Mini car alarm help

[shaebear]

CAR ALARM NOT WORKING
Hi guys, i bought a Mini one 2007 a few months ago,
its has an alarm installed - the red light flashes above the steering when the car is locked.
However when i first bought the car, if the car was locked and someone apporached it and tried to open the door.. the alarm would go off.. but recently i've realised that it doesnt alarm anymore, if you try to open the door while locked nothing happens, but the red light still flashes on top of the steering.

i really want to know how to fix this problem because i live in quite a dodgey area so i want to make sure that my car alarm is fully working... i dont know whether i have turned it off without realising
:S

[The Nun]

The alarm is self arming, one press of the key fob button locks the car and sets the alarm with tilt and movement sensor activated, two presses of the key fob button in quick succession arms the alarm but without the tilt and movement sensor activated.
The purpose of the second option is so the car can be transported, alarmed but the alarm wont sound if the cars jolted/tilted.
I dont think you can permanently deactivate it in anyway doing anything you do, if the lights flashing it should be armed.
How about trying to leave a window open and lock the car? put you hand in, the sensor should pick it up and sound the alarm, or if that doesnt work lock someone in the car and when they move the ultrasonic should pick them up and sound the alarm, or rocking the car?? just guessing at possible ways you might be able to prove it.

[shaebear]

hiya, thanks for your help
i went outside earlier and tried all that, for some reason the sensor just wont alarm...
even if i leave the car window open then lock the car, then attemped to reach into the open window... nothing happens.
but the alarm still flashes RED while the car is locked.
i have no idea why it wont work, do you think it could be on silent or something :s

[The Nun]

As far as I know its not possible to arm it and it be on silent.
Of course your MINI may have a non standard or part non standard alarm system fitted I suppose.
If it used to work as you said when you touch the door handle now doesnt theres obviously something not right.
Might be as simple as the warning horn has a wire displaced, bad earth or has packed up completely , then in theory it will still arm, show as armed and lock out the engine but of course wont sound if triggered, check the siren, I believe its somewhere below the front screen under the scuttle panel.
If that all looks like its ok then it might be a trip to the dealer to put it on diagnostics.