2018 Audi Q8 Gets Smartphone-Controlled Long-Range Remote Start

12/26/2019 By John Schwartz

In the midst of auto start season here in Anchorage, Alaska, we see customers come in every day with all types of vehicles. From Toyotas to BMWs, from the 1990s to 2020s, we see it all. It is always exciting, though, seeing a newer vehicle come in that not many installers have worked on. After consulting with a customer who has a 2018 Audi Q8 and talking about her specific needs and preferences, we decided on the Pro G15, a two-way remote with a range of 2 miles. “Two-way” meaning she will be notified when the vehicle is started, locked or unlocked through an LED light, audible tone or LCD screen — even through a push notification if she’s using the Compustar Drone.

We start every install with a check-in using an iPad, which includes taking photos of the exterior, checking the functions of the vehicle and performing a battery test. We then put a battery charger on the vehicle with a fender cover to protect the vehicle’s paint from any scratches. Our techs prep the install by soldering every connection; electrical-taping each connection; and then using JK Tapes, a cloth tape similar to the tape used in factory, to clean up the install. In this case, the installation took place in the trunk of the vehicle, rather than the driver’s-side dash.

Since this 2018 Audi Q8 is a push-to-start, it also goes to show how experienced our technicians are at installing auto starts, especially for European vehicles.

The next time you’re looking for an autostart and need highly skilled and trained installers to work on your complex European vehicle, Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security will take care of you.

BMW Remote Starter Systems

11/26/2015 By John Schwartz

BMW makes the “Ultimate Driving Machine,” but one thing their vehicles lack is a remote starter. But never fear: Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security can add a BMW remote starter to many popular models.

Trust The BMW Expert Technicians At Perfectionist

You may be thinking, “My BMW has a very sophisticated electrical system with lots of onboard computers, so I don’t want just anyone working on it.” You are correct. What you should know is that Perfectionist employs the finest remote start technicians available anywhere and that your BMW does not intimidate us. In fact, we know the electrical system in your vehicle very well. It is called a CAN-BUS network, and our team has given trainings all over the world on properly integrating with this style of electrical system. Yes, we said all over the world – Perfectionist has given trainings as far away as Australia.

We Offer The Finest BMW Remote Starter Systems Available

Our remote start partner, Compustar, is world-renowned for the quality of their products. They are so confident in our expertise that they have asked us to train their dealers on proper installation standards.

So can you be completely comfortable that Perfectionist can start your BMW and keep your warranty intact? Absolutely. Our team can safely integrate a remote starter into your BMW and keep all of its safety features and anti-theft features intact. Even if you have a leased vehicle, you have no concerns when you work with us.

Our BMW Remote Starter Systems Are Custom-Tailored To Your Car

Our BMW remote starters are specifically designed for the make and model of your vehicle. We do not sell a universal, off-the-shelf product like many of our competitors use. Our systems get loaded with the same communication software used by your factory computer, and the vehicle is getting the same communication as if you were in the vehicle asking it to start. By doing this, we eliminate any possibilities of problems down the road.

Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security has three different options for you to start your vehicle.

We can use the factory key fob you currently own. You simply press the lock button three times to start your vehicle. The advantage here is not having to carry around a second key fob. The major disadvantage is range, as you are limited to the range with the BMW fob, which is usually less than 100 feet.
We can add a small, one-button remote control with greatly increased range over the factory fob. We will supply you with two remotes, and one will even be a two-way design. This style of remote gets confirmation back from the vehicle when the engine has started, so you have complete confidence that it is warming up for you. These one-button remotes come as a no-cost option on our systems.
Smartphone control over your BMW remote starter is gaining in popularity every year. Now you can harness the power of your phone to start your vehicle almost anywhere. As long as your phone has Internet access and the module we install in your vehicle can access the Internet, you can start your vehicle from anywhere. It opens up a whole new world of convenience for you.

If you would like to forget about going out to a cold vehicle, and want scraping ice off windows to become a distant memory, come see us. The team at Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security will work one on one with you to find the best solution for your needs. Let us show you why Mobile Electronics magazine has named us the Top Mobile Electronics Retailer in the United States two different times.

