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Thread: E39 sedan trunk electric open not working

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1996 e39 528i

    E39 sedan trunk electric open not working

    G'Day All,

    I've been the happy owner of a 1996 e39 528i sedan for two weeks now and have been slowly working through my gremlin list with the help of the FAQ.

    I haven't been able to solve one though, the trunk (boot here in Australia) latch is not working.
    - Mechanical opening with the key ok
    - All other trunk electrical ok
    - Lights OK
    - Central locking from trunk key barrel ok
    - Harness looks ok pulling back the rubber from the trunk lid end
    - trunk open switch - no response
    - interior trunk open switch - no response
    - Key fob is worn out/broken. All central locking done by the trunk key barrel, driver door key barrel or interior central locking switch

    Not sure what the next step should be diagnosing this issue.

    Thanks in advance.

    Shane.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    114
    My Cars
    2001 540i M-Sport
    Mine wasn't working either when you used the button on the boot lid. The button inside the cabin worked and so did the remotes.

    The problem was the wires that run from the cabin to the boot lid.

    I also had a problem with the center brake light which was also due to the same wires.

    One wire had completely broken and 2 others were hanging on by a thread. The problem was more towards the cabin side of the rubber boot between the boot and the cabin.

    I cut and spliced in a new section of wire to each of them and re-wrapped them in insulation tape and now everything is working fine again.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1996 e39 528i
    Thanks Junglist,
    I'll inspect the wiring harness more thoroughly and see what I find.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    11,537
    My Cars
    1997 BMW 540i 6 speed
    When you squeeze the handle on the lid, do you hear any noise? If so, the actuator is stripped.

    If not, the actuator may have died.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1996 e39 528i
    No sound at all.

    I'm thinking dead actuator but wondering if there is any way to test it without buying a replacement?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    114
    My Cars
    2001 540i M-Sport
    You can test the switch easy enough by checking the impedance with a multi-meter.

    Pelican Parts has a decent write-up on how to get to the parts and testing them...

    https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...eplacement.htm

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1996 e39 528i
    Thanks Junglist.

    So good!

    I'll report back with my findings.

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