Setting off the alarm when unlocking w/ key

[rul70]

When unlocking my car (1995 740iL) using the key (both main keys and valet key), the alarm goes off when I open the door. This happens both when the car was locked using the remote control and the key. When unlocking using the remote however, I have no problems. This is bad since it prevents me from using the valet key.

Has anyone experienced a similar issue or have any thoughts?

[autobonrun]

I have only had this problem when I double lock using the remote and forget and unlock with a key. If I single lock with the remote, I can open with my key without an alarm. If I single or double lock using a key, I can unlock with the key without an alarm.

You should not get an alarm when you lock and unlock with the key. Test the single lock feature using the key and remote. Then move on to the double lock feature and try it again. Other than disconnecting the power to reset everything, I can't offer much advice.

[rul70]

Thank you very much for your reply “autobonrun”.

I don’t think I know what you mean when you talk about single- and double-locking. As far as I am aware there is only one way to lock using the remote (press the lock button) and one way to lock using the key (turn it once). Please explain.

I did however realize the following when experimenting with unlocking once and twice:

1) turning the key once will unlock the driver’s door but NOT deactivate the alarm, resulting in the alarm going off when opening the door
2) turning the key once more (which is supposed to unlock remaining doors) will do NOTHING, not unlock any additional doors nor deactivate the alarm

Again, when unlocking using the remote it works as expected; one push unlocks the driver’s door and deactivates the alarm, a second push will unlock the remaining doors.

[autobonrun]

Assuming your 95 is similar to my 93, I have three buttons on my remote. The top button locks all doors. The middle button again locks the car but also places a "friction" lock on the locking knob inside the car and activates the alarm. This prevents the door from being unlocked by breaking out the window and lifting up on the latch. On the older BMW's, this "friction" feature was manual. As you turned the key all the way horozontal, you had to overcome some resistance that performed the same function. This is what I refer to when I say double lock. The bottom button on my remote is a panic and is unused. I just got in my car and tested these features. Sure enough, if you double lock your car, you can not lift the latch. Try it on your 95 by getting inside the car and pressing the top button on your remote. It should lock the doors but you should be able to unlock them by lifting up on the door knob. Try it again then also press the second button. You should see your alarm light flash and you should be unable to lift up on the door knob.

If you use the key and turn it one time to the right and release, it locks all the doors and returns to vertical. Turn it to the right again until you hear a click and this places the equivalent of the friction lock feature and activates the alarm.

With all the windows down and the sunroof open, if you turn the key all the way to the right and hold it, it should lock the doors, close all windows and close the sunroof.

Hope this helps.

[rul70]

The remote for my –95 is different from what you describe; I have one lock button that locks all doors, one button that opens the driver’s door (one click) or all doors (two clicks) and the last button opens the trunk.

From asking around I think the problem might be with the transmitter in the driver’s door. This would explain why I can unlock the driver’s door with the key (no transmission necessary) but am unable to unlock the other doors using the key (which would require the transmitter to work). It would also explain why the alarm is not deactivated since this would also require the transmitter to function. Lastly, it would explain why the remote in the key works since this is a separate transmitter.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.