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Thread: Need help diagnosing lock/unlock "chirp/whistle"

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    Overland Park, Kansas
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    285
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    1997 BMW 840Ci

    Need help diagnosing lock/unlock "chirp/whistle"

    The audible chirp/whistle stopped working some time ago. I've searched and searched here to get some guidance on root cause and fix but I've not found much at all. My question is whether anyone here has had that issue and if so, what's the solution?
    When locking with remote, the lights flash, just no audible.

    TIA for any help!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    Liberal Loontown, CA
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    My Cars
    Cool Volvo, Ugly BMW
    The siren which is stashed away under the dash area on the passenger side is accessible by removing the cabin filter housing and reaching into the void to feel for the fasteners. The battery inside often dies and corrodes requiring the entire unit to be replaced. That is the fix.
    Last edited by toomanyparts; 06-16-2018 at 06:31 AM.
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    Thanks. I assume the siren uses coin cell type batteries. Those can't be removed and replaced?

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Location
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    99 840ci Sport Indv
    I think it is the alarm siren that makes the chirp - not the gong (which is for MID announcements) - the siren has moved a few times depending on model year, it was behind the RHS rear wheel arch at some point, but the ETK says it is behind the RH fresh-air duct. They usually use NiCad batteries which fail after a couple of decades....
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  5. #5
    Join Date
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    I don't believe the siren battery is even accessible. The unit is sealed (likely from moisture or for controlling the eventual leak). Would not be worth the trouble to seal back up properly.

    When I pulled mine out the wiring had melted at the connector and there was evidence of burning. I was able to repair it but ended up just disabling the alarm via fuse as the thing goes off constantly for reasons unknown. Would love to solve it eventually.
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    780
    My Cars
    '97 840CI
    I also have a '97 840 and the alarm is on the passenger side tucked away on this model. The weird issue I had was after locking the car, often the alarm would sound a few seconds later. Replacing the unit fixed that.

    Post from awhile ago. http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ighlight=alarm

    (Are photos pulled from Photobucket now showing up?)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    Overland Park, Kansas
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    1997 BMW 840Ci
    I spent all day yesterday detailing for an upcoming show Saturday. I decided to pull the alarm siren and opened it up. It is absolutely not designed to be serviceable and the battery connections are soldered in and corroded. So a new one on its way. Hopefully that will take care of it. $150+ when a few cheap batteries could fix it. Typical BMW... Just like the rear upper wishbones. Did an entire rear suspension makeover this spring. No bushings for those, $500+ each. Thanks to Wokke, new, and better bushings and good to go!

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