pasanger door only opens from inside

[FastFreddy]

Hi,

I have a 97 328is and the pasanger door will only open from the inside. The door got progressively hard and harder to open from the outside till it finally wouldn't open. Any idea of how to fix this?

Thanks

[flyfishvt]

Pull the inside panel and check all the linkage for the outside door handle. Lube everything in sight except the glass and the window motor. If the linkage is intact it could easily be the latch needs adjusting. Coupe's especially have a problem with this because the doors are heavier and they have no frame around the window for extra support.

[pment]

Can you roll down the window first and then try opening from the outside?

[FastFreddy]

Can you roll down the window first and then try opening from the outside?

tried this and it made no difference


Pull the inside panel and check all the linkage for the outside door handle. Lube everything in sight except the glass and the window motor. If the linkage is intact it could easily be the latch needs adjusting. Coupe's especially have a problem with this because the doors are heavier and they have no frame around the window for extra support.

how do I safely remove the door panel so I can put it back together afterwards?

[drunkgoose]

I have the same problem on my drivers door on my 01 330Ci... tried lubing it, helped a little, but when i pull the handle still feels like i'm just yanking the door out

[Sicnessk4]

Just had it repaired on my 94 325is driver door.

Was really hard to open, then it "poped". Theres alot of hard plastic pieces inside the door handle. Those eventualy snap, iv heard from many places BMW has really bad door handles :mad

So basicaly, check the linkage inside the door. If everything seems fine then its the plastics inside the door handle. $300 Canadian i was quoted for OEM but i found a used one in good condition for $100.

Good luck!

EDIT: Link for a DIY http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=709257

[earthwormjim]

Adjust how far in/out your door striker is. Over time closing your door pushes it in and this can lead to a very difficult to open door.

Don't wait either, the stress required to open the door when the striker is pushed to far in WILL break your door mechanism eventually.

[brunp]

Hi there,

I just replaced my door handle because like you, it got harder and harder to replace. I have had to put the replacement posting on my website, but will do so shortly.

One or more of the plastic pieces broke inside the door handle. If you feel no resistance, then, this is likely the cause.

There are a couple DIY's on removing the door panels as part of the speaker upgrade. Removing the door handle itself is a bit of a pain and requires lots of patience since you have to remove the window guide rail, and all that other good stuff. The one I used for initiating my door handle replacement was right off BimmerForums, however, there were a couple gotcha's which required me to think about it for a bit before going to the next step. It is not easiest location to work with, so good hand dexterity is a must.

Not a fun job...so, if you are not comfortable with it, I would take it to your preferred mechanic (who knows BMW's) to do the job. Count on at least 4 hours of their time to do it. It took me 6, so I think it would be shorter for them for sure.

Hope this helps...

Paul

[bimmerfeel]

Also, the pot metal which makes up the bulk of the handle mechanism will bend (slightly) over time when we use the outside handle to pull the door open after unlatching it. Best, then, to use the (outside)door handle to simply unlatch the door, and then pull the door open using(grasping) the inside edge of the door.

This is why the handle becomes progressively harder to open towards the end of it's life-cycle; the pot-metal has begun to stretch/bend, it requires more effort (pull) to cause the unlatching which just stretches the mechanism more, etc. etc. till either it stops functioning altogether or simply breaks.

So by using the handle only to unlatch and the door edge to pull open, the useful life of the handle mechanism will be extended indefinately.

[Mad Machine]

Funny how it is the passenger door and not the driver's. My Ti suffers the same problem with the same door. you would think the driver's door would have this happen first and more often as it is the door that is the most used

[bimmerfeel]

You're right, it's ordinarily the drivers side. E-bay auctions for E36 driver door handles can go above $100.00, but pass. door handles all day @ "buy now $25.00". They probably can't even give 'em away...