Alarm went off last night

sjw985 · 08-02-2011, 06:26 AM

Howdy folks,

Last night around 11 PM my doorbell rang twice - apparently my 1M's alarm was going off intermittently in my garage. When I checked it out, everything looked OK - i.e., garage door closed, no forced entry, etc... also can't think of any environmental triggers (storms, falling heavy items, etc.) that might have set it off. It was a bit odd becuase it would go off for a few second, then stop, then start again.

When I ran upstairs to get the key and hit the unlock button, the alarm stopped permanently... for now.

Has anyone had this happen before? Any ideas what might have caused the alarm to go off? Is it possible that my car might be haunted? If so will that improve resale value down the road?

Hopefully it won't happen again, I get little enough sleep as it is and don't have much time or patience for either poltergeists or gremlins.

Thanks!

pinmagic · 08-02-2011, 06:44 AM

Many years ago, my brother parked his Skylark in the driveway. The alarm kept going off during the night, so he finally just disabled it. The next morning, his battery was gone. Seems the crooks intentionally set the alarm off repeatedly, just so he'd get frustrated and disable it. Worked like a charm.

Satalite · 08-02-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjw985

Howdy folks,

Last night around 11 PM my doorbell rang twice - apparently my 1M's alarm was going off intermittently in my garage. When I checked it out, everything looked OK - i.e., garage door closed, no forced entry, etc... also can't think of any environmental triggers (storms, falling heavy items, etc.) that might have set it off. It was a bit odd becuase it would go off for a few second, then stop, then start again.

When I ran upstairs to get the key and hit the unlock button, the alarm stopped permanently... for now.

Has anyone had this happen before? Any ideas what might have caused the alarm to go off? Is it possible that my car might be haunted? If so will that improve resale value down the road?

Hopefully it won't happen again, I get little enough sleep as it is and don't have much time or patience for either poltergeists or gremlins.

Thanks!

Nice to see your from the Atlanta area! I assume you picked up the 2nd allocation at Global? I am in line for the next allocation

Back on topic... Don't know why it would go off. Do you have a cat by chance? If it is haunted you can guarantee that your car will resell much better

as7920 · 08-02-2011, 07:25 AM

One of my work colleagues is on the verge of returning his 3 month old Z4 because its alarm is going off on its own accord too. However it seems to be only when it rains!

It has been into the dealers a couple of times to be fixed.

Drillslinger · 08-02-2011, 07:40 AM

Were all of your windows up? I don't have an alarm on my 1M but this used to happen in my MINI whenever I left a window cracked.

TunedM2C · 08-02-2011, 07:44 AM

It just wanted to go out for a late night drive.

Drillslinger · 08-02-2011, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuned1

It just wanted to go out for a late night drive.

Lol, that or his trunk monkey was feeling restless

BMW86 · 08-02-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinmagic

Many years ago, my brother parked his Skylark in the driveway. The alarm kept going off during the night, so he finally just disabled it. The next morning, his battery was gone. Seems the crooks intentionally set the alarm off repeatedly, just so he'd get frustrated and disable it. Worked like a charm.

That's crazy!

v1k0d3n · 08-02-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuned1

It just wanted to go out for a late night drive.

That comment reminds me of the south park episode with the shake weight, where the shake weight wakes her up in the middle of the night for a "workout".

evolution80 · 08-02-2011, 09:15 AM

in my old v10touareg company car the alarm frequently went off on its own

it was one of the first v10s delivered at the time - and they could not fix it - neither were they able to fix the many other issues that xxxx car had

szcyxzh · 08-02-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1k0d3n

That comment reminds me of the south park episode with the shake weight, where the shake weight wakes her up in the middle of the night for a "workout".

so funny. so there is really such a thing on market for sale?>

Franklin Joseph · 08-02-2011, 09:30 AM

on my old X5, there is a hood sensor (linked to alarm) that went bad which caused the alarm to go off intermittently. Maybe your sensor if faulty? This sensor is towards the center (next to the brake fluid reservoir).

