Car Alarms

[MX5Steve]

Has anyone bought a car alarm of Ebay, and If so are they any good.
Got quoted €300 to buy and install an alarm on the five today.

[mrges]

Stephen,

I bought one before - paid £30 (plus shipping) - it was a Sparkrite model, with "panic function", doors, boot and bonnet sensors as well as interior sensors.

I fitted it myself, following the instructions tha came with it, to a Golf. It was relatively hassle free except for getting the wires from the engine bay (from the relays, I think) into the fuse box in the cabin. It worked fine, considering the price. I think anyone with a bit of know-how about these things could by-pass it easily. I have no doubt that a more expensive model would be harder to disable, but personally, I think alarms are a limited detterrant - how often have you heard one going off and done nothing about it apart from thinking "I wish that would fecking well shut up"! As a safety feature I think an immobiliser is a better bet and more worth the money (maybe as an addition to a cheaper alarm). At least if your car is broken into there is less of a chance of it being taken as well (I had a "FoxGuard" one fitted to the MK1).


If you decide to get something from Ebay, the seller's feedback should give you some indication of how good their gear is.


mrges

[MX5Steve]

nice one mrges, I'll look into that,

[Mise]

It all depends on
A- The complexity of the alarm type you buy and if it is genuine and bug free
B- Your own ability to wire it in ( Can be a bitch if you get a serious model like a Clifford )
C-Your ability to trouble shoot in the event of problems ( You may end up taking it an alarm installer to fix and spend money anyways.

I have fitted an alarm before but now would prefer to pay to have it fitted as it saves scraped knuckles and frustration...

Mise

[mx5isola]

anyone use/used a laserline alarm before? ive been offered one supplied and fitted for £160. Its a cat 1, just wondered of anyone had any experience of them?
Most importantly tho it must go 'cluck cluck' when i open it lol!

Really just gettin it for the central lockin!!