its true the hood switch is often the cause. Unfortunatly or fortunatly,the dealers tester can see exactly how many times the alarm has gone off and which sensors triggering the system. Tell them you just want the alarm counter checked and whats the cause. 1 hour max. should be done in a half hour.you could try locking with the key in the door so the interior sensor isn't active. and you could also try removing the hood switch and pull the plunger up, then secure it (or place it gently) and see if the alarm goes off.double check the manual to see the correct way to arm the x5 without using the interior sensor.this should help you narrow things down.