You can also contact us here for more information about any of our products and services.

How Do I Use My Remote Starter?

10/24/2015 By John Schwartz

Owning a remote starter is one of the simple joys in life, and Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security in Anchorage, Alaska, is known to deliver the best-performing, most-reliable systems available. What we have realized over the years of selling remote starts is that operating a remote is second nature to us, but it is not that easy for many people. Follow along as we guide you through the simple but important process of remote starter operation.

What To Do Before You Turn Off Your Vehicle

The first thing you want to do is prepare your vehicle before you get out of it. This may sound a little weird, but here’s why that matters. If you own a vehicle with manual heater controls, we suggest turning the fan speed to high and setting the temperature control to hot – that is, turn them both all the way up. Now, set your selector – the control that determines where the heat will come out – and set it to blow the air at your feet and set the defrost in a “mix” pattern. You are doing this in case there is some frost, sleet or ice when you go to remote-start your vehicle, so it will defrost your windshield and front windows.

If you own a vehicle with automatic heater controls, we suggest cranking the fan speed up to the maximum setting. This way, the fan will do a better job of heating and defrosting your vehicle. The only variable here is when you think there is going to be lots of snow, sleet, freezing rain, ice, etc., while you are away from your vehicle. If you think that is going to happen, we suggest setting the controls to defrost to maximize the heat blown into the front glass, which will defrost the windows more quickly. Once you get into a rhythm of doing this before you exit the vehicle, it will become second nature and only take you a few seconds every time.

Summertime Comfort Routine

One more thing. In the summertime, if it gets hot outside, simply do the opposite of your winter routine. Make sure the A/C is turned on and set it to max cold. Now your remote starter will cool down the vehicle for you when you activate it, making your vehicle nice and comfortable on a hot day.

Comfort Starts With The Push Of A Button

OK, now it is time to remote-start your vehicle. On our Compustar systems, you will hold down the remote-start button for 3 seconds. If you own a Drone smartphone-based system, you launch the app and touch the start/stop button. That is it. In about 5 seconds, your vehicle will remote-start and you will be on your way to a warm vehicle. If you own a diesel-powered vehicle, there may be a slight delay since we set the glow plugs to warm up before starting the engine.

Our Experts Can Consult With You On Running Times

How long you let your vehicle run depends greatly on the temperature outside and whether there was any precipitation. Anyone at Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security will be glad to give you ideas for to how long to allow for your particular vehicle. We have done tens of thousands of remote car starters, so ask away. We are here to help.

Vehicle Entry Will Vary By Make, But It Will Always Be The Same

When you go out to your vehicle, you will simply unlock the doors and get inside. On some vehicles, you will need to use your Compustar system to unlock the doors; on some vehicles, you can still use your factory remote. If your vehicle uses a key, you will insert it in the ignition and turn it two clicks to the on, or run, position. If you own a vehicle with a push-to-start button, there are three different ways that these vehicles work – click HERE for an article on push-to-start vehicles.

At this point, you simply drive away. When you press the brake pedal to take the vehicle out of park, the remote starter will disengage, and the vehicle will simply keep running as long as you have the key in the on position.

“How Do I Use My Remote Starter?” That’s Easy!

We invite you to stop by Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security and talk to us about any questions you may have about one of our remote start systems. Let us show you why we are a multiple-time winner of Mobile Electronics magazine’s coveted Retailer of the Year award for the whole USA. Our team is passionate about remote starters, and we focus on building lifelong relationships with our clients. We look forward to meeting you.

Feel free to contact us HERE for more information about any of our products and services.

Remote Starters: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Them

09/25/2015 By John Schwartz

In all of our conversations with clients about the topic of remote starters, several things keep coming up that our clients did not know, so Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security has worked up this guide to get you up to speed on many things related to getting a remote starter installed on your vehicle. Here are our five things you didn’t know about remote starters.

1. Remote starters can turn on your heated seats

Your remote starter can turn on your heated seats. For many vehicles, our team of highly skilled installers can build you a circuit to engage your seat heaters. We can even set some of our systems to turn on automatically at a certain temperature when you remote-start it.

