e36 saloon boot lock

Post Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:00 pm

i'm looking at buying a 1996 e36 saloon off a mate.

the central locking doesnt work, i can cope ok just using the key until i can get it sorted, however, the boot is unlocked, and won't lock with the key.

im borrowing the car for a bit and only have one key, could it be the valet key and that it would lock from a normal key? or is the boot fixed and only works off the central locking? (if so, why has it got a key hole!)

Post Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:02 pm

What colour's the key?

Post Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:05 pm

just a plain black one with moulded in bmw badge, no buttons etc

Post Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:17 pm

I would have expected a valet key to be grey, just because all those I've had have been...

Post Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:42 am

yeah, my compact of the same year had a key that looked identical, but had a grey handle, and must have been the valet key as i had 2 originals.

just wondering whether the lock is siezed, has been changed at some point, or it's not supposed to work with the key!

i'd like to have a poke about and try and get the entire c/l system working again, but as it's not yet my car i dont want to risk breaking anything.