2002 330ci factory alarm keeps going off!

Hi,

Looking for a bit of advice before I take it to the dealer (I'm in the
UK and the car was imported from Europe so the warranty was for two
years and has run out).

I've had the car from new and not had a problem with the alarm but
lately it has started going off outside my house and I know no-one has
tampered with the car. It started two weeks ago and I want on hols last
week and left the car at the airport and expected a flat battery when I
got back but it was fine so I don't think it went off at the aorport car
park, at least not much. Drove home from there on Sat and it's been fine
since - up to now! Tonight it's started again.

Could the weather have an effect? Its sunny with a bit of a wind.

Any comments much appreciated.

Ta.

Ranger wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Looking for a bit of advice before I take it to the dealer (I'm in the
> UK and the car was imported from Europe so the warranty was for two
> years and has run out).
>
> I've had the car from new and not had a problem with the alarm but
> lately it has started going off outside my house and I know no-one has
> tampered with the car. It started two weeks ago and I want on hols last
> week and left the car at the airport and expected a flat battery when I
> got back but it was fine so I don't think it went off at the aorport car
> park, at least not much. Drove home from there on Sat and it's been fine
> since - up to now! Tonight it's started again.
>
> Could the weather have an effect? Its sunny with a bit of a wind.

Perhaps the wind is rocking the car and setting off the motion detector?
Might have to reduce the sensitivity. I have no idea how that is done
on your car...

-Fred W

Thanks for responding Fred, I don't know either.

Malt_Hound wrote:

> Ranger wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Looking for a bit of advice before I take it to the dealer (I'm in the
>> UK and the car was imported from Europe so the warranty was for two
>> years and has run out).
>>
>> I've had the car from new and not had a problem with the alarm but
>> lately it has started going off outside my house and I know no-one has
>> tampered with the car. It started two weeks ago and I want on hols
>> last week and left the car at the airport and expected a flat battery
>> when I got back but it was fine so I don't think it went off at the
>> aorport car park, at least not much. Drove home from there on Sat and
>> it's been fine since - up to now! Tonight it's started again.
>>
>> Could the weather have an effect? Its sunny with a bit of a wind.
>
>
> Perhaps the wind is rocking the car and setting off the motion detector?
> Might have to reduce the sensitivity. I have no idea how that is done
> on your car...
>
> -Fred W

Ranger wrote:

> Malt_Hound wrote:
>
>> Ranger wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Looking for a bit of advice before I take it to the dealer (I'm in
>>> the UK and the car was imported from Europe so the warranty was for
>>> two years and has run out).
>>>
>>> I've had the car from new and not had a problem with the alarm but
>>> lately it has started going off outside my house and I know no-one
>>> has tampered with the car. It started two weeks ago and I want on
>>> hols last week and left the car at the airport and expected a flat
>>> battery when I got back but it was fine so I don't think it went off
>>> at the aorport car park, at least not much. Drove home from there on
>>> Sat and it's been fine since - up to now! Tonight it's started again.
>>>
>>> Could the weather have an effect? Its sunny with a bit of a wind.
>>
>>
>>
>> Perhaps the wind is rocking the car and setting off the motion
>> detector? Might have to reduce the sensitivity. I have no idea how
>> that is done on your car...
>>
>> -Fred W
>
>
> Thanks for responding Fred, I don't know either.
>

OK Ranger, As I like to say - RTFOM...

From TFOM:
page 36

Alarm system*
The concept - The vehicle alarm system responds:
When a door, the hood or the luggage compartment lid is opened
To movement inside the vehicle (interior motion sensor)
To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle such as those occurring during
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the vehicle
To interruption of battery voltage.

and page 37
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor may be switched off at
the same time. You can do this to prevent a false alarm from being
triggered in garages with elevator ramps, for instance, or
when the vehicle is transported by train:

Lock the vehicle twice (= arm the system). Press the button on the
remote control twice in succession or lock the vehicle twice with the
key. The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then flashes continuously.
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor are deactivated for as
long as the system remains armed.

So it appears you can disable the motion sense during windy weather.

-Fred W
It's amazing what a wealth of information resides in our own glove boxes...

How right you are Malt Hound, many thanks for the info. I've got a
couple of questions on the climate control - ah no, I'll spend the
weekend and RTFOM!

Ta.

Malt_Hound wrote:
> Ranger wrote:
>
>> Malt_Hound wrote:
>>
>>> Ranger wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> Looking for a bit of advice before I take it to the dealer (I'm in
>>>> the UK and the car was imported from Europe so the warranty was for
>>>> two years and has run out).
>>>>
>>>> I've had the car from new and not had a problem with the alarm but
>>>> lately it has started going off outside my house and I know no-one
>>>> has tampered with the car. It started two weeks ago and I want on
>>>> hols last week and left the car at the airport and expected a flat
>>>> battery when I got back but it was fine so I don't think it went off
>>>> at the aorport car park, at least not much. Drove home from there on
>>>> Sat and it's been fine since - up to now! Tonight it's started again.
>>>>
>>>> Could the weather have an effect? Its sunny with a bit of a wind.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Perhaps the wind is rocking the car and setting off the motion
>>> detector? Might have to reduce the sensitivity. I have no idea how
>>> that is done on your car...
>>>
>>> -Fred W
>>
>>
>>
> > Thanks for responding Fred, I don't know either.
> >
>
> OK Ranger, As I like to say - RTFOM...
>
> From TFOM:
> page 36
>
> Alarm system*
> The concept - The vehicle alarm system responds:
> When a door, the hood or the luggage compartment lid is opened
> To movement inside the vehicle (interior motion sensor)
> To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle such as those occurring during
> attempts to steal the wheels or tow the vehicle
> To interruption of battery voltage.
>
> and page 37
> Avoiding unintentional alarms
> The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor may be switched off at
> the same time. You can do this to prevent a false alarm from being
> triggered in garages with elevator ramps, for instance, or
> when the vehicle is transported by train:
>
> Lock the vehicle twice (= arm the system). Press the button on the
> remote control twice in succession or lock the vehicle twice with the
> key. The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then flashes continuously.
> The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor are deactivated for as
> long as the system remains armed.
>
> So it appears you can disable the motion sense during windy weather.
>
> -Fred W
> It's amazing what a wealth of information resides in our own glove boxes...
>
>
>