More central locking problems!

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78gizmo
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 265
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Torbay, South Devon

Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:31 pm

Had a few locking issues recently, carried out the red/black wire mod and its been fine since.
About a week or so ago the drivers door lock felt like it was failing so I have used the passenger door to lock the car which worked every time.
Just went to lock the car tonight and the locks just "bounce" (unlocks as the key is released) from whichever lock I try, wont lock at all.
Any advise what to check for this fault please (L reg touring).
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Brianmoooore
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Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:50 pm

Usual reason is that it thinks the driver's door isn't closed.
Your 'L' reg. probably uses different locking actuators from the rest of E30s, and the change most definitely wasn't an improvement! If you have the later type, the actuators are mounted on the top of the door catches, which have to be removed to get at them. There's a switch built into the actuator which is a known weak point, both on these late E30s, and later BMW models which used the same arrangement.
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78gizmo
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Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Torbay, South Devon

Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:17 pm

Thanks Brian, I had better check out realoem for what's fitted to my car and strip the door down.
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Brianmoooore
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Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:12 am

If the two mounting holes for the lock motor, just hidden behind the front edge of the door card, about half way down are empty, then you have the later version. Can't see any reason why it can't be converted back to the older type, although I've never tried.
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