My door keeps opening while driving

Vbstein · Post by **Vbstein** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:36 am

Hi

My 2003 3.0i, had a stiff door handle and my normal garage could see me for over month as they were fully booked. So I took it to another garage who dont specialize in BMW to have it fixed as I thought it would be a small job. However straight after they replaced a cable inside of the door wouldnt open afterwards, which they said was due to a broken lock? They then replaced that and on the way home the door opened by it self. The first time I thought it must of been me being a prat or something, but later that same day it opened another 3 times and to try to stop it I locked the door and now it wont open.

So very annoyed with the garage and the bloody which I have only owned for 2 weeks and now I am £600 down on a door which is still broken.

Silverzedtom · Post by **Silverzedtom** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:59 am

I’d be taking it back to that garage, seeing what they have to say and go from there.

It’s dissapointing to pay £600, most of which will be ‘labour’ and still have the same issue. It sounds like they have made a fair whack from you so I would imagine they shouldn’t have any issues taking a second look.

firebobby · Post by **firebobby** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:22 am

As above, take it straight back to them and get it put right. They have made your car dangerous to drive.
Did you post the original question about your door on the forum first, as it could have possibly saved you a lot of money

GAZA62 · Post by **GAZA62** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:45 am

Agree with above straight back to get sorted and out of interest do your doors not lock themselves as they should do after 5mph.

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:15 am

GAZA62 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:45 am Agree with above straight back to get sorted and out of interest do your doors not lock themselves as they should do after 5mph.

That feature can be disabled I think

Rob

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:50 am

This sounds appalling. It sounds like the new bowden cable is either the wrong one or snagged on something etc so it's pulling on the lock mech all the time so that even the slightest movement is enough to open the door. But then again that wouldnt explain why the door wont open now. Regardless of whatevers wrong here £600 sounds rediculous. iirc the latch mech and cable are under £200 from BMW and it's about an hour work.

Unless of course this is part of a secret plot to get rid of the wife and save on the cost of a divorce!

Ewazix · Post by **Ewazix** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:56 am

£600!!

Don't touch it and leave it with them 'till it's fixed. Did you pay by credit card? if so you have some come-back if they refuse or fail to effect the repair properly.

cj10jeeper · Post by **cj10jeeper** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 11:18 am

Well you’ve been ripped off at that price, but nothing much to do now. certainly go back and have it fixed and for free
The actual issue is that the striker needs adjusting in the door pillar. 2 minutes with a torx to loosen and slide the plate slightly. As the body flexes on bumps it allows the door to slip off the locating loop and open. Seen it many times Inc. On my own which opened a couple of times on the motorway at speed. Very disconcerting

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 11:25 am

One thing I would suggest is possibly going elsewhere and getting it fixed. This door latch stuff is bread and butter stuff to any decent mechanic and certainly diesnt need a BMW specialist. Any competent local garage should be able to sort this quickly. It shouldnt be screwed up in the first place, never mind twice so I personally wouldn't trust them a third time, certainly as their pricing sounds extortionate and this is a safety critical issue. This point I'd take it elsewhere and then tell them you want a refund. If they refuse I'd go down the small claims and trading standards route.
Where abouts in the country are you, perhaps someone local can recommend a local indie.

cj10jeeper · Post by **cj10jeeper** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 12:16 pm

MACK wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 11:25 am One thing I would suggest is possibly going elsewhere and getting it fixed. This door latch stuff is bread and butter stuff to any decent mechanic and certainly diesnt need a BMW specialist. Any competent local garage should be able to sort this quickly. It shouldnt be screwed up in the first place, never mind twice so I personally wouldn't trust them a third time, certainly as their pricing sounds extortionate and this is a safety critical issue. This point I'd take it elsewhere and then tell them you want a refund. If they refuse I'd go down the small claims and trading standards route.
Where abouts in the country are you, perhaps someone local can recommend a local indie.

That route will fail unless you allow the garage the opportunity to fix it and that will be an easy defence for them, unless you have clear evidence of damage, wrong diagnosis, etc.
They can justify the price charged based upon parts and labour rates and will never give a refund.

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 4:38 pm

cj10jeeper wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 12:16 pm
MACK wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 11:25 am One thing I would suggest is possibly going elsewhere and getting it fixed. This door latch stuff is bread and butter stuff to any decent mechanic and certainly diesnt need a BMW specialist. Any competent local garage should be able to sort this quickly. It shouldnt be screwed up in the first place, never mind twice so I personally wouldn't trust them a third time, certainly as their pricing sounds extortionate and this is a safety critical issue. This point I'd take it elsewhere and then tell them you want a refund. If they refuse I'd go down the small claims and trading standards route.
Where abouts in the country are you, perhaps someone local can recommend a local indie.
That route will fail unless you allow the garage the opportunity to fix it and that will be an easy defence for them, unless you have clear evidence of damage, wrong diagnosis, etc.
They can justify the price charged based upon parts and labour rates and will never give a refund.

I think hes already done that by taking it back once when after the initial repair the handle was still inoperative. Then they've diagnosed the latch as being at fault which has led to the door opening on the move and now once again not opening.
I think hes reached a point were a loss of confidence in them is reasonable and justifiable.

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