how to completely disable ’92 E34 alarm

Which alarm fob do you have? Mine is the square one with the corner cut away, a single button and red LED.

My alarm unit is situated on the drivers side of the engine. I sits between the engine and chassis leg about half way between the front and back.

The unit is black, rectangular and has a dome section which must be where the siren comes from. Just below that is a small black cap which you have to flip up to expose the key lock. My key is also a flat one so sounds like it's the same.

If you are still struggling, let me know and I'll take some pictures.

Mike

I'm back to struggling it seems.

I looked everywhere you mentioned and the box you described is not located there.  I read somewhere that they sometimes put the alarm behind the glovebox.  One thing though: my car had an after-market alarm installed as well (SpyBall).  This box is located about where you mentioned the original would be.  There is no lid like you mentioned (unless it's behind the unit?).  Would 'they' have been able to replace the original with after-market? That's been totally disconnected now but, to my surprise, what must be the original alarm is still going off.  Funny thing is that it happens exactly at 4 hours after car is locked. This alarm uses the car horn too.  The SpyBall alarm used the it's own noise.   If you then open and shut doors and lock again it won't come on again (Until the car is started again and the whole process begins anew). 
The 'expert' is stumped.  He's used to working on French cars though (I live in Paris) and perhaps the BMW's are over his head?  Nice guy but  I sure wish he could have figured a way to disconnect the damn thing. 

Well MIke, if you could send me a photo of your alarm and it's position that would be a great help. 

Booker

yes, my car did indeed have an aftermarket alarm installed and indeed "the box" (alarm itself) was installed about where your photo (thanks for that) indicated.  That alarm (Spyball) has been completely disconnected.  I original alarm is still going off every 4 hours though.  That is what I'm trying to figure out how to disconnect.  My car has left side steering.  I wonder if that would make a difference of location?  Does my '92 525 TDS have a box that I can insert the key into??

thanks for your posts here but I guess it's not going to help this time.  I've really and truly looked everywhere for the location of mine and it's not to be found by me.  It's in there somewhere though as the activation of the alarm itself attests to. The alarm 'specialist' can't help (60€) and nor at this forum neither.   We're making an appointment today with the BMW dealership (120€) to have the thing disconnected.  As far as I can tell there are no other options for me to reclaim my car.  What is revealed to me though is that this is one of the very few times when the internet has failed to provide me with correct and adequate help.  Perhaps I should just chalk it up to BMW's penchant for secrecy?  Either that or they built the system so very well that they never break down and thus the lack of online help?  Nah.

If you could be more specific that would be great.  I looked under there (again) yesterday and the only thing I see in the the location you mentioned is the battery itself and it's housing, and some wire harness that looks to go towards the rear of the vehicle.  As I am not exactly sure what I'm looking for perhaps it's there but for the life of me, I can't see it. There is certainly nothing there I can insert a key into.  Is this 'control unit' underneath (or inside) the frame itself?

I ended up at the dealership for removal.  I needed my car back and having to disconnect the battery everyday was a drag.  Thanks for all those who posted.  

If BMW have disconnected the factory alarm and a siren is going off with hazards flashing then I would guess that at some point someone has added another aftermarket alarm to the car.

The OE fit BMW alarm does not use the cars horn, they are separate items, and if the horn is sounding it should not be flashing the hazards.

I have a photo of that backseat battery 'well' you asked for but I can't figure out how to load it. What kind of public site can I use?

I certainly agree with you 100%  We have an appointment next Thursday for at the dealership and trust me when I say that I will express clearly my feelings about this whole matter.  I live in Paris and my French is not so good so some things slip by me when trying to communicate my wishes.  STill, there is no excuse. I hope they are not trying to squirm out of getting the job done either!! The reason we went to the dealership in the first place was to get this problem solved because we trusted that the people that make such a quality product and who represent that product and that we pay top $ for that product would indeed deliver when called upon to do so.

TBC

excuse me but the 'icon tree' when I click on it says "enter web address of imagine".  Not sure what to do.  Picassa?

CAr alarm went off again last night. Seems to be intermittent.  I will just have to disconnect the battery.   I have a hunch that the after-market alarm is the problem but who knows.  Still- that little red light is on and the BMW garage certainly should have caught that. (I would assume that if the alarm is disconnected this light should be off.  Is this really a fact though?). 

It's going to be tricky I think getting them to accept the car back as work incomplete or unfinished. ON the phone the mechanic was pretty adamant that he had disconnected it properly. It's funny though because one of their quality control people called our home as a follow-up and left a message  asking "if we were satisfied with our service".   We'll certainly give them our story on Monday.

Edited by bookerfatz