Door wont open

Domotron · 01-08-2021, 09:05 AM

Hi All, I'm in kind of a weird situation.... my front drivers side door will not open from the outside or the inside of the car. Any advice on how to get it open ? i get the "take the to the dealership" but is there anything i can do to get it open and replace the door lock actuator my self ?

njdangelo · 01-08-2021, 09:46 AM

pulling the handle twice from the inside doesn't work? Is the physical lock on the top of the door card up? Have you tried unlocking with the key fob? Not sure how you will be able to remove the door card if you can't open the door at all.

Domotron · 01-08-2021, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njdangelo

pulling the handle twice from the inside doesn't work? Is the physical lock on the top of the door card up? Have you tried unlocking with the key fob? Not sure how you will be able to remove the door card if you can't open the door at all.

when you pull on the inside door handle you can see the lock goes up but it doesnt stay up. Even if you hold it up and try opening from the outside does does not open. As far as the keyfob it opens the other 3 doors but not the drivers side.

njdangelo · 01-08-2021, 10:13 AM

that is peculiar. But it sounds like the lock is actually functioning if the lock goes up.
The only other things I can think to try before going to the dealer is to unhook the negative terminal from battery to reset electronics. maybe there is a way to unlock it with ISTA if you have that but I honestly am not sure.

Domotron · 01-08-2021, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njdangelo

that is peculiar. But it sounds like the lock is actually functioning if the lock goes up.
The only other things I can think to try before going to the dealer is to unhook the negative terminal from battery to reset electronics. maybe there is a way to unlock it with ISTA if you have that but I honestly am not sure.

thank you sir i will go ahead and try that next.

QuikSilver_ · 01-08-2021, 11:08 AM

This has been discussed on the forums before and seems to be a pretty common issue. It happened on my previous BMW but it was intermittent and I never did anything about it. I think you just need to replace the actuator, like you mentioned. As far as instructions, I don't immediately see any DIYs on the forums, but maybe search YouTube as I think others have found help on there.

And of course, if your car is under warranty, then "take it to the dealership"

njdangelo · 01-08-2021, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domotron

thank you sir i will go ahead and try that next.

I would have the passenger door open and unlocked, then pull the negative terminal and see if you could slide into the driver seat with the negative still un attached, double pull the driver handle to open the door. If that doesn't work i would hook up the cable again and repeat the same steps. If neither of that works then I'm out of ideas lol. good luck! keep us posted

Fliplegend · 01-08-2021, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domotron

when you pull on the inside door handle you can see the lock goes up but it doesnt stay up.

This was the exact symptom I had of a failing actuator. Fortunately replaced under warranty but ONLY after providing video proof.

Domotron · 01-08-2021, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fliplegend

This was the exact symptom I had of a failing actuator. Fortunately replaced under warranty but ONLY after providing video proof.

thanks for reminding me to take a video of this !

IAmATeaf · 01-09-2021, 04:59 AM

Have you tried using the central lock/unlock button? When my actuators were unreliable and a double pull wouldn’t open the door I found that hitting the central lock/unlock would always work. Yep really strange as if the actuator was faulty or starting to develop a fault no idea what pressing the button would work.

COKen · 01-09-2021, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmATeaf

Have you tried using the central lock/unlock button? When my actuators were unreliable and a double pull wouldn’t open the door I found that hitting the central lock/unlock would always work. Yep really strange as if the actuator was faulty or starting to develop a fault no idea what pressing the button would work.

Same for me.

Billfitz · 01-09-2021, 11:12 AM

Take the electronics out of the equation by unlocking the door with the physical key. If it still won't open the problem is in the mechanical linkage.

Domotron · 01-09-2021, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmATeaf

Have you tried using the central lock/unlock button? When my actuators were unreliable and a double pull wouldn’t open the door I found that hitting the central lock/unlock would always work. Yep really strange as if the actuator was faulty or starting to develop a fault no idea what pressing the button would work.

yeah i tried just about anything at this time and still no luck i think its time to take it in ...

Domotron · 01-09-2021, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Take the electronics out of the equation by unlocking the door with the physical key. If it still won't open the problem is in the mechanical linkage.

thats what im thinking, ill be taking it in on Monday.. hope they have a way of getting the door to unlock LOL

whatevs · 01-09-2021, 06:08 PM

What are the odds!!!! I juts read about this issue, and my BMW decided to have the same problem!!!!! Looks like I will have to take it in to the dealer! How much damage can I expect?

