[-berq-]

Hi guys,

I was having a perfect outing with the family and all of a sudden when we arrived home, I couldn't open the tailgate either by remote, button on the footwell or on the tailgate itself. I've basically pulled out most of the floor covers to find if there's any "emergency release cable" but didn't find any near the battery or any areas on the floor.

Anyone have experienced this before? Thanks!

[teaston]

Can you open just the window part of the tailgate still?

[-berq-]

Nope it can't be opened as well. I've checked the fuse and everything is a-ok

Originally Posted by teaston

Can you open just the window part of the tailgate still?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by -berq-

Nope it can't be opened as well. I've checked the fuse and everything is a-ok

Ok so that's ruled out the tailgate latch, it looks like a problem with the tailgate lock then. I guess you've tried repeatedly locking and unlocking the car?

[-berq-]

Originally Posted by teaston

Ok so that's ruled out the tailgate latch, it looks like a problem with the tailgate lock then. I guess you've tried repeatedly locking and unlocking the car?

Yes I've did. I've tried disconnecting the battery as well in hope to reset anything but it still wouldn't open

[teaston]

Originally Posted by -berq-

Yes I've did. I've tried disconnecting the battery as well in hope to reset anything but it still wouldn't open

I think you might need to call BMW assist out.

[BrennanF30]

Take it back to your dealer and throw the keys at them, assuming you still have warranty

[-berq-]

Originally Posted by BrennanF30

Take it back to your dealer and throw the keys at them, assuming you still have warranty

My AUC warranty expired last month. What luck

[Blacktemplar]

Is there a small covered panel on the inside of the tailgate somewhere? I read somewhere that the X5 has something like that you can prise off to access an emergency cable pull. I'll have a look at mine and see if there's anything obvious

[....,,,,..,,..]

You may find something has obstructed the locking mechanism on the boot, if it was closed correctly, then the window part would open, it's quite basic.

When the boot is an open position (or car thinks it is) then the rear window will not open.

Try popping in to the boot area see if anything has obstructed the mechanism closing.

I think the fault may actually be 'unable to fully close tailgate'

[-berq-]

Originally Posted by Blacktemplar

Is there a small covered panel on the inside of the tailgate somewhere? I read somewhere that the X5 has something like that you can prise off to access an emergency cable pull. I'll have a look at mine and see if there's anything obvious

I've looked up realoem and there is actually an emergency cable pull in the panel but to prise it out the boot needs to be opened as there's clips at the sides

[-berq-]

Originally Posted by Brigand

You may find something has obstructed the locking mechanism on the boot, if it was closed correctly, then the window part would open, it's quite basic.

When the boot is an open position (or car thinks it is) then the rear window will not open.

Try popping in to the boot area see if anything has obstructed the mechanism closing.

I think the fault may actually be 'unable to fully close tailgate'

I'll have a look at it again and when you mentioned it I do remember that when I drove the car yesterday, the 'boot is open' sign came out.

[Blacktemplar]

Originally Posted by -berq-

I've looked up realoem and there is actually an emergency cable pull in the panel but to prise it out the boot needs to be opened as there's clips at the sides

That seems like a bit of a design fail - surely the only reason you'd need to open it using the cable would be if it was shut.....

Had a look at mine, there look to be two panels on either side of the recess for the emergency triangle - that's the only place I could think of, and as you say you'd need to break the retaining clips

[bill_f31]

Have you tried the dash button?

[willjames]

Originally Posted by -berq-

My AUC warranty expired last month. What luck

This may be a daft question but how old is your car? You say your AUC warranty expired but if your car is less than 3 years old, irrelevant of the fact it's AUC it's still under warranty.

[-berq-]

Originally Posted by Blacktemplar

That seems like a bit of a design fail - surely the only reason you'd need to open it using the cable would be if it was shut.....

Had a look at mine, there look to be two panels on either side of the recess for the emergency triangle - that's the only place I could think of, and as you say you'd need to break the retaining clips

I've opened both side of the emergency triangle and couldn't find any cables there. I'm not sure where BMW is hiding it now

[-berq-]

Originally Posted by bill_f31

Have you tried the dash button?

Yeah I've tried the button on the driver's footwell and it did nothing as well

[-berq-]

Originally Posted by willjames

This may be a daft question but how old is your car? You say your AUC warranty expired but if your car is less than 3 years old, irrelevant of the fact it's AUC it's still under warranty.

It's almost 4 years old now so its out of warranty now

[WalterMB]

Hope you get it sorted OP. I didnt know there was a button in the footwell to open the tailgate and i've had my car almost a year!

As far as the warranty is concerned it may be worth double checking if the car is less than 4 years old. I bought a 2.5 year old mini cooper s a few years ago from a main dealer and the 12 month warranty started at the end of the 3 year manufacturers period. Not sure if that was normal or just part of the overall deal

[Daftasabrush]

Just in case you didn't know, this is the boot lock motor, might be worth seeing if it's connected properly, if it is, you *might* want to risk taking it apart to pull the cable that comes out of the bottom of it. No idea what's going on inside the motor though so I don't take any responsibility for any damage you might do

[Steces]

Do you have a dog?

Electric close on my LR got snookered by dog hair even though the boot itself was regularly hoovered and looked clean

[....,,,,..,,..]

Did you get this fixed?

If so what was the solution?