Door Opening Problem

[uuf361]

Ever since I've got the car opening the drivers door has always been a little but today stopped working altogether for a time.

I've sprayed some WD-40 (the fixer of everything :wink: ) to no avail......

When you lift up the handle there's no 'clonk' like the handle is doing anything in the mechanism - the passenger door seems normal....

Any suggestions ?

 

[bcworkz]

Sounds like the actuator rod or a related connector has either broken and/or become disconnected. No matter what, you'll need to pull the door card to investigate/repair.

 

[cj10jeeper]

The cable between the handle and lock mechanism has stretched. Bet it works again tonight as its cooled...
Solution is strip the door and rebuild lock assembly with new cable.
Wd40 etc won't help.

 

[uuf361]

Sounds way too complicated for me sadly

 

[Stuart Truman]

Put out a shout for a recommended indy maintenance outfit near you then. There's a veritable wealth of knowledge of reputable spanner wielders on the forum. Good luck with it!

 

[uuf361]

Put out a shout for a recommended indy maintenance outfit near you then. There's a veritable wealth of knowledge of reputable spanner wielders on the forum. Good luck with it!

I did that when I first got the car and got almost nil response unfortunately

Will do some investigatory work today (that'll even be past my limit!)

 

[cj10jeeper]

It's part 7 you need based on what you've posted:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT52&mospid=47797&btnr=41_1477&hg=41&fg=40

Actually rather difficult and fiddly to strip out and fit for a first time.

 

[uuf361]

If it makes any difference, the door open fine from the inside and the clonk is there, so to me seems like a problem with the handle connecting to the right bit of the mechanism ?

 

[andysat]

I think you need to at least take the door card off to investigate.

 

[uuf361]

Is there an easy way to do that?

It doesn't look massively easy

 

[cj10jeeper]

If it makes any difference, the door open fine from the inside and the clonk is there, so to me seems like a problem with the handle connecting to the right bit of the mechanism ?

As posted, it's part 7 on the real OEM link, which is the cable connecting the handle to the lock mechanism. The fact that it opens correctly from inside just further confirms this as the inner uses a different cable. The only other possibilities are: handle catch broken or cable fallen off, both unlikely.

Frankly you will not see anything removing the door card and will need tools/ technique to get the handle off and mechanism out to fit it.

 

[uuf361]

Need to find a tame indy who's not going to charge the earth then......

Any suggestions in the Gatwick area ?

 

[cj10jeeper]

Need to find a tame indy who's not going to charge the earth then......

Any suggestions in the Gatwick area ?

pvr is tha man to ask about the Gatwick area. pm him if he's not along soon.

shame - I'll be overnighting in Gatwick next Saturday before flying out, but no time else I'd have done it for you.

 

[uuf361]

Cheers for the info

 

[fairzy]

Interesting topic this. Got a similar problem with my passenger door. 50-75% of the time it won't unlock from the remote, or the lock button on the central console but will always work from the door catch (inside the car).

Is this likely to be the same cable which has stretched? Especially as it seems to work better when it's cold!

Has anybody replaced the cable themselves who could give a few details how it's done? Or know anyone round the MK area who could do this ;-).

 

[cj10jeeper]

Interesting topic this. Got a similar problem with my passenger door. 50-75% of the time it won't unlock from the remote, or the lock button on the central console but will always work from the door catch (inside the car).

Is this likely to be the same cable which has stretched? Especially as it seems to work better when it's cold!

Has anybody replaced the cable themselves who could give a few details how it's done? Or know anyone round the MK area who could do this ;-).

I'd say this is a different issue as the cable merely connects the handle to the lock mechanism. For your issue I'd be looking at wiring, connections in the loom or lock mechanism.

 

[uuf361]

Any idea the easiest/best method for removing the door panel ?