Thanks. Will attack with a dremel ! :)

See previous thread here for links to articles about getting the unit open and battery replacement:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthrea...ght=alarm+horn

Added some info on the first post on how to get the alarm to 'blip' when locking.

Handy little program there "basecode", I just used Google to convert decimal to binary and back when I adjusted my settings.
I looked at a number of sites and found these values for the various bits, not sure what they all mean though. :tuttut:

For Central Locking (35):

+00001 - Rear Lid Opening via Rear Lid Lock
+00002 - Anti-Theft Confirmation via Blink
+00004 - Selective Locking
+00008 - Anti-Theft-System
+00016 - Reverse Lock And Unlock Functions On Remote
+00032 - Locking via Speed (15mph)
+00064 - Comfort Closing via Remote Control
+00128 - Turn Off Continuous Blinking Of Alarm LED When Anti-Theft Armed
+00256 - Rear Lid Logic
+00512 - Remote Control "Close" Confirmation (1x Blink)
+01024 - Confirmation Anti-Theft Warning System Horn Activation
+02048 - Door/Window Logic (USA)
+04096 - Remote Control "Open" Confirmation (2x Blink)
+08192 - Remote Control

Excellent work Sean +++

I used this guide to finally extract my unit - mine hasn’t worked since getting the car 2+ years ago.

All was well until I looked at the unit which is completely different. Do you think someone has replaced it with another models unit in the past or did 8’s come with these at some point?

The connections appear to be the same and the part number on eBay pulls up a handful of used units although not from out forum sponsors. Do I get the same as what I removed or go for one like Sean’s box shaped like unit instead?

Sean's from the first post is actually the later unit which was supposed to be more reliable. I'd go for the later flat one since most of the early cube-shaped modules seem to be kaput by now.

Was there a specific part number for the later ones?

All the ones I’m seeing on eBay appear to have a rectangular connector but mine is rounded at one end as shown in Sean’s second to last picture.

The one I got was from a '05 A4 and had the 3-pin rounded connector. The part number is 8L0951605A, which is identical to the part number for a '02 A8, although as MJ mentioned, the later ones are slimmer. There are a few listed on eBay for around the £30 mark.

Ah yes, I see what you mean now! Thanks pal +++

Well I managed to fit the new unit today. I’ve never had a working alarm on my 8’s so I had no idea they were so feeble sounding....it’s almost comical that a big brute of a car has such a quiet alarm.

I don’t think it would wake me out of my sleep if it was being tampered with!