How to open a locked left Rear door

[Kavish]

Hi, my rear left door is stuck locked... guess the actuator of the locking mechanism has failed. Any advise on how to unlock the door as from the inside, ill have to pry apart the door card and I dont want to damage it.
Thanks

[shogun]

see my post from 2016 https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ar-door-SOLVED

[Kavish]

Thanks for the link Shogun... just wondering if it might be the child's lock that doing this since the inside handle feels restricted (the movement) and the outside handle was already broken.

[ross1]

What year is the car? The lock actuators changed significantly post '91. The earlier, divorced from the latch, versions are notorious for seizing up which will prevent door opening as you are experiencing.
If this your case disconnecting the actuator rod will enable you to unlock and open the door.

[zubbie]

Some more threads

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...t-won-t-unlock

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...tuator-removal

[Kavish]

Mine is a '94. M43B18... Im so perplex to rip the door card off and breaking it... mine are in a good shape but brittle due to old age. That's why ive been living with a three door car for a year now :P

[zubbie]

My car was in exactly the same state as yours when I bought it. Left rear locked. If you follow the instructions it will come off. I had to rebuild the door card bottom with some fiberglass but that was more due to age than my removal.

It all works fine now.