E30 Zone

Has anyone fitted a release button in the front somewhere, which opens their boot??

Would like to do this to mine and am wondering if i can take all the bits from a newer BM (or other make) - presumably some kind of solenoid/relay/switch/etc - or whether there is somewhere that sells a kit to do this??

Even my gf's Ka has a button on the dash that unlocks the boot!!

Cheers,
Rob.

I have just done it on a E36 mate and its well easy

Did some e36's have it as standard and you used those bits, or did you get parts from another model BM or something??

Any pointers??
What bits do i need??

miniblob wrote:Has anyone fitted a release button in the front somewhere, which opens their boot??

Would like to do this to mine and am wondering if i can take all the bits from a newer BM (or other make) - presumably some kind of solenoid/relay/switch/etc - or whether there is somewhere that sells a kit to do this??

Even my gf's Ka has a button on the dash that unlocks the boot!!

Cheers,
Rob.

Just interested why you would want to do this? I find internal boot releases one of the most annoying developments ever on a car!

Brianmoooore wrote:

miniblob wrote:Has anyone fitted a release button in the front somewhere, which opens their boot??

Would like to do this to mine and am wondering if i can take all the bits from a newer BM (or other make) - presumably some kind of solenoid/relay/switch/etc - or whether there is somewhere that sells a kit to do this??

Even my gf's Ka has a button on the dash that unlocks the boot!!

Cheers,
Rob.

Just interested why you would want to do this? I find internal boot releases one of the most annoying developments ever on a car!

Well if he's like me then, when friends have stuff in the boot the last thing you want to do is get out (if its raining) and open it for them, so a button makes it easy.

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Rob, i think you'll you need to do in terms of wiring is this (but i could be wrong)

battery/stereo/(any live) > fuse > relay> ground.

Live to locking relay (existing locking wire) > relay > locking release (existing wire).

to be honest i dont know really know how the e30 lock for the boot works, if its able to electrically release the hold great, if not, then just update it with a newer bm's release system.

Bigguns wrote: Well if he's like me then, when friends have stuff in the boot the last thing you want to do is get out (if its raining) and open it for them, so a button makes it easy.

isnt that what central locking is for?

Bigguns wrote:Well if he's like me then, when friends have stuff in the boot the last thing you want to do is get out (if its raining) and open it for them, so a button makes it easy.

Why can't they push the button themselves?t

to be honest i dont know really know how the e30 lock for the boot works, if its able to electrically release the hold great, if not, then just update it with a newer bm's release system.

There's no electric release on the lock itself - purely mechanical, so you'll have to upgrade.

You can get a boot popper of Ebay £14 just done it to the other halfs E36 took me about 1hour to fit

I'll have to have a look about on ebay and on some of the newer bm's!!
Think the popper may not work, 'cos as Brian siad, the lock is purely mechanical - not too sure how it all works though tbh!!

Various reasons for wanting it - won't just be on an internal button though, will also have a button on the alarm remote.
Want the lock removed mainly so people stop trying to get in with a screwdriver!!!!

I do feel that E30 locks leave a lot to be desired and security is moving up my list now i'm almost ready to start fitting my sound system!!!!

If it fit asn e36 it should fit an e30. They have mechanical catches.

the e36 has a rod connecting the button to the catch which is what you would connect a solenoid to, to operate the catch.the button of an e30 directly operates the catch as it is in front of it.imagine the button being an extension of your finger and you may or may not get what the hell im on about. lol

Other cars have mechanical remote boot opening, maybe it would be easier to get a mechanism out of a scrapped car. The one on my wife's Toyota Corolla is a mechanical boot release connected by a wire cable to the boot lock. No wiring to worry about.

I robbed one off an old XR2 once, electrical so you could even wire it into a remote control if you wanted, maplin ones work off radio frequencies tho and if the theif scans and copies the frequency they could open your boot, however it uses a simple rolling code so the equipment needed would be the kind of stuff that a theif targetting better cars than e30's would use.

I have one to open my gates at home, its awesome. No it isn't a big house and no they arn't stately gates I just like toys like that, in reality I hardly ever use it because I can't see if the damn dogs are sat behind it or not!