Can the trunk lid be fully shut without a battery? Can you override the soft close?

[goinstrong]

I am chasing a draw on the battery in my 1995 E38, but until I find it, I disconnect the negative terminal when I arrive at my destination. However, the trunk won't fully close. I took out the fuse for the soft close, but it didn't help.

Is there a way to override the soft close system, so the trunk will shut completely and tightly? I park with the trunk lid facing downhill when it rains, so this is less than fabulous. Thanks!
Tim

[dougdadmac]

Looks like you can beat it: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...=closing+trunk

[goinstrong]

Dougdadmac,

Thank you! That will work! As a work around, I connected my battery charger to the connectors in the engine bay with the battery disconnected and removed from the trunk. When I closed the trunk, the soft close operated. Then I disconnected the charger. The information from your post will work all the time!

[CPHES]

Yeah. I just close it. Insert the key and turn full left to open. ( 2000 750iL )

[Qsilver7]

Just a visual for what has already been revealed...just make sure that your trunk lock cylinder works...lubricate it if you've never done so to make sure that it will turn 90° counter clockwise to the UNLOCK position:

{manual trunk operation from the owners manual}

[goinstrong]

Dougdadmac,

Just confirming that what you sent works perfectly!! Thanks again.
Tim

[dougdadmac]

Glad it works for you. Good luck on finding your electrical drain.

[goinstrong]

Thanks!

[goinstrong]

I may have found my battery drain. Tomorrow I will know for sure. It looks like it was a bad amplifier was causing a 2.5+ amp drain. Because of the kindness of another forum member, I was able to swap in their amp, and now the drain looks to be around .2-.3 amps, which is well within spec. I will report back either tomorrow or Sunday with the final verdict...