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Thread: Door Not Unlocking From Inside

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
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    milton-freewater, oregon
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    87
    My Cars
    1996 740iL

    Door Not Unlocking From Inside

    My 2011 535i xDrive has started exhibiting a reluctance to unlock the door when you "double pull" the inside door handle. About 50% of the time you have to press the door unlock button on the dash to get the door to unlock. Since it doesn't fail 100% of the time, I am wondering if there is some sort of maintenance (lubrication?) that needs to be done on the locks? And if so, I'm guessing it would require the removal of the door panel (something that I'm really not looking forward to)?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    eastvale, ca, usa
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    21
    My Cars
    '08 E92/'07 E90/'99 E36
    most probable culprit is the actuator, which requires removal of door panel

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    Correct. Time for a new door lock actuator, "system latch" as BMW parts catalog calls it.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    milton-freewater, oregon
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    My Cars
    1996 740iL
    Thanks for the quick replies. Any estimate as to the difficulty of replacing the actuator? Something that a reasonably capable DIY mechanic can do? Any special tools required? Do I need to have tiny hands and be triple jointed to work inside the door?

    Looks like it's time to start searching for YouTube videos...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Victoria, B.C., Canada
    Posts
    49
    My Cars
    2015 535i M-Sport

    F10 Door latch

    Quote Originally Posted by fisher99 View Post
    Thanks for the quick replies. Any estimate as to the difficulty of replacing the actuator? Something that a reasonably capable DIY mechanic can do? Any special tools required? Do I need to have tiny hands and be triple jointed to work inside the door?

    Looks like it's time to start searching for YouTube videos...
    Found this: https://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1557085

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    milton-freewater, oregon
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    My Cars
    1996 740iL
    Thanks for the link. Sounds doable, but also sounds like a major PITA... I HATE working inside of tight areas where critical stuff has to be done by touch and feel...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    eastvale, ca, usa
    Posts
    21
    My Cars
    '08 E92/'07 E90/'99 E36
    here is my invoice before tax from bmw dealer
    TOTAL LABOR 359.10
    TOTAL PARTS 281.99
    TOTAL SUBLET 0.00

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    milton-freewater, oregon
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    87
    My Cars
    1996 740iL
    Thanks for sharing your cost for replacement. Seems about what one might expect at the dealership. I think I may buy the part online and then check with a local body shop for an installation quote.

    Or maybe I'll just turn off the auto door lock feature so that I don't have to deal with the problem...

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    atlanta
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2011 BMW 535i xDrive
    My car was broken into a few months ago (Drivers door).had the glass replaced. Not sure if the thief messed with my lock or the shop didn't plug something back up but now the door will not electronically lock with the key fob. I have to manually take the key out of the fob and lock the door myself. Also- my alarm will not arm itself unless I open and close my passenger door. Super frustrating..

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    N.C.
    Posts
    47
    My Cars
    11 550i
    FYI I was always told that you shouldn't double pull on the handle to unlock, you are just stripping device that unlocks door.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
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    milton-freewater, oregon
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    1996 740iL
    Quote Originally Posted by CleanBMW View Post
    FYI I was always told that you shouldn't double pull on the handle to unlock, you are just stripping device that unlocks door.
    Really? I think the design is that you are SUPPOSED to double pull when the door is locked. The first pull unlocks the door and the second opens it. If the door isn't locked it only takes one pull.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    N.C.
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    47
    My Cars
    11 550i
    Quote Originally Posted by fisher99 View Post
    Really? I think the design is that you are SUPPOSED to double pull when the door is locked. The first pull unlocks the door and the second opens it. If the door isn't locked it only takes one pull.
    Correct, I was just stating what I was told. So I always just use my door unlock button...

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by CleanBMW View Post
    FYI I was always told that you shouldn't double pull on the handle to unlock, you are just stripping device that unlocks door.
    Whoever told you that was misinformed. They are made to be double pulled. You're not stripping anything.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

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