E30 Zone

Hi Guys, My BMW 320i E30 1989. The boot lock as been in the horizontal position since I bought it a year ago. Everything including the boot locked from the drivers door. Both the keys I got are marked with an "S" which I assume is the Service key. Last week my wife put the key into the boot and turned it anti-clockwise so the slot is in the vertical position. Lock is now solid. The central locking opens and closes the doors but not the boot.
Please help. Oomtom

Sounds like the deadlock has been set on the boot. If the lock has gone solid try oiling it and manipulation of the key to open it.

Hi DHFiS - And thank you for replying. I have tried oiling it as you suggested but no go. I think my problem is that
I only have the service key and not the main key.

If that is the case, and your car is on its original lockset, you should be able to get a new key from the dealer for a reasonable price. You'll need your V5 and photo ID to pick it up. (and chassis number to order it). I did this and it new key arrived in a week or so.

Morat

Thank you Morat I will try that. Problem is I live in South Africa and they are not as efficient as the UK. Only hope it is the original lockset. The car is a 1989 model and I have only had it for a year or so. Thanks again.

I have ordered a replacement key using the chassis number, the key would lock the door but not set the deadlock.
Can you get into the boot by taking out the back seat and using the ski hatch panel?

Hi DhfiS - I will have a go at that during the Xmas break. That would possibly let me empty the contents but would the lock be "get attable" once I was in there.

Hi

As a last resort you could get a lock set and a correct colour boot lid off ebay then cut your boot lid to get to the lock then change em all. drastic i know but it would sovle all the probs in one go.

darren

Daz318is wrote:Hi

As a last resort you could get a lock set and a correct colour boot lid off ebay then cut your boot lid to get to the lock then change em all. drastic i know but it would sovle all the probs in one go.

darren

So much easier to sacrifice a rear light unit.

Thank you Chris-W for the suggestion. Can I ask, as the boot lock was sort of forced into the Vertical position, would sticking a flat screwdriver in the slot and twisting it to the horizontal position be an option or is the resultant possible damage not worth it.

Sorry to be a pest but as I am in South Africa, even finding a rear light unit may be a mission. Oomtom.

Well you#re only going to damage the barrell / lock, so why not - give it a whirl.

Thank you Chris-W and everyone else who responded, especially at this time of year. I wish you all a blessed Christmas and be safe and well over the festive period. Oomtom

Hi Guys - Well Christmas has come and gone for another year. Sad to say my boot is still locked. I took out the rear seats but there is no ski panel just solid metal. I contacted two BMW agents here in South Africa about getting a replacement key. One said no way the car is too old go see a locksmith. The second said yes but it will cost around R850.00 no guarantee that it will work. The locksmith wants R320.00 just to have a look and a new replacement lock will be around R1000.00.

As I am on pension neither of them is attractive.

The boot lock pushes in easily, so is my only alternative to drill the key slot or force a screwdriver in there and twist?

Sorry to be a bother.

oomtom wrote: there is no ski panel just solid metal.

Are you sure? There might well be a steel panel there, but it's mostly perforated around the edge, and is easy to punch out.

what does R1000.00 equate to roughly in £'s? i got a 2 keys and a new lock from bmw for my touring tailgate for about £43 iirc. to get a key made from your chassis number was about £90 but as theres no guarantee you still have the original lock thats a risk. cant you order from a bmw dealer in europe over the internet?

Could the genuine BMW parts section on the Zone help with a new key??

I know a locksmith who can dismantle any lock barrel and make a key to suit (he's a genius). If you could remove the barrel I'm sure you could find someone of a similar disposition down there.

Alternatively if the boot lock is damaged you could get a full set of matching locks (doors/boot/ignition) with keys off eBay or the Zone or else there may be someone breaking a car on here with a full set...

A bit of DIY would be involved but it would be an economical and practical solution if you are in a position to do the DIY yourself.

Good luck with it.

Hi Brian, Fuzzy and Frogman and thank you very much for responding. As to the Ski panel I will have a look again but forgive my ignorance, what would a ski panel be doing behind a fixed seat in a saloon car. The seat does not even have an arm rest. As to the locks, before I destroy the existing one I will first make sure I can get a replacement for it.

Thank you once again and a very happy 2009 to everyone. Oomtom

oomtom wrote:Hi Brian, Fuzzy and Frogman and thank you very much for responding. As to the Ski panel I will have a look again but forgive my ignorance, what would a ski panel be doing behind a fixed seat in a saloon car. The seat does not even have an arm rest. As to the locks, before I destroy the existing one I will first make sure I can get a replacement for it.

Thank you once again and a very happy 2009 to everyone. Oomtom

take out the rear seats in the middle of the upper rear you'll see an oval type plate that is only tack welded in place and eay to get out,,
have a look first.

I've replaced a broken E30 boot lock in the past - got a new lock and key from Euro Car Parts and just punched a screwdriver into the faulty one - bootlid pops open, unscrew faulty lock and fit new one - job done.

Means you have a separate key which only fits the boot but at most its a 10 minute job. IIRC the boot lock wasn't expensive either.

capri_rob wrote: just punched a screwdriver into the faulty one - bootlid pops open,

Not so sure that'll work if the lock is in the deadlock position, like this one is.
It's possible to drill a small hole behind the number plate position to release the catch.

oomtom wrote: what would a ski panel be doing behind a fixed seat in a saloon car.
Oomtom

I think the way it works is BMW allowed for a ski hatch in all cars as an option. If the option was specified the car came with an opening rear seat allowing access to the book, if not specified a blanking plate was tack welded over the opening and the seat back was solid.

Brianmoooore wrote:

capri_rob wrote: just punched a screwdriver into the faulty one - bootlid pops open,

Not so sure that'll work if the lock is in the deadlock position, like this one is.
It's possible to drill a small hole behind the number plate position to release the catch.

You may be right Brian - however if the lock is knackered anyway I would try the screwdriver method before drilling holes in the bodywork !

DHFiS wrote:

oomtom wrote: what would a ski panel be doing behind a fixed seat in a saloon car.
Oomtom

I think the way it works is BMW allowed for a ski hatch in all cars as an option. If the option was specified the car came with an opening rear seat allowing access to the book, if not specified a blanking plate was tack welded over the opening and the seat back was solid.

good answer and also correct

The 'plate' over the ski hatch isn't welded in - it's part of the same sheet steel that surrounds it, but is stamped out, apart from a few small bridges of steel, each a few mm wide.

capri_rob wrote:

Brianmoooore wrote:

capri_rob wrote: just punched a screwdriver into the faulty one - bootlid pops open,

Not so sure that'll work if the lock is in the deadlock position, like this one is.
It's possible to drill a small hole behind the number plate position to release the catch.

You may be right Brian - however if the lock is knackered anyway I would try the screwdriver method before drilling holes in the bodywork !

A one mm hole is plenty big enough, and hidden by the number plate in any case. Must be over ten years since I've done it though!
The point is, this lock isn't knackered - it's just been turned to the deadlock position by the service key, and now can't be turned back again.
All it needs is the correct key!

i have a spare boot lock you can have for £20 posted to south africa. comes with key aswell lol
thanks
josh

Hi everyone and thank you for all your helpfull suggestions. The boot is now open I am relieved to say. I managed to find a local locksmith who picked the lock, removed the unit, stripped the lock and made a new key for me. It took him around 35 minutes and the charge was the equivalent of 8 pounds sterling pensioner rates.

I very much appreciate all the help. Oomtom

bargain,glad it's sorted.