2. Remote starters can defrost your windows

Remote starters will defrost your windows. When you get out of your vehicle, simply turn the setting to defrost and, as your heating system warms up, the windshield and two front doors will see the frost, ice and snow start melting away. For even more convenience, in many vehicles, we can set up your rear defrost to engage automatically below a certain temperature, so it will even defrost and de-ice your windows for you.

3. You can start your car from your smartphone

Now you don’t even need a remote control anymore – you can remote-start your vehicle from your smartphone. To make matters more interesting, that system has an almost-limitless amount of range. As long as your phone has Internet access and your vehicle has Internet access where it is parked, you can start your vehicle from anywhere. Even miles and miles away.

4. You can remote start your car from your factory key fob

You can use your factory key fob to remote-start your vehicle. Have you always wanted a remote start, but didn’t want to carry an extra fob? In many vehicles, we can use the factory fob to activate one of our remote starters. Just ask one of our team members for more information.

5. Remote starters save wear and tear on your engine

Remote starters save wear and tear on your engine. When it is cold outside, it is a good idea to let it warm up and get the fluids flowing freely before driving away. And that is exactly what a remote starter will do for you. Now you can have a warm vehicle and be nicer to it at the same time. Life is good.

We can never stop at five, so we saved the best for last.

6. Your remote can tell you a lot about your car

You can get confirmation that your vehicle has started. We call this two-way control of your system. You ask the vehicle to start and, once it does that, you get confirmation back to your remote control. Now, when you are farther away from your vehicle, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that it is warming up, and the windows are being defrosted.

When you are ready to get a remote starter for your vehicle, we hope you will stop by Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security, here in Anchorage, and get to know us better. Our team of remote-start specialists will work one on one with you to design and install the remote starter that best fits your unique needs.

You can also contact us here for more information about any of our products and services.

Why Remote Car Starter Range Is Important

09/14/2015 By John Schwartz

One of the most important features to consider when buying a remote car starter is range. The staff at Perfectionist Autosound & Security are experts in remote car starters, and we have literally done tens of thousands of remote car starters. Our team has seen every possible scenario for when clients will want to start their vehicles, so we know how much range you are going to need. Here’s why you need plenty of range in your remote car starter.

If you have never owned a remote car starter, then you probably think that you will only want to use it to start your vehicle from home. Since you probably don’t park your vehicle very far from the house, a basic system will give you all the range you need to do that. Your assessment would be accurate if that was the only place you were going to use it.

Spoil Yourself With A Long Range Remote Car Starter System

Here is a reality. Once you go out to that warm, remote-started vehicle one time, you won’t ever want to go out to a cold one again! And once you enjoy not having to scrape ice off your windows, why would you ever want to do that again?

Keep this in mind, though. Over the course of an average week, what is the farthest you will ever be from your vehicle? Say, for example, you’re at work, the shopping center, church, school, out to dinner, etc. Any of these locations is likely to put your vehicle farther away from you than your driveway at home. Any place where your vehicle may sit for 45 minutes or longer should be considered a spot from which you will want to remote-start it. You may not need to run it as long as first thing in the morning, but why would you want it to be cold if you have paid to have something installed that is supposed to warm it up?

Incredible 3 Mile Remote Car Starter Range is Now Available

The good news is that we have systems that will safely start your vehicle from up to 3 miles away. That’s right: 3 miles. Compustar has released its T11 system, which has more than three times more range than the competition. We have more than a dozen different models, including this system, so we are sure to have a system that will fit your range needs.

Unlimited Range By Drone

Maybe you are the kind of person who doesn’t like having extra remotes with your keys. No problem. Our drone system is smartphone-based, and can start your vehicle from anywhere, as long as your phone has Internet service. Our system in your vehicle has Internet access. We call this the unlimited range system.

We invite you to stop by Perfectionist Autosound & Security with your vehicle. Let us show you why Mobile Electronics magazine has named us the Retailer of the Year for the whole USA. Our team of experts will work with you to find the perfect system for your needs, and our highly skilled installers will perform the most reliable installation available anywhere.

You can also contact us here for more information about any of our products and services.