New car - my first list of niggles.....your guidance please?

[330-singh]

Hi,
Picked up my Convertible the other day and there are a few niggles I needed your help with diagnosing please.
1) Central locking was working when I picked it up but then stopped and now I can't even lock the door and the passengers side door remains locked and so does the petrol flap (I had to prize that open to get petrol for my 100mile jouney back home!).
2) Interior fan not working with any speed.....not sure if the temprature is working as there is no air coming through the vents so perhaps need to get the fan working to know whether there is an underlying issue with the heater also?
3) I have an annoying noise coming from the rear - it sounds a bit like gravel kicking up into the rear wheel arches    on inspection I can't see what it could be - the chap I got the car from did remove the rear bumper and have it painted and refitted if that helps?

I think thats it for now.....  
enough to keep me busy over Xmas I think!
Any help is much appreciated.....thanks.

[capri_rob]

1) Start by checking the large relay behind the speaker in the drivers footwell - this could be wet/faulty.
Then search on here for red/black wire mod which helps cure many C/L issues.

2) Check fuses. Fan itself may be seized - you can remove the access hatch in the engine bay and try and turn the fan by hand - if its tight or wont move at all remove it and free it off using wd40 and/or oil until it runs freely and quietly.

3) Not sure on this - check there's not stuff rattling around in the boot ?

HTH

[330-singh]

Cheers Rob that's a great starting point....I'll try and take a look within the next few days and see how I get on.

As for the 3rd point, it's a weird one! Nothing in the boot, nothing on the arches. I'll get it up in the air and see if it's anything obvious. May have to get someone to drive and I'll sit in the back to identify where the noose is coming from.

[Brianmoooore]

1/ Look up the red/black wire mod. and do it anyway as a matter of course.
There's provision for releasing the petrol flap lock inside the boot! This is a BMW you have - you should assume things like that.
3/ Not really how the symptoms are usually described, but check the top mounts for the shock absorbers. Bounce a corner up and down, and see if the centre rod of the damper is moving about independently of the mount.