HELP!! Alarm/window problem...

[goonermini]

My alarm went off 'unprovoked' this morning. When driving home, the passenger window kept doing this twitching thing (I hope it isn't a nervous twitch - maybe it's my driving ) - the thing it does when you open and close the door. But it was doing it randomly all the way home, and the door was definitely closed properly.

I now suspect this is what caused the alarm to go off, and it keeps going off - I have now left the car unalarmed

I have held the passenger window toggle switch up with the door closed to 'reset' the window, which doesn't seem to have done anything.

Any suggestions? Someone on here must know! I am guessing it is something electrical?

gm

[NEMINI]

time to make a service app't, hopefully they can expediate it considering the potential for battery failure and unalarmed condition

[mikeythemini]

Sounds like the door switch (in catch) is playing up, thinks the door is opening closing thus making the window move, thus setting the alarm off. (Maybe water in it)

[goonermini]

Just been out again (and had to leave car unalarmed/unlocked outside mate's apartment), and coming home, the interior lights (above head and by feet) wouldn't go off - kept fading out and coming back on again - so looks like I'll have a flat battery by the morning

What is ever so slightly annoying is that I picked the car up from the local MINI garage yesterday, and it was only in because they were fixing something they mucked up last time! (Not related to the electronics!) But they have buggered something up somewhere. Coincidence? I suspect not!

Anyone know if this is the sort of thing they can easily diagnose (eg. if water in electrics somewhere)?

gm

[goonermini]

In case anyone is interested (which I doubt, given that this is not very interesting ), I called MINI Emergency Services and they sent a man round - he arrived within the hour - not bad for a sunday night.

Anyhow, he diagnosed the problem as 'water ingress on central locking module etc'. Since BMW/MINI valeted my car when they had it in two days ago, I suspect this could have been caused by over-enthusiastic use of the high-powered (maybe even supercharged? ) water jet spray thing that they use for cleaning. So the car is safely tucked away in the garage and battery disconnected, so that it doesn't run flat over night. Anyway, I am looking forward to ringing the dealer in the morning....

"Yes hello, there is a problem with my car resulting from you fixing the other problem which was created by you". I wonder what the car will come back with not working next time!?!

gm

[tavis1]

keep us posted please
Tavis1

[goonermini]

Latest update from BMW (colleage refers to them as "BMTroubleyou" - thought that was quite funny and hadn't heard it before! )....

Water ingress problem not found (surprise!?! - presumably dried up by now?), but there was a fault with the passenger door lock and they have ordered me a new one. That would explain the window and interior light problem, and well done to mikeythemini for your accurate diagnosis.

But presumably this could have been caused by water ingress? If it was, presumably replacing the lock should also get rid of any potential water ingress issues in the future?

gm

[SoggyCornFlakes]

I seem to remember Washy having a similar problem some time back - i'll go and find him

[Washy]

He found me....

I had this problem on my first Cooper. The windows opened and closed themselves and the interior light kept flashing on and off.....If I remember correctly it was a problem with the door locking mechanism.
I am sure your dealer knows about it and can fix it

Although it is a bit disconcerting driving down the road with all this going on

[brassd]

I've just had the same problem on the passenger window of my Cooper. Dealer diagnosed as water ingress into central locking actuator. They replaced passenger and drivers side actuators and the problem is fixed.

From talking to the dealer, I think this is a known problem that BMW haven't done a recall for. I didn't get the interior lights coming on, and if I didn't have the alarm fitted, it may have taken me a while to spot!

Dave

[goonermini]

Oooooooh, I'm quite excited that I am not the only one with this problem! But is it usual that this problem should happen now, when I have had my car 11 months? How old are everyone elses cars who have had this problem?

I am waiting for the dealer to call me today to say whether it has been fixed...

<------ just wanted to try the new smilie!

gm

[Washy]

My car was about 3 months old when it happened to me. Mine was quite an early build though (Sept 2001)