I took my E38 in for an alignment at Goodyear today. Got in the car afterwards and the door handle didn't open. I thought maybe the car had locked itself somehow, but since the window was open, I just grabbed the interior door handle, opened the door, and went on my way. But later that day, I found that the exterior door handle doesn't work at all now. So every time I need to get in my car, I have to open the rear door, stretch my arm all the way to the interior door handle up front, and push the door open.
I found this guide for the E53 X5 (http://www.xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php?&topic=417.0), but since Photobucket is a greedy company, I can't see any of the pictures. Is the process the same for the E38? Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
10/12 E89 Z4 sDrive35i: Alpine White/Coral Red, 6MT, ZMP
12/01 E39 M5: TiAg/full black leather, Supersprint mufflers + x-pipe, SSK
04/95 E38 750iL: Jet Black/black, M Parallels, Shadowline, x-pipe and muffler delete
I don't know if my late reply is very helpful now, but I think a plate might've shifted out of place.
The same thing happened to my car, but in the rear. I opened up my panel and I saw why. There's a reason plate that can slide left and right on the inside of the handle. If it shifts out of place, the handle doesn't work because their isn't a direct connection with the latch.
10/12 E89 Z4 sDrive35i: Alpine White/Coral Red, 6MT, ZMP
12/01 E39 M5: TiAg/full black leather, Supersprint mufflers + x-pipe, SSK
04/95 E38 750iL: Jet Black/black, M Parallels, Shadowline, x-pipe and muffler delete
I know this is kind of an old thread (maybe you solved the issue already) but in my car, the pivot point of the interior latch mechanism broke and when you pulled the outside handle, nothing happened. I got a sued one from a pick-a-part and removed the old cylinder by pushing three pins (two hold the back of the mechanism to the key cylinder which is held in place by cylinder kept in place by another pin). So, did the switch of cylinders and re-installed everything. Now everything works and two weeks later the rear left door is doing the same (opens from the inside but no from the outside) so I have another trip pending soon!
Jimmy Moreno
BMW CCA 115551
1986 535i, Arctic Blue
2012 X5 XDrive 501, Sparkling Bronze Metallic
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