My stripper 1M doesnt have this sensor though.

tkbr0wn · 08-02-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satalite

Nice to see your from the Atlanta area! I assume you picked up the 2nd allocation at Global? I am in line for the next allocation

Back on topic... Don't know why it would go off. Do you have a cat by chance? If it is haunted you can guarantee that your car will resell much better

I was thinking the same thing, do you have a big dog or cat, or other family member that may have been sitting on the keys?

DriveHard · 08-02-2011, 10:37 AM

The dealer can see which sensor triggered the alarm... hopefully if it is the same one, it will need to be replaced..

BTW hasent it been like 11 million degrees in Atlanta lately?? The Temp change from being out to being in the garage maybe triggering it..

b33g33 · 08-02-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriveHard

The dealer can see which sensor triggered the alarm... hopefully if it is the same one, it will need to be replaced..

BTW hasent it been like 11 million degrees in Atlanta lately?? The Temp change from being out to being in the garage maybe triggering it..

Surprisingly, Atlanta has been "cooler" than the mid-west and the north for most of the summer. We've also been getting rain in the afternoons that breaks-up the swelterfest.

There were some storms in the early evening over in VA-Highlands and Midtown but it sounds like your alarm issue happened much later.

Hope they figure it out and nice to see another BSM owner in ATL (my build week is now!)

sjw985 · 08-03-2011, 04:30 AM

Lots of good ideas - thanks folks. It didn't go off last night (knock on wood) but if it does happen again, I guess my next trip will be to the dealer... or the exorcist!

Satalite - wow - I didn't realize I was the second allocation at Global. So you're number 3? Congrats, and I hope your buying experience goes as smoothly as mine did!

Satalite · 08-03-2011, 05:14 AM

They had a white one that sold instantly (presumably someone came in saw it bought it) deal. They just sold a BSM and since you bought yours at Global it must have been you!

What are your specs?

Artemis · 08-03-2011, 05:21 AM

I remember a guy in the nineties who managed to provoke to set off his car alarm ...by simply switching on a microwave in his kitchen nearby (next to the driveway). After inquiries it was confirmed that a microwave was indeed more powerful than you might think. Just when you think I'm pulling your leg: it's a 100% true story (not to be confused with the fake videos of mobile phones making popcorn). I assume isolation of microwaves has improved ever since.

I also remember a decade ago a journey to the sea with a biker friend. The deep and loud rumble of his Ducati Monster with Termignoni exhaust managed to set off car alarms of some parked cars in narrow streets, when he gave his Duc a go when passing by at low speed. "Sorry, I can't help it", he said with a street hooligan grin.

