Battery HELP, noting works including the locks, need to get into the trunk!

[stal023]

Seeing if anyone has any tricks/helpful info for me to fix this issue. Somehow the passenger door didn't shut all the way, so the lovely window didn't go up all the way when I locked the car and left it. When I went back a few days later, the car was dead. To my surprise, I couldn't even use the key to unlock the car. So I unlocked the trunk and took the battery out and did a quick charge. Took it back and the light in the trunk came on briefly but I still couldn't unlock the car. When I went back to the trunk, no light so I thought, maybe I need to do a slow charge on the battery. In that mix, I shut the trunk to only realize I had dropped my only key in the trunk.

Fast forward, I was able to break into the car via the manual top but I still can't open the trunk or unlock the car. The only thing I could do is pop the hood.

Any ideas on how I can get this trunk opened to get my key??

And why can't unlock the dang car?

 

[MKZ4000]

Although it won’t help you get your key, you could have charged the battery from the engine bay using the terminals.

You could also used a booster pack to provide sufficient power to operate the central locking .

Hopefully someone will have some tips to get into the boot as I recall others having the same issue

 

[enuff_zed]

Can you get the bonnet (sorry, hood) open if you've got access to the car?
If so, connect a good battery or jump-start pack across the terminals in the engine bay and that should hopefully give you sufficient power to press the trunk button and unlock it.

 

[RobbiZ4]

Any ideas on how I can get this trunk opened to get my key??

A BMW service men should be able to get it opened with their service tool.

 

[stal023]

Quick update, after reading a number of posts that indicated the posts under the hood would do nothing, I figured I had nothing to lose in trying to hook up a smart battery. I can confirm for a US car, it indeed DID work to where I could hit the trunk release button to open the trunk. I re-installed the battery and got everything to work EXCEPT the key will not unlock the doors. The central unlock button works and so does the fob, but not the key. I am baffled by this. All you experts, what does that indicate is wrong?

 

[stal023]

Although it won’t help you get your key, you could have charged the battery from the engine bay using the terminals.

Where the car is parked, I do not have access to electricity, hence why I took the battery out to charge it.

 

[enuff_zed]

Quick update, after reading a number of posts that indicated the posts under the hood would do nothing,

Very odd when you consider that's effectively what they're there for, to transmit power from a charger to your battery. If your battery is still connected to the rest of the system then logically, after a few minutes to boost it a bit, it should provide enough power to open the boot.
Anyway, glad that bit worked.
Sorry, can't help with the key though.

 

[SonnyA85]

Quick update, after reading a number of posts that indicated the posts under the hood would do nothing, I figured I had nothing to lose in trying to hook up a smart battery. I can confirm for a US car, it indeed DID work to where I could hit the trunk release button to open the trunk. I re-installed the battery and got everything to work EXCEPT the key will not unlock the doors. The central unlock button works and so does the fob, but not the key. I am baffled by this. All you experts, what does that indicate is wrong?

The battery in your key is dead

 

[stal023]

Quick update, after reading a number of posts that indicated the posts under the hood would do nothing,

Very odd when you consider that's effectively what they're there for, to transmit power from a charger to your battery. If your battery is still connected to the rest of the system then logically, after a few minutes to boost it a bit, it should provide enough power to open the boot.
Anyway, glad that bit worked.
Sorry, can't help with the key though.

The battery was not connected, removed it to charge it and then accidentally dropped my key into the trunk and shut it.

 

[stal023]

Quick update, after reading a number of posts that indicated the posts under the hood would do nothing, I figured I had nothing to lose in trying to hook up a smart battery. I can confirm for a US car, it indeed DID work to where I could hit the trunk release button to open the trunk. I re-installed the battery and got everything to work EXCEPT the key will not unlock the doors. The central unlock button works and so does the fob, but not the key. I am baffled by this. All you experts, what does that indicate is wrong?

The battery in your key is dead

Battery in my key? The fob works to lock/unlock. Putting the key in the driver's side door, doesn't lock/unlock.

 

[enuff_zed]

Quick update, after reading a number of posts that indicated the posts under the hood would do nothing,

Very odd when you consider that's effectively what they're there for, to transmit power from a charger to your battery. If your battery is still connected to the rest of the system then logically, after a few minutes to boost it a bit, it should provide enough power to open the boot.
Anyway, glad that bit worked.
Sorry, can't help with the key though.

The battery was not connected, removed it to charge it and then accidentally dropped my key into the trunk and shut it.

My mistake. Teach me to skim read.
Ah, who cares, it worked

 

[SonnyA85]

Quick update, after reading a number of posts that indicated the posts under the hood would do nothing, I figured I had nothing to lose in trying to hook up a smart battery. I can confirm for a US car, it indeed DID work to where I could hit the trunk release button to open the trunk. I re-installed the battery and got everything to work EXCEPT the key will not unlock the doors. The central unlock button works and so does the fob, but not the key. I am baffled by this. All you experts, what does that indicate is wrong?

The battery in your key is dead

Battery in my key? The fob works to lock/unlock. Putting the key in the driver's side door, doesn't lock/unlock.

Will be the central locking module that's gone then I think it's called a GM5 but I'm sure you can search on eBay for one of the breakers in the for sale section don't have one

 

[stal023]

Will be the central locking module that's gone then I think it's called a GM5 but I'm sure you can search on eBay for one of the breakers in the for sale section don't have one

That doesn't make sense to me since the locks are all working electronically. They just don't work with the actual key.

 

[SonnyA85]

Will be the central locking module that's gone then I think it's called a GM5 but I'm sure you can search on eBay for one of the breakers in the for sale section don't have one

That doesn't make sense to me since the locks are all working electronically. They just don't work with the actual key.

Have you tried pairing the key to the car?

I have had my battery die several times on the car and my keys still worked.

It's possible part of the module has died. The module controls a lot of functions. It could be the radio for the signal for your key is dead. The antenna which picks up your fobs signal.

Basically go through the list of everything involved in the central locking one by one until you find the issue.

 

[buzyg]

From recent posts it seems WD40 may be the answer. :wink:

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

Will be the central locking module that's gone then I think it's called a GM5 but I'm sure you can search on eBay for one of the breakers in the for sale section don't have one

That doesn't make sense to me since the locks are all working electronically. They just don't work with the actual key.

Doesn't make sense to me either (but then nor do a lot of things!)
I think this thread has become a little confusing, (or again, maybe that's me), so let's clarify your position...

the key fob will remotely operate the central locking;
the internal button will operate the central locking;
the key fob will open the boot/trunk;
the other internal button will open the boot/trunk;
the key will not manually operate the door locks;
the key will not manually operate the boot/trunk (?);
the key will start the engine (?);
the internal door handles will open the doors, when locked (?).

When was the last time the key was used succesfully in each lock, and how often do you normally use the key in that way?

Does that cover everything? Sorry, I've no idea myself but hopefully from an easy-to-read list of symptoms someone will find it glaringly obvious.