E30 Zone

I have asked about this before, but I was still holding out that the keys for my 325 parts car would turn up...but no luck.

People have told me to take out the front screen, but don't you have to push the window out from inside the car? I can't damage the screen because it is un-marked and I want it for my touring.

I know this might seem a stupid question but as it's a saloon(5 door) would it be possible to break the quarter glass and pull the handle while someone pulls on the outside. I sure the door will be sticky too as the car has sat for years. Or will the door still not open because of the central locking?

With spring approaching I need to get the decent wings off it for my touring. and I've been held up by my mate trying to find the keys. It's got to the point where I will break the side window if I have to and climb in to pop the bonnet. but as I will need to keep the car water-tight to save the seats, less damage the better.

Any (more) ideas?

Thanks.

You can pop the bonnet with the car locked - IIRC you need to remove one of the front grilles - either that or there is an access hole - its for if the bonnet cable snaps.

I would go with taking the windscreen out.

Remove the small metal covering clip on the lower run of the rubber,then pull the locking strip out.Ease the seal from the glass,and lift it out.A pair of those sucker thingys would be handy,as will an extra pair of hands.You will be suprised at how far the 'screen will flex....

daimlerman wrote:I would go with taking the windscreen out.

Remove the small metal covering clip on the lower run of the rubber,then pull the locking strip out.Ease the seal from the glass,and lift it out.A pair of those sucker thingys would be handy,as will an extra pair of hands.You will be suprised at how far the 'screen will flex....

+1 on this

Use a couple of wooden spatulers from the kitchen to gently ease the seal along, its very easily done!

is it dead locked ? with key barrel facing side ways ?

snap the aerial off.. go and buy some this metal centred garden plant twine (the flat plastic stuff.. it's green and is a couple of quid for a big reel from B&Q)) thread it through the centre of the aerial tube.. make a small loop in the end, pull the top of the door and wedge it with a flat bladed screwdriver, (you can actually pull them open quite far without much damage!) then just noose the knob with the small loop while directing the wire with the aerial tube, pull fairly tight with the tube and then pull steadily up and voila..
it's technically known as a 'slim jim' .. I have made them out of all kinds of things including hacksaw blades etc.. (you just thread the twine through the hole in the end and bend the blade to suit.. handy as its flat) but the principle is the same.. E30's are easy to break into sadly...

Have a prod around the front jacking point with a screwdriver and then go at it with a knot brush. Most E30's have an access point for a small child here who could go in and unlock it for you.

just stick your hand through one of the rust patches and crawl in from underneath?

Very funny Duke, I had 2 of these access points but I welded them closed as my wife kept complaining that her shoes were being scuffed on the road surface.

The last time I got locked out of my e30,I called a road service truck that used an airbag device to create a gap between the B pillar and the body of the car.He then used a hook to pull up the lock.Took about 20 minutes total.

boomerm20 wrote:The last time I got locked out of my e30,I called a road service truck that used an airbag device to create a gap between the B pillar and the body of the car.He then used a hook to pull up the lock.Took about 20 minutes total.

thats just a posh version of my trick

honestly.. B&Q twine and a bit of pi**ing about and you'll be in in minutes!

To the OP pm on it's way ;)

Duke137 wrote:Have a prod around the front jacking point with a screwdriver and then go at it with a knot brush. Most E30's have an access point for a small child here who could go in and unlock it for you.

Epic

you're in Kings Lynn. Push it to the fairstead.

Tom_Maverick wrote:

boomerm20 wrote:The last time I got locked out of my e30,I called a road service truck that used an airbag device to create a gap between the B pillar and the body of the car.He then used a hook to pull up the lock.Took about 20 minutes total.

thats just a posh version of my trick

honestly.. B&Q twine and a bit of pi**ing about and you'll be in in minutes!

Won't work if its deadlocked.

Flat, plastic parcel binding. 8 seconds tops. I just timed myself trying it on mine. Old habits, and all that.

Why not pull the rear screen out if your worried about breaking the front screen

If you end up going down the smashed window route... I have Genuine Replacement replacements

Smash the fooker. Then Pm me.

As someone has already said, if it's deadlocked you still won't be able to use the driver door, have to use the passenger door.

How about drilling out the damned lock barrel.

If it's deadlocked you won't be able to open the passenger door, the boot or any other door. That's the point of deadlocks.
I've seen my brother in law open a car door by hooking up the lock pin in only a very slightly longer time than it would have taken him with the key. Pulling out the top of the door shouldn't damage anything, and if you do overdo it and bend it out slightly, it's easy enough to bend back in again.
I've made a slight 'adjustment' to the top door frame of many cars, including E30s, to cure wind noise.

Threads like this is why I like to fit cabby door pins

Yeah this wants deleting!

There's nothing in this thread that all the thieving scrotes out there won't already know!

stew72 wrote:you're in Kings Lynn. Push it to the fairstead.

Haha....they will come out like rats and there will only be a shell left!!

Maybe a nicer shit-hole like south-lynn would be better

I've seen broken down cars that have been left for more than 2 days get chucked on a hi-ab... for a weigh in. People turn up with jump leads but the problem has already been solved!! lol.

gudgeon wrote:As someone has already said, if it's deadlocked you still won't be able to use the driver door, have to use the passenger door.

How about drilling out the damned lock barrel.

How do you do this??

Duke137 wrote:Have a prod around the front jacking point with a screwdriver and then go at it with a knot brush. Most E30's have an access point for a small child here who could go in and unlock it for you.

I know you are right...that's why I don't want to look. lol.

This is the car (2 good wings, in black) and how the lock sits.

Thats deadlocked - pulling up the door-pins won't work.

Screwdriver time !

capri_rob wrote:Thats deadlocked - pulling up the door-pins won't work.

Screwdriver time !

Cheers... that's what I was trying to get to the bottom of. everyone was giving up their quick break in methods but forgot about this.

I must admit I wasn't sure if it was dead-locked or not.

Now what will I gain from knocking that lock in??? People have been telling me to do this..how will that help un-lock the door?

Still worth a try on the passenger door pin. Lots of E30 deadlocks don't work properly, and there's a good chance you'll get lucky.
Doesn't do any damage, and doesn't take long, so why not?

has it got windy windows at the back or leccy ? ther is a trick to get in with out smashing or drilling anything