Driver Interior Door Handle broke...

[GoldenOne]

Hey all,

For some reason this morning my interior door handle(lever) doesnt work anymore...There is no resistance in the motion so I am assuming maybe a spring or something of the sort broke? Any clue what I should check?

BTW...the outside handle still functions properly so I can open and close the door...otherwise that would suck lol....TIA

[Rus]

The actuator cable has slipped out of the hole in the handle's arm. The cable has a round hook on the end and fits into a small rubber insert in the handle arm inside the door panel. You will need to take the panel off and reinstall the cable. Mine is currently kept in place by a small rubber band while I search for the plastic insert that has broken (part number anyone?).

[Rocky Balboa]

There's a cable called a Bowden cable that connects your door handle to the door lock actuator. The Bowden cable is made from stranded wire, and has hooks on both ends. The wire may have become frayed and broken, and allowed one of the hooks to pull out.

[Bill R.]

the white jacketed cable with the golden colored end on it that every body here is mentioned. As stated by others it probably came unhooked or the cable broke or frayed (not Likely though) or the portion of the handle that the cable attaches too broke, (i've seen a few like this)http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/window3.jpg





Hey all,

For some reason this morning my interior door handle(lever) doesnt work anymore...There is no resistance in the motion so I am assuming maybe a spring or something of the sort broke? Any clue what I should check?

BTW...the outside handle still functions properly so I can open and close the door...otherwise that would suck lol....TIA

[Hal]

I did have the cable break just where the hook is crimped onto the cable, near the door handle, so it can happen. My brute of a wife broke the cable after she closed the door on the seat belt buckle, then had to pull really hard on the interior door handle to get the door open. Instead of openning, the cable snapped (apparently after being worn at the spot where it broke).

It was not hard to fix.

Hal

1994 530iT Nikasil powered 156k mi
1999 528iT 92k mi

[Jon K]

Guys on a similar note - my drivers door handle on the inside works but only if the lock pin is up - it no longer unlocks the doors when i pull it - any ideas?

[GoldenOne]

thanks guys, now that I think about it...i do remember it would take a couple pulls before it would unlock and i guess it finally disconnected or broke itself...hopefully I can get some time this weekend to check it out!
Thanks again! and a special thanks to Bill R for the pretty picture!!

And to double confirm it is part 12 correct?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/s/r/5.png

[Rus]

Yes, part # 12 in the picture.

[GoldenOne]

I did have the cable break just where the hook is crimped onto the cable, near the door handle, so it can happen.

Looks like that happened to me...where the cable meets the metal hook broke/frayed....go figure..

http://free.300zxclub.com/files/2/DSC02975R.JPG
http://free.300zxclub.com/files/2/DSC02976R.JPG

[Jon K]

Looks like that happened to me...where the cable meets the metal hook broke/frayed....go figure..

http://free.300zxclub.com/files/2/DSC02975R.JPG
http://free.300zxclub.com/files/2/DSC02976R.JPG

Thats exactly what mine did - how do you unhook or replace the end inside the door?

[GoldenOne]

replied in your thread...

[patznu]

thanks guys, now that I think about it...i do remember it would take a couple pulls before it would unlock and i guess it finally disconnected or broke itself...hopefully I can get some time this weekend to check it out!
Thanks again! and a special thanks to Bill R for the pretty picture!!

And to double confirm it is part 12 correct?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/s/r/5.png
Finding this part is now the only task at hand, thanks to all that contribute. I also have been riding around for few days now without this door panel attached simply to figure out how to unhook this simple wire.

[patznu]

Not exactly a breeze, but not difficult, I do suggest that all try this atleast once to experience the thrill of hunt.....:D