Help! Stuck trunk, not the lock either

[Beitie]

I'm new here, and just got my 328iS a few weeks ago. I had this problem as well. It looks like a very common problem. I'm able to get the trunk open now after looking at how it works (I'm lucky and have fold down seats). Seems the lock actuator doesn't like to engage when turned to the unlock position. It just hits the finger instead of sliding under it as suppose to.

Anyone who has a good fix for this, it'd be nice to see.

[bewing]

Just in case this helps anyone with the same problem, here is the location where you should drill the hole behind the license plate:

30mm (1.2") right of center;
40mm (1.6") down from the license plate lights.

Drill a 1" hole centered at the above coordinates, then use needle nose pliers to pull the exposed rod up to unlatch the trunk. Once you have the trunk open, loosen up the carpet panel that covers the latch mechanism and re-attach the rod to the button mechanism. Then use a small zip tie to secure the rod from falling off again.

Finally, use touch-up paint to cover any bare metal in the hole you cut, and use a 1" rubber cap to close off the hole.

The plastic bushing that was supposed to hold the rod in place was so loose in my car that it was a miracle it stayed on at all. I recommend everyone install a zip tie to prevent this problem from happening. It's cheap insurance from having to drill a hole in your sheet metal.

OneTimeCRX had it right (1996 328i Convertible): drill there and the rod is right in front of you. Pull it up (down?) and you're in. A 1/2" hole allowed my electrician's pliers in. Great!
HOWEVER! There was no broken plastic pin -- clearly, the mechanism was completely intact, even though it was exactly as described (push the button in and there's no resistance, turn left and hear unlock mechanism clicking.) But when I closed the trunk again, it wouldn't open. Here's what fixed it: I pushed down on the right side of the top-storage lid, immediately behind and to the right of the convertible top (I expect the same might happen with the left) and I heard a click at the lock and I was in again (i.e., I never needed to drill a hole, just push down on the lid.)
BMW's logic goes like this: we know that you have close the trunk to put the top up or down. But evidently you also have to have the top fully up or down to open the trunk. Now, if I could just get the top working...

[alliwrench]

reviving an old thread to see if I can get some help. I am having the same problem on a 98 323 ci, so I drilled the hole in the location described. I don't see a rod, but I see where the rod would go, so I suspect the rod broke or came out of the mechanism. without the rod to pull on, is there any other way to open the trunk?

[deathsled]

This ended well. I called an independent BMW Mechanic. He fixed it in about 5 minutes and charged me $10.

He drilled a small hole through the sheet metal hidden behind the license plate. From there, he could feed a skinny screwdriver in to catch a latch and pop the trunk. The whole problem was caused by a small plastic bit working free of a linkage. Reattach the plastic bit and the linkage... problem solved. He explained how it worked, but I never thought to ask how in the hell he had figured that trick out.

Just goes to show, I am pretty handy with a wrench, and I can read a Bentley guide... but I am not a mechanic.

Does anyone know where I drill to do this? Pop the latch with a screwdriver? I drilled a hole and was able to grab the rod connected to the latch, but the rod seems to have come off the latch now as I'm now able to see the bottom of the rod after pulling up on it....so that's out of the picture.

**edit**

aaaaand nevermind! I was able to extend my existing hole a little further downward and flip the latch itself with a screwdriver. People should go straight for the latch instead of the rod.

[BrianSpangler]

Just in case this helps anyone with the same problem, here is the location where you should drill the hole behind the license plate:

30mm (1.2") right of center;
40mm (1.6") down from the license plate lights.

Drill a 1" hole centered at the above coordinates, then use needle nose pliers to pull the exposed rod up to unlatch the trunk. Once you have the trunk open, loosen up the carpet panel that covers the latch mechanism and re-attach the rod to the button mechanism. Then use a small zip tie to secure the rod from falling off again.

Finally, use touch-up paint to cover any bare metal in the hole you cut, and use a 1" rubber cap to close off the hole.

The plastic bushing that was supposed to hold the rod in place was so loose in my car that it was a miracle it stayed on at all. I recommend everyone install a zip tie to prevent this problem from happening. It's cheap insurance from having to drill a hole in your sheet metal.

Sorry, I know this was a while ago, but I just bought my first BMW and on my 07 328i I drilled the hole and don't see any rods. Just 2 cables. Looks to be electrical for the actuator maybe. I really don't want to take it in to the dealer so I'm hoping someone knows how to get to this rod. Thank you!

[shogun]

This is the E36 forum, better ask for your 2007 328i in the 2006 - 2012 (E90, E91, E92, E93) forum https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/f...0-E91-E92-E93)

[dan22205]

Just in case this helps anyone with the same problem, here is the location where you should drill the hole behind the license plate:

30mm (1.2") right of center;
40mm (1.6") down from the license plate lights.

Drill a 1" hole centered at the above coordinates, then use needle nose pliers to pull the exposed rod up to unlatch the trunk. Once you have the trunk open, loosen up the carpet panel that covers the latch mechanism and re-attach the rod to the button mechanism. Then use a small zip tie to secure the rod from falling off again.

Finally, use touch-up paint to cover any bare metal in the hole you cut, and use a 1" rubber cap to close off the hole.

The plastic bushing that was supposed to hold the rod in place was so loose in my car that it was a miracle it stayed on at all. I recommend everyone install a zip tie to prevent this problem from happening. It's cheap insurance from having to drill a hole in your sheet metal.

I failed to resecure the rod all the way after replacing the micro switch. This worked for me. Thanks