Central locking weirdness

[wattsie]

Hi all,

Only had my Z4 a few days, but noticed something weird with the central locking....

Sometimes the unlock button doesn't unlock the doors, it always manages to lock them, and open the boot, but just refuses to unlock them, making me resort to key in the lock. Its made even weirder by the fact that sometimes it unlocks ok, but the passenger door doesn't unlock.....

Any ideas? I've heard about induction charging the keys, but only have an iPhone induction charger, so not sure if the voltage is too high or low etc....

Wattsie

[LukeMace]

Hmm, odd one. The only time I have had any issues with it was if one of my doors was not shut all the way or if the battery in the fob was not great.
Sounds a little more than that in your case though as you said sometimes it can work but the passenger door doesn't work. Frustrating I bet, to say the least!
I'd either take it to the dealership to have a look or decent BMW specialist in the area to see what's what.
Good luck!

Pop up some pics of your car!!

[AlanJ]

Hi all,

Only had my Z4 a few days, but noticed something weird with the central locking....

Sometimes the unlock button doesn't unlock the doors, it always manages to lock them, and open the boot, but just refuses to unlock them, making me resort to key in the lock. Its made even weirder by the fact that sometimes it unlocks ok, but the passenger door doesn't unlock.....

Any ideas? I've heard about induction charging the keys, but only have an iPhone induction charger, so not sure if the voltage is too high or low etc....

Wattsie

does the problem occur with your 'spare' key or just with the one key?

[Mitch89]

I've heard about induction charging the keys, but only have an iPhone induction charger, so not sure if the voltage is too high or low etc....

They charge in the ignition.

[dgm]

Perhaps not the case with your problem but my central locking was playing up a bit before I replaced the battery after which it was back to normal. I'd suggest checking the condition of your battery as a possible cause, quite often electrical issues arise when the battery is on it's way out.

[Zedpete]

Hi wattsie

I'm sure this isnt your priority at the moment as I know you have more serious problems from your latest post but I may be able to help with this one as my zed had exactly the same problem. (always with passenger door and only unlocking was ever a problem and it was intermittent - real pain when you want to get something off the passenger seat as you had to walk around the car and use the key in drivers side door)I had the passenger door lock actuator unit replaced which made no difference (annoyingly) it turned out to be a faulty ZKE or GM5 module (white box mounted underneath the glove box) - take a look at this website for more info, it's very common with e46 bm's http://www.bmwgm5.com/

My dealer and an Indy wanted over £500 for a replacement module which would then need coding to the car but after doing some reading I replaced the faulty relays myself (there are people on eBay who offer the service but you must send the module away to them if you aren't happy doing the soldering yourself - approx £40 I think so even that would be a massive saving.) For me actually cost about £5 to fix so was well chuffed. Hope this helps and that you get other issues sorted. Pete

[RenoRaines]

Hi all,

Only had my Z4 a few days, but noticed something weird with the central locking....

Sometimes the unlock button doesn't unlock the doors, it always manages to lock them, and open the boot, but just refuses to unlock them, making me resort to key in the lock. Its made even weirder by the fact that sometimes it unlocks ok, but the passenger door doesn't unlock.....

Any ideas? I've heard about induction charging the keys, but only have an iPhone induction charger, so not sure if the voltage is too high or low etc....

Wattsie

Try to lock/unlock the car from inside with central console lock/unlock button. If the doors won't unlock it's a good chance that relays in GM5 need replacement. Replacing relays - resoldering or replacing GM5 module.

[Stuart Truman]

I had a similar problem where the previous owner had only ever used one key and the other was dead. A few really long runs fixed it, but as it regained charge it would unlock but not lock. Then went intermittent, then started working. Now I rotate the keys on a monthly basis


Tapatalking...

[E30fixated]

These are good ideas... my problem is related but concerns securing the between-seats "oddments box" and the top/hood-down latch. I thought I had got at the root of it a couple of years ago, but have a recurrence. The lock is controlled by a small electric motor, part# according to my ETK copy is 67 11 6 915 971. A white plastic shaft maybe 3/8" dia actuates the locks. At inconvenient times the shaft goes to maximum extension and becomes jammed in that position. Then you cannot access the oddments box or unlatch the top/hood to raise it . The Bowden cable release is of no value in this case. Has anyone else encountered this problem?

[Ducpor]

Hi wattsie

I'm sure this isnt your priority at the moment as I know you have more serious problems from your latest post but I may be able to help with this one as my zed had exactly the same problem. (always with passenger door and only unlocking was ever a problem and it was intermittent - real pain when you want to get something off the passenger seat as you had to walk around the car and use the key in drivers side door)I had the passenger door lock actuator unit replaced which made no difference (annoyingly) it turned out to be a faulty ZKE or GM5 module (white box mounted underneath the glove box) - take a look at this website for more info, it's very common with e46 bm's http://www.bmwgm5.com/

My dealer and an Indy wanted over £500 for a replacement module which would then need coding to the car but after doing some reading I replaced the faulty relays myself (there are people on eBay who offer the service but you must send the module away to them if you aren't happy doing the soldering yourself - approx £40 I think so even that would be a massive saving.) For me actually cost about £5 to fix so was well chuffed. Hope this helps and that you get other issues sorted. Pete

Hi Pete what did you do yourself to replace . Any photos etc.

[bluespit]

wow - almost 5 year resurrection.

I've changed the GM5 module in my Z, not too hard to get out and back in. I used an eBay company to change the relays but another member did that himself.

in a nutshell....

glove box out, remove plastic cover, unscrew GM5. Hard bit is to remove the three connectors then the unit comes out. Putting it back in is the reverse sequence. I disconnected the battery just in case.

[McDade]

Hi wattsie

I'm sure this isnt your priority at the moment as I know you have more serious problems from your latest post but I may be able to help with this one as my zed had exactly the same problem. (always with passenger door and only unlocking was ever a problem and it was intermittent - real pain when you want to get something off the passenger seat as you had to walk around the car and use the key in drivers side door)I had the passenger door lock actuator unit replaced which made no difference (annoyingly) it turned out to be a faulty ZKE or GM5 module (white box mounted underneath the glove box) - take a look at this website for more info, it's very common with e46 bm's http://www.bmwgm5.com/

My dealer and an Indy wanted over £500 for a replacement module which would then need coding to the car but after doing some reading I replaced the faulty relays myself (there are people on eBay who offer the service but you must send the module away to them if you aren't happy doing the soldering yourself - approx £40 I think so even that would be a massive saving.) For me actually cost about £5 to fix so was well chuffed. Hope this helps and that you get other issues sorted. Pete

Hi Pete what did you do yourself to replace . Any photos etc.

i currently have exactly the same issue with my drives side door. I will take a look at this, thanks for the info

[z4all]

GM5!!!! had this issue. 2 relays, change them, job done. relays are cheap as chips.

[McDade]

I dont suppose anyone has the GM5 module part number to hand do they?

[z4all]

u dont need the whole module, just 2 relays that are on the circuit board