I have a 2013 hardtop S that did not have an alarm. I've read something like that the 2010 (at least) was not designed to have Mini's alarm retrofit. What about 2013. I called two local dealerships and both SAs said definitely, but when I said what I heard about the 2010, they were like, well, ask the guy in parts, which does not instill confidence--and the parts guy was equally wishy-washy.

First question is obvious, can it be retrofit.

The second question is about cost. When I find this online (it was either the official Mini website or possibly Sewell) the price listed is about $600. When I click on the part, and the page opens, it shows a couple of options, depending on the car. The prices are something like $300. The total of the different options (that is, for two different models) is something like $600, but not exactly the roughly $600 that I first saw. When I click on it and I get a price with installation at my local dealership, it again is not the same as the original roughly $600. What's going on with the price? And what will it cost me to buy the thing and install it myself--assuming that I can?
Thanks,
Mike Todd

 

See this post by Jmaxxz, who retrofitted to a 2012. It should have the same wiring as your 2013:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3821541 (post #51)

I believe the issue is that MINI stopped prewiring cars for alarms (perhaps this was starting in 2010). Previously, the alarm was a dealer retrofit (not factory installed) and it was done by installing the components and just plugging them into the prewiring. In recent years, the alarm became factory installed and cars without it don't have the wiring either. To retrofit, you'd have to tear the car apart to add the missing wiring. If you have the dealer do it, you'll have to pay for many hours of labor on top of the parts cost.