[RoundelM5]

Hey guys, I've recently been having random alarm soundings as some of you have experienced in the past. My search turned hood sensor, interior sensor or draining battery are most likely culprits.

I just ordered a Peake Code reader (long overdue purchase).

My question is, will the Peake Code reader be able to tell me which alarm sensor has been triggered or is the only way to get that info from the dealer?

Thanks as always
Dave

 

[DouglasABaker]

My alarm has been triggered several times (motion sensor when I leave the windows open ouich) No codes whatsoever for the Peake reader.

I'd love to give you some advice about how to troubleshoot, but I'm not familiar with the electronics...

d-

 

[jclyman]

If you lock your car and leave your windows open (even partly open), something may fly in ... a fly, a bumble bee, a butterfly, a bird (not likely) and it will trigger your internal alarm ...

One time I slipped a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper in thru the open sunroof and it set off the alarm.

 

[RoundelM5]

Yeah, I know about the open window/sunroof issues and the alarm. Nope, this is a totally closed car with nothing inside and all windows/sunroof fully closed (no phone either - some posts said a phone left in the car can set off the alarm when it rings...who knows). Alarm will simply sound, sometimes 5-10mins after locking sometimes 30mins or more and sometimes not at all.

Found a bunch of threads here and on other forums all saying the same thing, that the hood sensor is a common culprit. Since it seems to be so common and a cheap and easy part to install, I picked one up today at local dealer and installed...we'll see if that fixes it. So far, so good. Car's been locked twice since install and now has been for 2hrs.

Hood sensor is located on left (driver's) side and is attached to the front of the microfilter box. Part is so obvious that I never noticed it before. Part # is 61-31-9-119-057, cost $17.09 with BMWCCA discount and took about 30 seconds to uninstall the old one and install the new.

I'll post in a week or so and let you know what happens. Fingers are crossed (both mine and my neighbors!)

 

[jclyman]

Hate to tell you this, but my 1997 318ti alarm goes off on its own on ocassion. I, too, thought it was the hood sensor (but I thought it was the adjustment) so I bent the little lever up and it still happened.

But, the interesting thing is ... it only goes off on very hot days, and it only goes off at about 1:00 or 2:00 PM (the hottest part of the day) when it is sitting outside.

Lately it has been really, really hot, but, wonder of wonders, it hasn't gone off in over a year ... and, I haven't replaced anything ...

It must be a secret special feature ... I just don't know ...

Good luck ...

 

[DouglasABaker]

you still might have a bad sensor - bending the contact arm up would only solve the problem of a misaligned sensor, but if the metal contact inside the sensor were bad I could see where really hot temperatures could cause an issue as well...

d-

 

[jclyman]

Oh, I know, Doug ... but the 318ti is my "beater" and since it seems to be quiet now, I'm not concerned ... I have followed a few similar posts here over the last 4 years, and they are very usually difficult to resolve. (The M5 is fine, however.)

 

[DouglasABaker]

Ahh, ok - I just thought I would throw it out there

d-