E30 Zone

Hi Guys,

We went away for the weekend and left our car with a reputable valet parking system at Stanstead and now have a problem with the door locks.

On approaching the car I was able to unlock the car with the (BMW) remote and open the boot with no difficulty. My wife also opened the passenger door with no problem.

However, as soon as I pull the driver's side exterior handle (on all occasions) the car locks all the doors but does not activate the immobilizer/alarm.

You can open the door from the inside, which unlocks the car, but the handle is now very stiff and does not spring back into position.

Before we bought the car, someone may have had the door card off the interior driver side as the top edge near the lock indicator is not perfectly seated, but it is hard to know whether this is just age. Now this looks as though it has been given a good pull and it is further away from the glass than it used to be.

This feels like a mechanical fault because the interior handle is so stiff so should be fixable. Has anyone had a similar problem? I will need to fix it myself, as I suspect that the valet/hotel will deny all knowledge and deny me any repair costs.

Another point to note is that the drivers side window screeches as it goes up and down, something I have not got round to fixing yet. I assume this is just a bit of grease/adjustment required.

The car is, K reg 325i Cab with central locking, electric windows, and immobilizer/alarm (remote is BMW, but spare cables & box under the carpet suggest a replacement alarm/immobilizer at a later stage).

Help much appreciated!

Regards,

Frank

c/l is trigger by an earth signal from the key in the lock hitting a micro switch and via an earth from the alarm wired to the c/l loom but the door also has a micro switch in the drivers door to activate the interior light if the handle is pulled up this good be grounding the c/l control wire some where. Check the door loom connector for corrosion first.

Hi,
thanks for comments on electrics. Sure this will help when i start to fix it. From what you say, i'm thinking that they mangled the mechanics somehow (because handle is stiff) and it is now grounding in some way. Begining to wonder if someone tried to nick it from the car park...

Cheers
Frank

I had this problem too in my 316 before. Highy annoying if the keys are inside the car when your washing it or doing jobs to it!!!

Take the door card off, remove all the bits and give them a damn good clean up, lubrication, service and re assemble. You'll probably then find that everything works as it should.

Thanks for the comments Brian. That was more or less my plan first off. Unfortunately we're helping a friend move at the weekend which will be fun with a comedy door lock! Might have to sneak off to play with a screwdriver at some point. I still think the problem has been triggered by abuse. They've offered to refund the parking which is a start...

Cheers

Frank

On the driver's door, the other locks are operated by the locking motor being moved mechanically by the key barrel. The mircoswitch on the plate held in by the large C clip (that also holds the lock barrel), operates the deadlock motors.

Hi Guys,

Just to let you know I sorted the problem temporarily, pending lubing the mechanism. I realised that the Valet monkey did not follow the very specific instructions on the booking form.

He must have used the key in the lock rather than the remote. I'm guessing that as this mechanism is almost never used, it is in need of a clean and lubrication and so stuck in the wrong position rather than clicking back into place.

By working the lock with the key a couple of times I have got it back to normal, but it still needs a clean.

Brian, what sort of lubricant to you recommend for these mechanisms? I have WD40 for freeing up, and a spray grease of the sort you find used on door hinges. Also have plain bike/sewing machine oil.

Cheers,

Frank

I use white Molykote grease.

Thanks Brian. Will look it up.

Frank