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View Full Version : Drivers side door lock stays up after manual unlocking procedure


willobmw
07-29-2005, 02:45 PM
First I must say this is a great board with a great group of guys dedicated to a great car the E34. :D
Now to the problem. I didn't fully close my trunk Wednesday night and I didn't drive it on Thursday. This morning I was looking forward to a quick trip in the 535i to visit my son (200 miles round trip). Go to open the door to leave and I can't get in. Do a little head scratching and say a few explicatives and find the trunk is not fully closed. Duh. No sweat. I know I have seen of a way to get in somewhere.
I search my Bentley. Found it. It states up to 7/90 use the driver's side door. After that use the passenger side. My car was built 9/90. The vague as usual instructions get me no where. The Mrs. convinces me to abandon the problem and take the E12. Another great car. I flog it there and back. Now I return to the 535i. Log on to this great site and do a search. A lot of hits (a common problem). I try the hood latch. Nope. I keep trying the passenger side (Bentley) to no avail. Power to the license plate light. Nope. What the Hell, I'll try the driver's side using Bill R's easy uncomplicated write up. Presto I'm in. After a jump start, I'm again listening to the sweet sound of That Eisenmann exhaust. Next let's synchronize the locks. What, the drivers door won't lock now. Please don't tell me I need to go into the door panel. All the other doors and trunk lock.
Help and Thanks Again,
Willobmw
1990 535i approaching 112k miles
1981 528i approaching 88k miles
1975 2002 over 300k and still counting(although very slowly)
Paul in NZ
07-29-2005, 03:20 PM
if you have all the locks in the same position after locking and unlocking acouple of times ,still no joy?If you sit in the car or lock the door from outside with the door closed and window down with the knob do all te other locks follow?Sometime this weekend i am gonna dive into mine..check the boot hinge wring then into the door :(
BigKriss
07-29-2005, 03:46 PM
I find the schrinization of the locks play up sometimes ( the drivers door stays unlocked) with all other doors are locked. you have to keep on playing with the drivers side lock, turning to both sides (full lock) and (full open) for a few minutes. its tricky sometimes.
willobmw
07-30-2005, 03:46 AM
I find the schrinization of the locks play up sometimes ( the drivers door stays unlocked) with all other doors are locked. you have to keep on playing with the drivers side lock, turning to both sides (full lock) and (full open) for a few minutes. its tricky sometimes.
Still won't lock.
Paul in NZ
07-30-2005, 03:51 AM
if you have drivers door closed and push the knob down by hand ????
BigKriss
07-30-2005, 05:31 AM
Still won't lock.

My scenario is the drivers door won't lock but all the other doors will lock. they are un-schronised. normally on the first lock the 3 door lock and then about 1 second later unclock again. on the second time to lock the doors the 3 door remained locked but the drivers side didn't.

the method I use and I have done this twice within the last 12 months and I did it a few days ago. try to deadlock the car while lifting after the driver door handle. then try and open the door while putting the key all the way to the open position (as much as possible), but don't force the lock. I just try this for a few minutes back and forth. I also try and play around with the door, open and close it a few times while trying to lock and unlock. I know all this may seem a bit of non-sence, I just know I like my car to be locked and it worked for me. It is tricky. good luck
willobmw
07-30-2005, 06:25 AM
I already tried that. It won't budge. I'm going to try BigKriss's suggestion. I hope it works.
Thanks for all the help.
Willo
BigKriss
07-30-2005, 05:23 PM
if you have drivers door closed and push the knob down by hand ????

if you push the knob then you have to leave the car through another door becuase it's now locked.
willobmw
07-30-2005, 06:26 PM
I went and did some yard work, relaxed and then tried BigKriss's suggested method. It worked. Thanks BigKriss and everyone else for all the help. Like I said before what a great board.
Willobmw
BigKriss
07-30-2005, 08:27 PM
I went and did some yard work, relaxed and then tried BigKriss's suggested method. It worked. Thanks BigKriss and everyone else for all the help. Like I said before what a great board.
Willobmw

wow, good work mate. another job you don't have to pay someone to fix. It can take up to five minutes of fiddling around. Next time it happens I'll try and video tape it. This is maybe the easiest way to expain how to do it.
bmwoohoo
07-31-2005, 12:43 PM
My drivers door won't work with the remote ... the other doors go down then back up on the first attempt then the non drivers door do lock on the second attempt..

I tried Kris's technique but got the dogs barking with the alarm going off ..
Javier
07-31-2005, 07:19 PM
My drivers door won't work with the remote

Think the remote has nothing to do with this, that is the reason I asked you to try with the key in the passenger's door and check for the same behavior (also try the trunk lock).

I would check the trunk lid hinge (search for hinge in the forum). Also what you describes (first attempt: drivers knob don't even moves, second attempt: it finally goes down), seem as a lack of lube on the actuator and/or lock hardware. Remember that if after a lock command, any front door or trunk do not respond, the General module will issue an unlock command in order to warn you about the issue, a second attempt will succeed. (Of course leaving unlocked the offending device).

Javier