How to Verify the X3 Alarm is Working?

[Flyer1]

A while back I bought and installed the BMW alarm on my X3. Last week I finally took the X3 to the dealer for some scheduled maintenance and aksked them to interface the alarm to the computer. (it was $140+, yikes!!!) When I got home I tried to test the alarm but I could NOT get it to go off.

I locked the X with the remote and did the following:
1) rocked the X side to side as hard as I could by pushing on the roof rails.
2) I jumped on the back bumper to shake the X up and down.
3) I tapped on the outside of the glass on a side window and the pano roof with the metal part of the key, as hard as I dare.
4) I had the drivers window rolled down and reached around inside the car, almost climbing in the drivers window
5) I pulled the inside door handle but it would not open the door (I read a post here that is normal if you lock the vehicle with the remote)

The only thing the alarm does is beep when I lock or unlock the X3 with the remote.

Anyone have any experiences like this? I'm headed back to the dealer tomorrow to have them take another look at it.

Thanks,
Chip

[AzNMpower32]

Hold the trunk release button for at least 2 seconds to activate the panic feature.

Alternatively, lock yourself (key in hand of course) in the vehicle. Move around and/or pop the hood. This should set off the alarm via motion sensor and obviously intrusion from the hood.

[Flyer1]

Thanks for the suggestons. I spoke with a mechanic at the dealer and learned why I could not set it off.

For 1 & 2, the motion sensor is only if the car is jacked up to be towed. Something like lifting the car a min 15 degrees is required

For 3, don't think a simple tap is enough.

For 4, when a window is down the motion sensor is deactivated. I was hoping someone reaching into an open window is exactly what it would protect against. His explanation didn't really make sense, but something about it taking 15 minutes to initialize, it not monitoring constantly, not really a motion sensor in the true sense. What good is it then?! I think I'll try sitting in the car with the windows up, arm the alarm wait a minute then move around and see if it goes off.

We didn't discuss #5.

What he said I could do is raise the hood and pull up the hood switch. Called it a test position. Leave the hood up, arm the alarm then press the hood switch down. Alarm shoul go off. Going to test that when I get home tonight.

I asked if a failed alarm would create an error code. He said what it does do is log when a sensor goes off. So for example if the alarm keeps going off and its a bad hood switch (said that is what usually goes out) he would see the multiple reports of it in the computer.

The impression I get is the OEM alarm is set up to eliminate false alarms, not be ultra sensitive. He said he has an X5 and that if the alarm goes off, you know its because someone is breaking into it.

Chip

[vince59it]

I believe you have a problem with the alarm system. I know the OEM alarm system is not so good however what you did should have set the alarm on. I recently installed a GTalarm system and all the features are active in the way they should.

[amacman]

:

Originally Posted by vince59it

I believe you have a problem with the alarm system. I know the OEM alarm system is not so good however what you did should have set the alarm on. I recently installed a GTalarm system and all the features are active in the way they should.

i love your boobs also , carry on .

[vince59it]

Originally Posted by amacman

:

i love your boobs also , carry on .

the only way I can share "my boobs" is ...virtual.

[Quicksilver]

Regarding #4 with the window down and the alarm set?
I stuck my hand thru the window and the X5 alarm went nuts.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by Flyer1

For 4, when a window is down the motion sensor is deactivated. I was hoping someone reaching into an open window is exactly what it would protect against. His explanation didn't really make sense, but something about it taking 15 minutes to initialize, it not monitoring constantly, not really a motion sensor in the true sense. What good is it then?! I think I'll try sitting in the car with the windows up, arm the alarm wait a minute then move around and see if it goes off.

This summer I was walking past my X at work with some paperwork I needed to take home. As usual, I had the roof popped and the windows down about an inch. When I slipped the envelope into the slightly open window that alarm started.

I would check with them again on that one.

[AzNMpower32]

I think the mechanic is trying to dismiss a problem he doesn't know how to solve. The interior motion sensor is on by default unless you push the lock button twice to deactivate it.

[pdx3]

Originally Posted by Flyer1

5) I pulled the inside door handle but it would not open the door (I read a post here that is normal if you lock the vehicle with the remote)

On 4 BMWs I have owned in the last 10 years, this is normal behavior. When you lock the car with the key remote, pulling the interior door handles or pushing the lock button will not unlock the car.

From my 2005 Owner's Manual, p. 17:

The anti-theft system is automatically activated whenever you activate the central locking system from outside the vehicle. This prevents the doors from being unlocked via the lock buttons or door handles. The alarm system is also armed or disarmed.

For this reason it is not recommended to lock someone in the car using the remote (unless you don't like them and want to trap them in your car).

If you want to leave someone in the car while you are away with the key, have them press the lock button from inside the car. Then, the handles can be used to unlock a door simply by pulling on it.

-pd.