Domotron · 01-10-2021, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatevs

What are the odds!!!! I juts read about this issue, and my BMW decided to have the same problem!!!!! Looks like I will have to take it in to the dealer! How much damage can I expect?

i'm expecting about $550 but you know how that goes ... might be more lol

whatevs · 01-10-2021, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domotron

i'm expecting about $550 but you know how that goes ... might be more lol

OUCH!!!

Domotron · 01-10-2021, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatevs

OUCH!!!

only because i do not know how they are going to unlock my door to take the door panel off. I'm hopping that they have some kind of a trick but we will see.... hoping for minimal damages on the wallet.

whatevs · 01-10-2021, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domotron

only because i do not know how they are going to unlock my door to take the door panel off. I'm hopping that they have some kind of a trick but we will see.... hoping for minimal damages on the wallet.

Good Luck, and keep us posted!

tex2670 · 01-10-2021, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domotron

when you pull on the inside door handle you can see the lock goes up but it doesnt stay up. Even if you hold it up and try opening from the outside does does not open. As far as the keyfob it opens the other 3 doors but not the drivers side.

lock actuator. lots of threads here about it

Domotron · 01-11-2021, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatevs

Good Luck, and keep us posted!

so got a quote... you'll be looking at around 600-700 all together. 315 of that is just to diagnose and break into the car to be able to get the door panel off. Once they have the panel off they'll have an idea on what actually broken.

Domotron · 01-11-2021, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex2670

lock actuator. lots of threads here about it

yeah looks like a simple job to replace it.... i just wish my door wasn't shut closed. Looks like for most people when it happens you cant lock the door so you still able to open and close it. I'm just the one of the few unlucky ones where you cant unlock the door.

01-08-2021, 09:05 AM	#1
Domotron Captain 150 Rep 757 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 328xi M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: St. Louis iTrader: (2)	Door wont open Hi All, I'm in kind of a weird situation.... my front drivers side door will not open from the outside or the inside of the car. Any advice on how to get it open ? i get the "take the to the dealership" but is there anything i can do to get it open and replace the door lock actuator my self ? __________________ 2014 Estoril Blue II BMW 328i xdrive ///M-Sport
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01-08-2021, 09:46 AM	#2
njdangelo Captain 436 Rep 844 Posts Drives: 2019 x5 50i Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	pulling the handle twice from the inside doesn't work? Is the physical lock on the top of the door card up? Have you tried unlocking with the key fob? Not sure how you will be able to remove the door card if you can't open the door at all. __________________ 2019 x5 50i - current 2016 340i THP stage 2 - gone but not forgotten.
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01-08-2021, 10:13 AM	#4
njdangelo Captain 436 Rep 844 Posts Drives: 2019 x5 50i Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	that is peculiar. But it sounds like the lock is actually functioning if the lock goes up. The only other things I can think to try before going to the dealer is to unhook the negative terminal from battery to reset electronics. maybe there is a way to unlock it with ISTA if you have that but I honestly am not sure. __________________ 2019 x5 50i - current 2016 340i THP stage 2 - gone but not forgotten.
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01-08-2021, 11:08 AM	#6
QuikSilver_ Captain 175 Rep 614 Posts Drives: 2016 F36 M Sport Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 BMW 428i Gran ... [0.00]	This has been discussed on the forums before and seems to be a pretty common issue. It happened on my previous BMW but it was intermittent and I never did anything about it. I think you just need to replace the actuator, like you mentioned. As far as instructions, I don't immediately see any DIYs on the forums, but maybe search YouTube as I think others have found help on there. And of course, if your car is under warranty, then "take it to the dealership" __________________ *2016 BMW 428i Gran Coupe, M Sport, Glacier Silver Metallic*
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01-09-2021, 04:59 AM	#10
IAmATeaf Captain 238 Rep 878 Posts Drives: 2015 F30 335i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 335i [0.00]	Have you tried using the central lock/unlock button? When my actuators were unreliable and a double pull wouldn’t open the door I found that hitting the central lock/unlock would always work. Yep really strange as if the actuator was faulty or starting to develop a fault no idea what pressing the button would work.
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01-09-2021, 11:12 AM	#12
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8255 Rep 16,099 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Take the electronics out of the equation by unlocking the door with the physical key. If it still won't open the problem is in the mechanical linkage.
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01-09-2021, 06:08 PM	#15
whatevs First Lieutenant 138 Rep 359 Posts Drives: 2016 bmw 328 Join Date: May 2019 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	What are the odds!!!! I juts read about this issue, and my BMW decided to have the same problem!!!!! Looks like I will have to take it in to the dealer! How much damage can I expect?
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