Can anyone tell me why my alarm is going off randomly? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

///Mr. Five · 21st August 2006, 21:13

Hello gentlemen,

This has only been occuring over the last week or so. When I have my car parked and locked in random places, the alarm will suddenly sound. No one is trying to get into the car and the car is not being disturbed by really loud noises or vibrations. This sort of random alert is not acceptable when I am at home, or at the office, etc. Any thoughts into what might be happening? It doesnt happend right when I lock it, but about ten or twenty mintutes afterward.

Thanks! Oh yeah....it is a 2002 M5 with abotu 50K on the clock.

verhagke · 21st August 2006, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Mr. Five

Hello gentlemen,

This has only been occuring over the last week or so. When I have my car parked and locked in random places, the alarm will suddenly sound. No one is trying to get into the car and the car is not being disturbed by really loud noises or vibrations. This sort of random alert is not acceptable when I am at home, or at the office, etc. Any thoughts into what might be happening? It doesnt happend right when I lock it, but about ten or twenty mintutes afterward.

Thanks! Oh yeah....it is a 2002 M5 with abotu 50K on the clock.

may want to check your battery. There have been a number of cases with the same symptoms who have replaced their battery to fix the problem.

iMac · 21st August 2006, 22:00

check the bonnet switch ,
small plastic click thing close to drivers side air a/c filter

Ag Surfer · 21st August 2006, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMac

check the bonnet switch ,
small plastic click thing close to drivers side air a/c filter

I agree! I had the same problem and it resolved after I positioned the sensor more securely (it was loose and was probably signaling that the hood was open when it really wasnt).

Tozzy · 21st August 2006, 23:05

Check so you don't have some kind of insekt flying around in the car

Maybe it's glued to the rear window from accelleration while driving and takes 10 to 20 minutes for it to come around after the G-shock

My alarm went of several times at a BMW meet when I parked with the sunroof open because wasps flew in through the roof...

Mattkins99 · 21st August 2006, 23:09

You don't have a Razr phone which you leave in the car do you? ;-) Someone on the E39-Lounge on Roadfly found that a Razr phone left in his car would set off the alarm when called.

ya... check everyone elses suggestion first though ;-)

PJK M5 · 21st August 2006, 23:57

I have a Nokia that set mine off three times before I figured it out!

Paul

rassi · 22nd August 2006, 00:30

I would say bonnet (hood) switch too. Happened a lot on my M Coupe.

///Mr. Five · 22nd August 2006, 01:23

Thanks for all your responses guys. How do I tell if the battery is dead?

ard · 22nd August 2006, 02:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Mr. Five

Thanks for all your responses guys. How do I tell if the battery is dead?

Uh, car won't start.

(Couldn't resist...)

That's how I usually tell- or it starts cranking down in cold weather. Shops can do a battery load/current test.

Mattkins99 · 22nd August 2006, 03:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ard

Uh, car won't start.

(Couldn't resist...)

That's how I usually tell- or it starts cranking down in cold weather. Shops can do a battery load/current test.

lol, ya, you should be able to get any parts store to do a load test on the battery for you. They'll tell you how many AMPS it's putting out and if it's within spec. From my experience, they do this for free.

jclyman · 22nd August 2006, 04:15

I have a few BMWs ... the only one that has had that happen is my 1997 318ti ... haven't figured it out, yet. Thought at first it was the hood switch ... wrongo ... never a battery problem ... and the only time it happens is when it is VERY HOT outside (and, interesting enough, it always happens between 1 and 2 PM) ... That's the only clue I have ...

Good luck, as I have seen a couple of others on this board ask the same question and, to my knowledge, they haven't figured it out either ... or just never told us they did!

///Mr. Five · 22nd August 2006, 07:12

Har de har har har guys. lol.......

Yeah I know what the signs are that your battery is dead and that Kargen's will load test it for free. I was just wondering if there were any M5 specific signs that the bat. was dead. This is my first E39 after two E36 and one E46 M3.

Thanks for the information!