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.