Alarm / Horn issue?

[dubwud]

Evening XDrivers.

I bought an E53 X5 about 4 weeks ago and I recently noticed that the horn doesn’t work. When pressing the horn I can hear a relay clicking, but no noise from the horn itself.

I’ve also found that some sort of warning system on the X5 keeps going off on its own. I’m assuming it’s the alarm, the indicators flash and the car continuously beeps, but there’s no alarm sound. Which has led to me to believe this is the reason why the horn doesn’t work. Can anyone confirm if the horn goes off as part of the alarm? I’m starting to think the horn was disconnected because the alarm kept going off, and rather than sorting the problem, the previous owner just disconnected the horn to stop the noise.

I’ve done a bit of searching and found that the likely cause of an alarm problem is the bonnet sensor. I’m planning on securing the sensor in the closed position as a temporary fix to see if this resolves the problem. If it does, I can go about permanently resolving the issue. But at least I can reconnect the horn in the meantime. Can anyone advise me on where the horn is located (I’ve not yet looked under the bonnet of the X5).

Thanks in advance, Jack.

[X5Sport]

Replied to your other thread.  The horn and alarm sounder are not connected.  The alarm uses a separate high pitched, pulsed sounder/siren.  Completely separate from the horn.

I think the horn is down behind the front bumper....but can't remember for certain.  Might have to get at it from below after taking the engine shield off?

[dubwud]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Replied to your other thread.  The horn and alarm sounder are not connected.  The alarm uses a separate high pitched, pulsed sounder/siren.  Completely separate from the horn.

I think the horn is down behind the front bumper....but can't remember for certain.  Might have to get at it from below after taking the engine shield off?
[/quote]

I saw, thanks for the response. I've just disconnected the bonnet sensor so hopefully that resolves the alarm issue. As for the alarm, is the high pitched beeping the only sound the car makes when the alarm is going off? I thought it would sound more 'beefy' than that.

I've not yet attempted the horn, that will probably be a job for the weekend when it's light out.

[X5Sport]

That's the one.  It should be quite loud though.  Not deafening though and shuts down after 30 secs.

[dubwud]

Seems like the alarm / horn issue are not related then.

However, I disconnected the bonnet sensor last night and so far - no alarm!

[storminmike]

[quote="dubwud"]
Seems like the alarm / horn issue are not related then.

However, I disconnected the bonnet sensor last night and so far - no alarm!
[/quote]

Bonnet sensor....well known fail point for alarm.
Pulling wire shuts it up...would buy a new one if I were you

Horn...well 2 horns actually

passenger side between headlight and radiator, reachable by hand. 2 horns (2 cables too, one to each horn) mounted to one flat plate pointing toward the back of the front bumper. Flat plate held on by one bolt midway between the two snail shape horns.