Alarm going off whenever it wants... HELP!
 

My alarm on the X5 is going off whenever it feels like it. Not all the time but once every other day it will just go off. I haven't had a problem with this in the past, but it just started happening about a month ago. Kind of annoying. Does anyone know why this may be happening? It's a 2005 4.4, out of warranty so I don't want to take it to the dealer. Thanks!

hood switch. it either needs adjustment or needs to be replaced.

x2...same problem on my 530...disconnect the hood pin for a couple of days and see of the problem goes away.

Agree, hood switch. Common problem.

I concur with the diagnosis - likely a hood switch. Easy to disconnect, it's located under the hood on the firewall on the passenger side.

I have the same issue!!!
 

I have a newer X5 (2006), but sometimes I sit in the car and talk on the phone or the other day I was in the car with the doors unlocked and the alarm went off.

Is this something I should take to the dealer? Or is the hook switch an easy fix that will "reset" the alarm and avoid false alarms?

Thanks!!

If it is a newer car take it to the dealer and let them solve it on their dime.

So I disconnected what I think is the hood switch (the button looking thing under the hood on the passenger side). Now does that "un-arm" the entire alarm system or does it just un-arm the hood alarm and if someone opens lets say a door it will still go off. If this seems to solve the problem, what will I need to do as a permanent solution?

No, that does not disable the entire alarm system, only the hood sensor.

If that resolves it you have basically 2 options. One is to leave it disconnected or the other is to try replacing the switch.

Your 3rd option is try using a small rubber feet (you can buy it from a hardware store) on the hood so that it presses the hoodswitch button down further. I did the mod for about 3 months now...so far, so good...still no false alarm yet. It's a mod everyone should do regardless. The little rubber feet acts as a protector for the hood since it will prevent the switch from chipping off the hood paint

Awesome... I'll try it. Thanks!

Good post. Will keep that in mind.:thumbup:

i don't see the hood switch in those pics....can someone help me out...thanks

Hoodswitch is circled.

same issue
 

I started having the same issur ironically about a month ago too.

Would this fix be covered under the CPO?

I don't know if you've figured out your alarm problem yet but I went through a similar issue and here's what was wrong with my X5. My right rear lock actuator was found to be faulty. So they replaced the lock assembly. They also found the module faulty and replaced that too. Did the trick. No more random triggering of the alarm all night long ;) The items replaced were:

51-22-8-402-602 MOTOR ACTUATOR
65-75-6-928-429 MODULE

Anywho, hope your dealer did you justice with your baby :thumbup:

Same problem on my 04 x5, its the hood switch on mine too. I sprayed some wd40 spray and problem solved.

I had the same problem. I just janked out the (hood) connector yesterday. I hope it does the trick. Alarm dind't go of since... i'll keep my fingers crossed.

If you want to permanently fix it then you have to open up the switch and adjust the metal pins. its very easy basically the black pin slides down and inside is a metal U shaped pin that has lost its shape and needs to be adjusted. I had this problem and after opening it up and adjusting it its been like a year now and no issues.

I took the switch off but can't figure out how to dismantle it ti get to the metal pin. Can you please how this is done? Thanks.

sorry for the delay. No problem. When i get home ill take some pics of how to do it.

I know this is an old thread, but I have been trying to solve a mystery and this thread had some of the best options. But I still have a problem.

Alarm goes off randomly.
Replaced 7 year old battery on 11-30-13
Disconnected and removed hood sensor 12-01-13

Figured that was it... NOPE, about an hour later the alarm went off again.

Anything else I can try before bringing it to an expert...?

ed

The poor little hood switch always gets blamed...but it is in a location that can cause it to deteriorate over time.

But since a new battery didn't fix the problem...and disconnecting the hood switch didn't fix the problem...then look to other monitors in the DWA (anti-theft alarm siren) system that may be setting off the false triggering.

The problem could also be the siren itself...especially if the vehicles battery was failing over a period of time. The alarm siren's internal battery may have not have been getting charged during this period and now it could be failing... causing the false alarm triggers.

You can also take a look at the DWA red LED (the clown nose below the rear view mirror) to see if it is signalling an open monitor/sensor. See the chart below...lock the vehicle and take note of how the red LED is flashing:



And read through the info below on the DWA system...all the monitors of the system are listed...and again, check the red LED to see if one may be open. If all else fails...hooking up to BMW DIS (diagnostics) will indicate which sensor is registering fault codes.

great one
 

That is a great fix. But I had a similar problem with my X5,3.0,01 a few years back and it turned out to be the 5 year old battery. Replaced it and everything has been fine since.

It appears ( at least sofar ) that the tilt sensor was the problem. Been disconnected since Wed without a failure, but tonight it gets down to the cold temps we were getting last week, so I'll have a higher level of confidence that that is where the problem lies.

Thanks for the input

Ed