Did I dream this ?

[AntStark]

Can I lock my Z3 with the roof down by pressing the fob lock twice.
Did this today but the alarm keeps going off..sure it worked before. Did I dream this or is it a thing and I have another issue?
ta

 

[Rudyrov]

I have an aftermarket alarm installed as if it where the original Alpine alarm. That is to say, it is wired into the factory harness just like the alarm that was meant to go there.
I can turn my alarm on with the top down but I only press the fob once to lock/activate alarm and once to unlock/deactivate alarm.
2 presses may be a panic mode feature perhaps?

 

[Zephyr]

The Z3’s alarm uses interior ultrasonic motion sensors (little “eyes” up near the interior light/mirror area). With the roof down, those sensors will detect movement (wind, passing people, etc.) and trigger the siren.
That’s almost certainly why your alarm keeps going off.
On many Z3s (depending on year), double-locking means the deadlocks engage (so the doors can’t be opened from inside) and sometimes also disables the tilt sensor and interior motion sensors.
In some, holding the lock button (or pressing twice within 10 seconds) should disable the interior motion sensor, which is what you want if locking with the roof down.

 

[AntStark]

Thanks Zephyr..I am sure the double press thing worked before. Locked it with the key and roof down and that seems to be fine ..no alarm.

 

[Stevo7682]

I lock my z3 all the time with the roof down and alarm doesn't go off .
But i have put a bag of shopping onto the passenger seat through open roof with doors locked and set alarm off
Stephen

 

[Jam03]

Thanks Zephyr..I am sure the double press thing worked before. Locked it with the key and roof down and that seems to be fine ..no alarm.

I checked this in the handbook a while ago. Two presses of the lock button is meant to deactivate the motion sensor. Ive never really tested it, but I stated doing it because I had the alarm go off when my phone mount fell off in the middle of the night.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Hmmm....I lock mine (U.S. 2001 3.0i) all the time with the top down. Do they all have an alarm? If mine has one, I had no clue. I lock it because it locks the trunk. I've figured anything in the cockpit is not safe so I lock my sunglasses and garage remote in the glove compartment. Not super safe, but outta sight, outta mind.

Where can I learn more about what mine has and how to use it?

 

[motco]

I lock my z3 all the time with the roof down and alarm doesn't go off .
But i have put a bag of shopping onto the passenger seat through open roof with doors locked and set alarm off
Stephen

I seem to remember from the early days of owning mine (September 2009 so a while ago now) that there's some form of space detection in the car below the window line so that with the hood down there's still some form of alarm inside. Having been a manufacturer of intruder alarm equipment over a twenty year period (now retired) I was sceptical, but your post Stevo confirms the claim - thanks.

 

[Z Victor 1]

Had 3 different Z3 s and often locked them with the roof down at shows. A double click on the fob was used to deactivate the alarm, but keep the car locked whenever I went on the ferry to Spain.

 

[Tony Francis]

Ant - on facelift cars with the alarm integrated to the central locking then one press locks the car and arms the alarm, two presses does the same but deactivates the interior sensors and the tilt sensor. Hood position is not connected to the locking/alarm function.

 

[AntStark]

Ant - on facelift cars with the alarm integrated to the central locking then one press locks the car and arms the alarm, two presses does the same but deactivates the interior sensors and the tilt sensor. Hood position is not connected to the locking/alarm function.

Thanks Tony..I will give it another go to make sure it’s not just my ineptitude.