08-02-2011, 06:26 AM	#1
sjw985 Private 7 Rep 71 Posts Drives: 2011 1M (BSM) Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	Alarm went off last night Howdy folks, Last night around 11 PM my doorbell rang twice - apparently my 1M's alarm was going off intermittently in my garage. When I checked it out, everything looked OK - i.e., garage door closed, no forced entry, etc... also can't think of any environmental triggers (storms, falling heavy items, etc.) that might have set it off. It was a bit odd becuase it would go off for a few second, then stop, then start again. When I ran upstairs to get the key and hit the unlock button, the alarm stopped permanently... for now. Has anyone had this happen before? Any ideas what might have caused the alarm to go off? Is it possible that my car might be haunted? If so will that improve resale value down the road? Hopefully it won't happen again, I get little enough sleep as it is and don't have much time or patience for either poltergeists or gremlins. Thanks!
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08-02-2011, 06:44 AM	#2
pinmagic The Only Sane One Here 61 Rep 1,135 Posts Drives: 135i Convertible Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Arlington, VA iTrader: (1)	Many years ago, my brother parked his Skylark in the driveway. The alarm kept going off during the night, so he finally just disabled it. The next morning, his battery was gone. Seems the crooks intentionally set the alarm off repeatedly, just so he'd get frustrated and disable it. Worked like a charm. __________________ 2011 135i VERT SGM/SB/MOONLIGHT - ED - with every single friggin' option they offered.
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08-02-2011, 07:25 AM	#4
as7920 Colonel 597 Rep 2,375 Posts Drives: 2023 SG/FR M4 xDrive Competiti Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	One of my work colleagues is on the verge of returning his 3 month old Z4 because its alarm is going off on its own accord too. However it seems to be only when it rains! It has been into the dealers a couple of times to be fixed.
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08-02-2011, 07:40 AM	#5
Drillslinger Captain 22 Rep 908 Posts Drives: BSM 1M / R53 / E91 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: No. VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 1 Series M ... [9.00] 2006 MINI Cooper S [9.60] 2010 328i Wagon [9.60]	Were all of your windows up? I don't have an alarm on my 1M but this used to happen in my MINI whenever I left a window cracked. __________________ *Vorsprung durch Gas Geben!!* 172 of 740
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08-02-2011, 07:44 AM	#6
TunedM2C Brigadier General 829 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: 2016 LBB M2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	It just wanted to go out for a late night drive.
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08-02-2011, 09:15 AM	#10
evolution80 Captain 146 Rep 697 Posts Drives: M3 F80 silverstone Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: austria iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 M3 F80 [0.00] 2010 bmw e92 xdrive ... [10.00]	in my old v10touareg company car the alarm frequently went off on its own it was one of the first v10s delivered at the time - and they could not fix it - neither were they able to fix the many other issues that xxxx car had __________________ if you're cast on thin ice, you may as well dance enjoy your cars
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08-02-2011, 09:30 AM	#12
Franklin Joseph Captain 57 Rep 820 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Texas iTrader: (1)	on my old X5, there is a hood sensor (linked to alarm) that went bad which caused the alarm to go off intermittently. Maybe your sensor if faulty? This sensor is towards the center (next to the brake fluid reservoir). My stripper 1M doesnt have this sensor though.
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08-02-2011, 10:37 AM	#14
DriveHard Colonel 115 Rep 1,998 Posts Drives: X1 and R58 JCW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	The dealer can see which sensor triggered the alarm... hopefully if it is the same one, it will need to be replaced.. BTW hasent it been like 11 million degrees in Atlanta lately?? The Temp change from being out to being in the garage maybe triggering it.. __________________ X1, R58 JCW, M2 in my future if planets align
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08-03-2011, 04:30 AM	#16
sjw985 Private 7 Rep 71 Posts Drives: 2011 1M (BSM) Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	Lots of good ideas - thanks folks. It didn't go off last night (knock on wood) but if it does happen again, I guess my next trip will be to the dealer... or the exorcist! Satalite - wow - I didn't realize I was the second allocation at Global. So you're number 3? Congrats, and I hope your buying experience goes as smoothly as mine did!
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08-03-2011, 05:14 AM	#17
Satalite Colonel 166 Rep 2,926 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (9) Garage List 2009 128i [10.00]	They had a white one that sold instantly (presumably someone came in saw it bought it) deal. They just sold a BSM and since you bought yours at Global it must have been you! What are your specs? __________________
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08-03-2011, 05:21 AM	#18
Artemis Moderator 29418 Rep 13,107 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Competition Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	I remember a guy in the nineties who managed to provoke to set off his car alarm ...by simply switching on a microwave in his kitchen nearby (next to the driveway). After inquiries it was confirmed that a microwave was indeed more powerful than you might think. Just when you think I'm pulling your leg: it's a 100% true story (not to be confused with the fake videos of mobile phones making popcorn). I assume isolation of microwaves has improved ever since. I also remember a decade ago a journey to the sea with a biker friend. The deep and loud rumble of his Ducati Monster with Termignoni exhaust managed to set off car alarms of some parked cars in narrow streets, when he gave his Duc a go when passing by at low speed. "Sorry, I can't help it", he said with a street hooligan grin.
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