity E 430

I'm thinking about having a Clifford stand alone radar type system put in my E class. You know, the kind people with convertibles use? The sensor mounts under the dash and can sense movement. It will warn off someone looking in your side windows and sound the alarm if they remain or if they enter the vehicle. It also has a keyfob that is a receiver and the vehicle will communicate with it when a violation has occurred.

I have this system on my truck but have it wired into the dome light.

rodelu

Hey, thanks for posting this. It seems to be the first real option that I hear about. I will investigate further and see if it's feasible for my car.
Thanks!

Moviela

Vancouver is fast becoming the car theft capital of North America. You might also consider LoJack, coming soon to BC:

" A PROVEN SOLUTION - TWO LOJACK VEHICLE RECOVERY PRODUCTS INTRODUCED

Two flagship products will be available in British Columbia; the LoJack
Retrieve and LoJack Alert. Both products are based on Boomerang Tracking's
proven cellular tracking technology that has recovered more than $280 million
worth of stolen vehicles in Canada and offers the unique advantages of an
in-house 24-hour Security Dispatch Central and dedicated tracking teams to
recover stolen vehicles. The LoJack Retrieve offers drivers the proven
protection of a covertly installed cellular tracking device where users
contact Security Central as soon as the theft occurs to deploy a tracking
team. The LoJack Alert includes the added feature of Automatic Theft
Notification, which includes a Key Fob that attaches to the driver's keys.
Should the vehicle be moved without the Key Fob on board, the unit
automatically notifies the Security Central and the vehicle's status is
immediately confirmed with the client. In the event of theft, a tracking team
is immediately deployed. Both products have a recovery guarantee and work in
enclosed spaces including underground parking garages and shipping containers.
The products are sold at new car dealers throughout Vancouver starting at
$699 for the LoJack Retrieve and $899 for the LoJack Alert, and each include
one year of service. The service is renewable on multiple year terms for about
$12 per month."

jbondox

Yes an aftermarket alarm system can be added to your vehicle. Isolation of circuits can be as simple as a diode or even relays, which is rare. You will pay more money for the labor involved, and this isn't a job for Best Buy either, you need a pro. Further, I suggest Clifford nothing, look into Compustar, especially the 2 way system with paging capabilities.

Don't let MB dealers tell you it can't be done, most techs out there couldn't troubleshoot their way out of a paper bag if they didn't have STAR to tell them what to do. Installers, the real good ones, know much about CAN and what is being transmitted along with proper circuit integration.

I might know some people in your area if you are interested.

jbondox

I know for sure of a fellow in Surrey

rodelu

This may sound like a good thing to get - sounds like it is reasonably priced.
I'll keep my ears peeled...
Thanks.

rodelu

What is CAN?
And if you know somebody in Surrey (Surrey is the car theft capital of the world so I hope your guy is legit - I WILL check it out) I wouldn't mind knowing how to contact him.
Thanks.

benzmodz

Only takes a few hours to install a factory alarm.

- alarm siren
- alarm siren bracket
- main harness
- tow away sensor
- 3 screws
- rear fuse box (may not be needed) * just get a new one under warranty.
- switch row (only for ALARM OFF mode)

Optional
- intrusion detector (ultrasonic roof mounted sensor)
- intrusion wiring harness

Why mess around. The OEM parts are cheap and they work very nicely.

benzmodz

OEM instructions
- plug harness into rear fuse box
- plug in tow away sensor
- run harness to front of car as shown in OEM diagram
- plug in siren
- attach siren to bracket
- attach bracket to car as shown.

Program alarm as installed in rear fuse box. Works !

rodelu

Can you post the instruction booklet or pictures of the parts?
How about part numbers for these bits?
Have you ACTUALLY installed one yourself?

Thanks

jbondox

Aftermarket over the factory any day... first everyone knows how to defeat the factory security system with a screw driver in the drivers door lock (turn to unlock and kills alarm) better range, like 100X that of the factory, and when you have an alarm going off the compustar will page you.

As the guy is Surrey, He has his own shop, but you will pay a premium

rodelu

OK I'll bite, what's the shop's name?

jbondox

Tim Baillie
Owner/Fabricator/Specialist
IASCA Expert 1-600 SQ+ World Champion


http://www.hzemall.com/main_page.htm

benzmodz

Part numbers depend on what you need for your car. Some of the numbers are colour and option code specific so there is no ONE set of numbers for all people.

Sunman, MBENZNL, myself and a few others have all done this upgrade and the first two are local suppliers of install services.

The workshop system shows all of the information you need. It needs an installer with experience and star diagnose to fully load all the settings.

rodelu

In other words... you don't know?
"Cause if you do you just sound like you're blowing smoke out your ***, mate.

You are not giving me any useful information while telling me you know how to do it. I don't care who has done the upgrade and whether they're local to Australia - what am I gonna do? drive over there?

"The workshop system shows all of the information you need" really?
WTF is "the workshop system" or is that an industry secret?

Now. Do you or do you not know and explain what or how to do it?