Why does my dog always set off my car alarm?

[Bugs Meany]

Typical example: Left my dog in the car to go into a store and pick up an item waiting for me. No line, no having to pay, as quick as an errand could be. Maybe 2-3 minutes including walk time. Stepped out and saw all my lights blinking.

He's a small dog (18 lb. bichon frise) and I use a car harness to keep him belted in. As far as I know he just lies down with his head on the center armrest. Does any motion at all inside the car set off the alarm?

To be honest I usually don't lock the car if I'm stepping out for a few minutes. The thing is, he's a REALLY cute dog and every now and then I worry "What if?"

There's no 'alarm sensitivity' setting, I imagine, but is there anything I can do? Do you guys have the same problem?

[Frank_Zuccarini]

I don’t have an answer, but he sure is cute……. Frank

[omega2733]

On F8x cars there's a motion sensor inside the cabin that will trigger

[MassWholeBimmer]

Originally Posted by Frank_Zuccarini

I don’t have an answer, but he sure is cute……. Frank

Ditto. We had a Bishon. Great loyal little dog.

[DanG]

Look in your owners manual. There is an alarm setting that disables the motion setting. It is required as an example if your car is on a ferry. With my car you push the lock button on the remote twice in less than 10 seconds.

[Bugs Meany]

Originally Posted by DanG

Look in your owners manual. There is an alarm setting that disables the motion setting. It is required as an example if your car is on a ferry. With my car you push the lock button on the remote twice in less than 10 seconds.

I assumed there was no setting—very pleased to be wrong here! Thank you.

[BruinMan]

Originally Posted by omega2733

On F8x cars there's a motion sensor inside the cabin that will trigger

Press the lock twice (BMW Logo) on the remote. This will disarm the motion sensor inside the car.

Sweet dog.

[RockCrusher]

What others have said. There's a motion sensor that you need to disable.

(Had a Boxster and at odd times the alarm would sound. Top up. Windows up. Finally one day the moth came out of hiding when I was in the car. Had an Ah Ha moment. Apparently when I parked the car with the top down at some point the moth moved in. Afterwards I never left the car parked any length of time with the top down or the windows down.)

You should *never* leave your dog in your car with the car unlocked. I read too many reports of people losing their beloved pet from someone grabbing the dog from an unlocked vehicle.

[chowser51]

yep. learned the hard way when my suction cup mounted dash cam fell and set off the interior motion alarm.

Also whenever I left the top down, I armed the alarm and turned off the interior motion.

[sikotic]

I think the clear and obvious answer here, is that your dog just really wants to drive your BMW. I don't blame him

Cute dog btw!

[Fredcohiba]

So cute…

[Bugs Meany]

Originally Posted by sikotic

I think the clear and obvious answer here, is that your dog just really wants to drive your BMW. I don't blame him

How did you know??

[DubaiRich]

Cute dog, but I don't see his license!

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by Bugs Meany

Typical example: Left my dog in the car to go into a store and pick up an item waiting for me. No line, no having to pay, as quick as an errand could be. Maybe 2-3 minutes including walk time. Stepped out and saw all my lights blinking.

He's a small dog (18 lb. bichon frise) and I use a car harness to keep him belted in. As far as I know he just lies down with his head on the center armrest. Does any motion at all inside the car set off the alarm?

To be honest I usually don't lock the car if I'm stepping out for a few minutes. The thing is, he's a REALLY cute dog and every now and then I worry "What if?"

There's no 'alarm sensitivity' setting, I imagine, but is there anything I can do? Do you guys have the same problem?

My Chihuahua (RIP) would stand on the window switch trying to peek out the window. Apparently if the car is locked and you hold the switch down long enough it sets off the car alarm, clever of BMW to build that function in. He'd set it off in my F30 and E65 almost every time if we were on road trip and stopped for a quick bathroom or coffee break. Good times.

[Djphonics]

The search function worked for once! Thank you everyone!

[Grease23]

Teach him how to us Fi Drive.