Car Alarms: BMW 316i Car Alarm Intermittent fault, 1997 bmw 316i, alarmtek

Question
QUESTION: I have just bought a second hand 1997 BMW 316i and found that the car alarm goes off by itself intermittently when I lock the car.  There is no consistency to when the alarm goes off.  Sometimes it is ok and other times it would go off and then stop after a minute or so.  I was told by previous owner that the car was once broken into and I am not sure if that is the reason for the car alarm to be acting funny.  Is there anyway to reset the alarm?  What should I do?

ANSWER: Please tell me what you are experiencing.

I need to determine whether it's a factory alarm
issue or, if it's an aftermarket system you are
dealing with.

Is it: Headlights flashing, car horn honking
and a worded SECURITY" light in the dash flashing?
(doubtfull since none of the notes show this
car as having a factory alarm system)
Or,
is it: flashing parking lights,
an LED in the dash area, and a siren
going off?

Let me know more on this to better
advise you on a course of action
to take, to help you to fix this
situation you're in quickly.

Best Regards,

Robert Martin
CEO/ALARMTEK
CARALARMMAN.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The problem is flashing light and siren going off (eg: car honking).  The car has factory fitted immobilizer system.  There are no "SECURITY" wording on the dash when the alarm goes off.  I am in UK and the car is a UK car which according to the BMW handbook, the car does come with factory fitted alarm system.  Thank you for your help.

Answer
This is what I could find on this car:

If equipped with a factory alarm,
the alarm will be plugged into the factory
alarm plug. The only way to arm and disarm
the factory alarm is with the factory remote.
If your planning on using the 8360 pre-wired
alarm harness the factory alarm must absent
or removed.

This means a technician is going to have to get
in under the dash to do so repair.

Start with BMW part dept. to get this harnessm then
hire a competant install tech to fit it.

Wish i had more to offer, but the notes on the
UK cars in my database are not as thorough as I'd
like. i do hope it was enough to get this
resolved for you.

Good luck with it.

ALARMTEK
CARALARMMAN.COM