Key stuck in ignition...

[supadupa64]

Ok so my key won't come out of the ignition. It won't turn to the last spot. Steering is not locked. I can drive the car. Just can't get the key out.

Tried everything I could think of. I looked inside where the mechanism is and didn't see anything messing with it.

 

[Rockhopper]

Is an Automatic? Is it in Park?

 

[supadupa64]

Is an Automatic? Is it in Park?

Yes, it's in park. Yes, it's automatic.

I tried putting it in N. I also sprayed some lube on the shift button as well thinking maybe it was just getting sticky...

 

[Rockhopper]

Could it be the gearbox position switch on the side of the box? Is the yellow cog light lit up on the dash?

 

[SonnyA85]

The car thinks it's not in park or it does and the disengage to the lock is broken. A common fix for any seasoned mechanic. My mechanic explained the whole system to me when the gear shift seized on my auto.

 

[enuff_zed]

The car thinks it's not in park or it does and the disengage to the lock is broken. A common fix for any seasoned mechanic. My mechanic explained the whole system to me when the gear shift seized on my auto.

So as it's all been explained to you, why not help this poor chap out and tell him?

 

[Scubaregs]

The car thinks it's not in park or it does and the disengage to the lock is broken. A common fix for any seasoned mechanic. My mechanic explained the whole system to me when the gear shift seized on my auto.

So as it's all been explained to you, why not help this poor chap out and tell him?

Probably didn’t understand the explanation...........

 

[enuff_zed]

The car thinks it's not in park or it does and the disengage to the lock is broken. A common fix for any seasoned mechanic. My mechanic explained the whole system to me when the gear shift seized on my auto.

So as it's all been explained to you, why not help this poor chap out and tell him?

Probably didn’t understand the explanation...........

Well as I've had a beer or two and am celebrating the footy result I'll make a suggestion:
Gather together all your friends (Note, this obviously means it wouldn't work for me :roll: )
Hold the key still and get them to turn the car.

 

[Scubaregs]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], FFS, you're just as bad for withholding key information, clockwise or anticlockwise?

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], FFS, you're just as bad for withholding key information, clockwise or anticlockwise?

Dunno mate? Only got a digital watch. :wink:

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], FFS, you're just as bad for withholding key information, clockwise or anticlockwise?

Dunno mate? Only got a digital watch. :wink:

And anyway, it's both, depending if you're looking from the front or the back.

 

[Scubaregs]

Show off, I've only got an old Rolex.

 

[SonnyA85]

The car thinks it's not in park or it does and the disengage to the lock is broken. A common fix for any seasoned mechanic. My mechanic explained the whole system to me when the gear shift seized on my auto.

So as it's all been explained to you, why not help this poor chap out and tell him?

I did.

The car thinks it's not in park or it does and the disengage to the lock is broken. A common fix for any seasoned mechanic.

You cannot remove the key if it's not in park. Try it.

There is 2-3 different systems which tell the lock to disengage and let you take the key out and one of them is the park lock. Any decent indy will be able to fix it for him.

When you move the shifter from drive to park can you feel the lock disengage on the key itself. If so then it's one of the other locks that isn't disengaging if you cannot then you know it's the shift lock that's broken.

Any decent mechanic will have fixed this before maybe not on a z4 but other cars or bmws.

 

[enuff_zed]

The car thinks it's not in park or it does and the disengage to the lock is broken. A common fix for any seasoned mechanic. My mechanic explained the whole system to me when the gear shift seized on my auto.

So as it's all been explained to you, why not help this poor chap out and tell him?

I did.

The car thinks it's not in park or it does and the disengage to the lock is broken. A common fix for any seasoned mechanic.

You cannot remove the key if it's not in park. Try it.

There is 2-3 different systems which tell the lock to disengage and let you take the key out and one of them is the park lock. Any decent indy will be able to fix it for him.

When you move the shifter from drive to park can you feel the lock disengage on the key itself. If so then it's one of the other locks that isn't disengaging if you cannot then you know it's the shift lock that's broken.

Any decent mechanic will have fixed this before maybe not on a z4 but other cars or bmws.

No, you said you knew the answer. In fact you meant take it to a mechanic.
Not got time to try the key thing, too many eggs to suck! If you read the initial comments you'll see the OP knew that bit. He was hoping for help to fix it.

 

[supadupa64]

Ok, so I've read there may be a pin I can try to push to remove the key, but I can't seem to find where that is in the steering area. I took it a apart a bit, but maybe it's not for Z4.

 

[DMike]

Hi supadupa,
Underneath the black ring surrounding the key hole there is indeed a hole, which is used to remove the complete lock barrel - needs two bmw special tools (one is like a pin) and you probably don’t want to go that way anyhow.

TIS says there is a mechanical connection, a bowden cable, ”interlock” from the shifter to the ingnition lock.
”
The ignition lock is mechanically connected to the selector lever via a Bowden cable. The withdrawal lock only permits the ignition key to be removed in selector-lever position ”P”.
Vice versa, the selector lever can only be moved from selector-lever position ”P” when the ignition key is inserted and turned to at least ignition ON.
”
Your specific symptom is not described in TIS, but bowden cables occasionally fail or just need a drop of oil and some adjustment. I have the relevant TIS pdfs for you, one explaining the system and two with instructions to adjust or replace the cable. Can’t post them here but could send them if you pm your email?

 

[supadupa64]

I disconnected a cable, but it didn't work. I looked at the manuals, but honestly couldn't make much sense of it. I also did not see a hole anywhere around the ignition.

 

[supadupa64]

Got it out.

 

[pvr]

How?

 

[enuff_zed]

Got it out.

Excellent. Please tell us how.
As you can see from the lack of clear advice given, this is not a common issue encountered on this forum, so any feedback you can give would be gratefully received.