Central Locking, GM5... and roof issues.

[Stu23]

Hi all

I have the standard GM5 central locking issue now affecting my 04 3.0i. I've read all about it on here, know where it is and who can fix it. My problem is, I can't do without the car right now, probably can't drive it without the GM5 present (wipers, particularly, in this weather :!: ) so need to keep it in action for a few weeks.

Is there a work around for opening the passenger door lock with the GM5 relays inoperative? It would make life a lot easier to use the car and also to get the GM5 out.

I've already found the fuel cap release... that was my first panic! Second one, I managed to actually lock myself in the car on Sunday morning and had to hand the keys to a passerby to let me out. (Roof is a bit buggered too at the moment, not sure if they're related, it unlocks but goes nowhere)

I'd absolutely love to hand this over to an expert, and get the GM5 and electrics for the roof gone through thoroughly. Any recommendations for someone in the Swindon/Bath/Bristol/Reading area? Everyone I've come across is either London or up in the North...

 

[wonkydonkey]

How about buying a GM5 module (from eBay or from this forum), installing it and making sure it works, sending yours off for repair, and then selling the temporary module on eBay or on this forum?

 

[Stu23]

Needs recoding to the car, apparently.

I've now exchanged emails with Autoworks in Swindon who are prepared to take the box out for me so I can send it away. If I can muddle through until the weather improves slightly I can use my motorbike (also a BMW ) while it's being turned around.

Also spoken to Mervyn Ashton of Autoelectron in Harrogate who fixes these things for fun (or at least for £55).

Maybe Autoworks can finally sort the roof out in the couple of days it takes to fix the GM5... I'll pop in and see them tonight and see if they give me a warm fuzzy...

 

[colb]

Member in Bristol moves roof motor/pump to the boot for a fee, done a few by all accounts on here. Did mine myself but mine was bone dry when I pulled it out which may not be the case with yours. The motors if drowned can be revived with a bit of fettling. Well worth moving it to the boot so it never suffers from water damage in the future.
As to the GM5 ebay unit may well be the way to go and send yours off for repair as suggested coding the replacement may be a problem if you can't do that.
Interesting thread on GM5 coding on an E46 here, worth a read
https://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1083237

 

[Stu23]

No 5 (Alan) has already done the roof motor into boot for me... this is something else... sensors maybe, or motor finally giving up the ghost.

Unlocks, whirrs a bit, goes nowhere, won't relock... have to do it manually.

 

[colb]

Code reader should show some faults on the roof module if you plug it in, INPA or BMW Scanner 1.4 will read the module.

 

[Stu23]

Ah... black magic!

I really will have to get into that stuff... Are they hardware or software to run on Windows laptop? What do people use and recommend?

 

[Stu23]

Interesting thread on GM5 coding on an E46 here, worth a read
https://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1083237

Well that's 10 minutes of my life I won't get back...

I could buy a used one with the same tired old relays as a stopgap, but they seem to cost more than the repair on eBay UK.

Will the GM5 units from an E46 work? Can get them for 25/30 quid...

 

[Stu23]

And... bit more reading...

I see on the E89 posts, people talking about replacing "salmon" roof relays.

Any relays in the E85 roof motor circuit I should be checking/chucking?

 

[colb]

If you want to set yourself up with diagnostics on a laptop easiest is the BMW Scanner 1.4 it reads all the modules and has some coding options as well as being able to clear codes. Far easier to set up than BMW INPA and provides enough capability for what most of us require. Available from ebay sellers https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fits-BMW-OBD-Scanner-1-4-0-Diagnostic-Interface-Code-Reader-Scan-Tool/301942381738?hash=item464d2b1caa:g:VckAAOSwdrhbz1CJ

You can find cheaper sellers usually from China if you can put up with the postal delay, the link posted shows seller in Gillingham UK so may be quicker.
Software works on my E85 Z4 and E36 Z3

 

[Stu23]

So last night, I'm driving home and randomly prodding the door lock button. At some point the door locks popped open.

With the opportunity of an open passenger door, I leapt in and performed the contortionist act required to remove the GM5. With the help of several posts on this forum, it came out relatively easily. The same cannot be said for extricating myself from the footwell

This morning, it's snowing! Popped the box back in to reinstate the wipers, but now absolutely nothing controlled by the GM5 works... windows, locks, wipers etc... so I drove into work with no wipers.

Some research here suggests it may just be fuse 10, but I'll wait till it stops sleeting out there to go and look. Hopefully I haven't fried the box.

Maybe I should have remembered to disconnect the battery

 

[Stu23]

Quick update: Went and had a play at lunchtime and two of the plugs fell out... I hadn't got them engaged fully. A quick double click, and everything came back online... :roll:

Whipped the box back out and posted it off for repair by Mervyn in sunny Harrogate... Should be back in a couple of days with nice new lock relays in.

 

[Stu23]

And 48 hours later, box is back, connected and all working! Highly recommend Autoelectron if you have the same issue.

Also got a perfect roof motor from him at the same time. Yet to fit it and see if it helps, but it can't hurt!

 

[Stu23]

Roof motor issues continue...

So I removed the old motor from the pump (thank God it's in the boot) and attached the new one. Was a bit surprised that it leaked a little hydraulic oil from base of pump, but bolting up new motor seems to have sealed it again. Is that normal? I would have expected pump to be sealed?

Roof now works perfectly. Off out for a drive, sun comes out so pull over and lower roof. Jerk, Jerk, jerk, stops half way... close and lock it manually again!

Any suggestions? Have I just lost enough oil that it needs topping up?

 

[colb]

Since you previously activated the manual override make sure that the valve that the cable activates by pulling the metal plate over the ball valve on the pump has not stuck in a partial open position, spray some WD40 on it and press it in to make sure it works and pops back up when released, if its sticking tap it with a small panel pin hammer to work it in and out so it operates freely. If you lost oil when changing the motor then top it up but do not over fill it, it needs space left for the oil to return from the rqams when they are operating. You can buy 6he correct bmw oil at BMW or as some people do use hydraulic jack oil. Jerking movement you have sounds like low oil but it could also be the valve sticking so it isn't operating at enough pressure.

 

[Stu23]

Thanks. Just been out to have a look... bypass is in the right place, but fluid is very low. With pump at an angle in the boot, not getting consistently to the pickup. Makes sense with the jerky operation.

Will pick up some fluid tonight. Just hope it's only due to the motor swap and I don't have a leak... :?

 

[Stu23]

Bought a 10 quid bottle of oil on the way home and put about 30p worth in the pump reservoir. After about 10 slowly improving jerky cycles, it’s now working sweet as a nut.

So, doors locking and roof working. Guess we’re done here!

Thanks, everyone!

 

[colb]

Seems you sorted it, if you suspect a leak its probably one of the pipe connections on the rams, check if there is any trace of leaking oil showing up on the floor beneath the car, leaks should end up there if indeed there is a leak. Its a roof off job by all accounts to get at the rams.

 

[Stu23]

Lost some oil changing the motor over. I’m hoping that’s the end of it. Doesn’t seem to be dropping further.