Just had the leaflet from Fiat stating that the alarm which is Thatcham Cat 1 is £299 inc. fitting and VAT.
£160ish seems like a lot of money for labour as I seem to recall that someone said it was about 2 hours labour to do the job.
haggle
Technical Alarm system in the 500?
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Technical Alarm system in the 500?
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stevehobfg
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I got one fitted when I bought the car, its done by a local auto-electrician not by the Fiat service department. The installation is fairly intrusive with ultrasonic sensors in the headlining and a button attached with double sided sticky tape through the dash!
It didn't reduce the insurance quote, and as it only comes with 1 key, it renders your spare key useless! Avoid and buy a good quality after-market and avoid this like the plague!
It didn't reduce the insurance quote, and as it only comes with 1 key, it renders your spare key useless! Avoid and buy a good quality after-market and avoid this like the plague!
Mine came with a spare remote key exactly the same as the original ,was fitted by fiat and is tidy no sticky tape and its excellent!
The fiat system is approved catagory thatcham one....cant get better!
dealer or auto electrician it dont matter as only qualified fitters can sign the certificate (they have a installation number)
Sleepy Kiki
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We opted for the alarm on our spec and it was about £130. It's not factory spec so the fiat garage will fit it for you. Not sure if this price includes labour or not. Arnold Clarke had told me it's a really quick job about an hour, not sure AC is a reliable source of info though
about hour & half is the right kinda time although I will take aslong as needed so I am happy with the installation before signing certificate.
asdarch
New member
I agree. The dealer fitted alarm on my 500 has foul looking sensors, a naff poorly made red light that does nothing, and if the headlights are on, the alarm activates when the auto lock kicks in. I have to manually unlock the doors to turn the alarm sounders and flashers off. Have occasionally opened the doors whilst driving along.
AVOID!!!!
AVOID!!!!
If it was dealer fitted take it back,its under warranty if your having problems!
My dealer fitted alarm is excellent imho does what it should with no problems
My dealer fitted alarm is excellent imho does what it should with no problems
Cant be the fiat fit alarm (cat 1) as its 'plug & play' sounds as if you have a aftermarket one fitted??
asdarch
New member
That's what really peeved me. I ordered a CAT 1 fiat alarm and got the ****e that I have. I'd hoped that the Fiat model would have been given the same design treatment as the 500 interior, but instead got an aftermarket pile of poo.
Someone please tell me that the Fiat alarm look crap as well!
Someone please tell me that the Fiat alarm look crap as well!
Yes it does look a bit pants. I ordered the "kit", and have fitted a fair few alarms before now, but this one could be a lot better.
For a start the sensors and LED do look very aftermarket cheap.
Secondly the instructions are incorrect with wires of the actual loom.
Thirdly the instructions show LHD car, so some positions are wrong.
Lastly, next to nothing plugs in, so you need to make about 12 conections direct to the loom, they do give you crimp/splice connectors, but in my experience they can be very unreliable.
In my opinion you get a badly designed unit for the price, and judging by how bad most mechanics are at electrics, you may get a poor system.
If it's the dealers first install then prepare to wait, I spent an hour just taking the car to bits to see what went where, then decided no go, as instructions are unrealistic.
For a start the sensors and LED do look very aftermarket cheap.
Secondly the instructions are incorrect with wires of the actual loom.
Thirdly the instructions show LHD car, so some positions are wrong.
Lastly, next to nothing plugs in, so you need to make about 12 conections direct to the loom, they do give you crimp/splice connectors, but in my experience they can be very unreliable.
In my opinion you get a badly designed unit for the price, and judging by how bad most mechanics are at electrics, you may get a poor system.
If it's the dealers first install then prepare to wait, I spent an hour just taking the car to bits to see what went where, then decided no go, as instructions are unrealistic.
Thatcham regulations are that instructions are not provided therefore making your car harder to steal, seems Thatcham have obviously relaxed this rule because official intsallers (that have attained accredidation) were given a install vehicle book & access to help from the manufacture in the past.
I might be wrong but I seem to remember on a previous thread re alarms that to achieve Thatcham Cat 1 status the connections have to be soldered.
I might be wrong but I seem to remember on a previous thread re alarms that to achieve Thatcham Cat 1 status the connections have to be soldered.
yes & all wiring hidden but as I said Thatcham dont seem to bother these days.
The MECP came along and tried to enforce this criteria (after taking garages money) but I haven't heard anything of them for years now?
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martgadget
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Confused - So the factory option alarm in the brochure is a dealer-fit thing that (looking at the above) , is not worth the £396 that the dealer is quoting?
What is the best alternative?
- take pot luck that the dealer wont do a botched job.
- Take the car to a thatcham accredited fitter instead?
- dont bother with an alarm?
I certainly dont want a 2nd keyfob or something nasty like that.
M.
What is the best alternative?
- take pot luck that the dealer wont do a botched job.
- Take the car to a thatcham accredited fitter instead?
- dont bother with an alarm?
I certainly dont want a 2nd keyfob or something nasty like that.
M.
Most people don't seem to bother, I thought about it myself when I ordered but people told me it would just annoy the neighbours and probably wouldn't do all that much to stop it getting damaged...
