Earlier this year our '03 VW GTI got broken into (et 4/09). Thankfully, no valuables were in plain sight, nothing was stolen and we escaped with only a broken window. It could have been worse, so we decided to protect ourselves with a more intelligent alarm system.You can get a basic car alarm without spending an arm and a leg. Most come with shock sensors, a control module, siren and wiring harness for around $50. But let's be honest, most of us tune out alarm sirens. That's why we opted for a two-way system that has the ability to tell us what's going on with the car at all times via a pager.
Auto Tint Centers in Los Angeles...
Auto Tint Centers in Los Angeles took an afternoon to install the entire system
The ZN-502 also included a touchpad called the Z-Pass. It's a small, round pad that mounts behind the glass on the car. Through this electrostatic pad, we can engage or disarm the alarm using a PIN code. This way, if we lock our keys inside the car, we can get back in. It's also useful if we forget something in the car when the keys are in the house. The system is a great feature but intended for emergency use. In fact, it can be disabled or left out of the kit.
When it comes to installing the alarm, we weren't confident to do it ourselves. It's not like replacing an exhaust, because it involves tampering with the electronics and hours of wiring. So Zenesis recommended a local shop in Los Angeles called Auto Tint Centers. Operated by Ernie Talmantes, who used to work at West Coast Customs and LA Auto Sport, the shop specializes in alarms, troubleshooting, electronics and custom work. The system took a full afternoon to complete with the help of three of their technicians because our older Mk4 wasn't able to use the CAN-BUS system that cuts the install time in half by using a simple connector.After months of regular use, the alarm works well. We haven't needed to use the Z-Pass except for testing and showing off. We're also happy with its range. Compared to factory, it's a night and day difference. According to Zenesis, the remote should alert you up to one mile away, depending on interference. We've tested it on multiple occasions from inside a shopping mall or upstairs in an apartment complex and it worked successfully.
Small OLED remote is the size...
Small OLED remote is the size of the factory key
Next Month Stay tuned for an upcoming issue when we install a Momo steering wheel in Project Silverstone.
Zenesis ZN-502 alarm |  |  Z-Pass in driver-side windshield...  Z-Pass in driver-side windshield allows us to arm or disarm alarm with a PIN code |