e30 touring offside rear passenger door wont open HELP

[mikehoddy]

Hi folks

door wont open - had card off as swapping anyway but cant tell what is wrong!! any ideas...can i do myself or will i need to get bmw garage to look at it?

any help/advice appreciated in advance - Mike

[sweep]

Has the solinoid jammed?

[mikehoddy]

Hi there

sorry - not good at tech stuff- the door pin dont go up or down - looks permanently open - but is locked- everything seems connected (have looked at the other rear door) but obviously not the same movement as the side that does work...stupid question... what is the solinoid? what does it look like?, cheers, Mike

[sweep]

The solonoid is connected to the lock to operate it mate.peel back the plastic liner and look for 2 small 7mm bolt heads on the back of the door near the latch mecanism end they are on ovals so once slackened off pull your locking pin up and the door should undo.

[mikehoddy]

Thanks for fast reply! Will let u know how i get on - Mike

[mikehoddy]

Hi

when i try to pull the pin the brass plate thats attached to the white plastic part (you can see behind the holes) moves only slightly. I had already removed the bolt heads yesterday if we talking about the same ones! am i unscrewing on the inside cavity of the door?

[sweep]

Not inside the door shut where the latch is.the area that the door card would be covering if on.you will see 2 small 7mm spire bolt heads remove them as they hold the solonoid in place if this is seized it will allow the door pin tp pull up and the door will undo.hard for me to explane over text mate.

[mikehoddy]

bolt heads dont secure anything on either side...so not sure where to go..sorry this is hard work!! Ive sent you links to some pics i've taken...maybe this will help, thanks again, Mike

http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy24 ... oor001.jpg
http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy24 ... oor002.jpg
http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy24 ... oor003.jpg
http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy24 ... oor004.jpg
http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy24 ... oor005.jpg

[Brianmoooore]

Looks like you have a very late touring with the central locking motors combined with the door catch, similar to those fitted to the E36 and E34. You can see the empty slots for the old type lock motor in the bottom LH corner of your first pic.
These are of a very poor design compared to 'normal' E30 lock motors, are relatively unreliable, and appear to be the first thing placed inside the door when it was assembled.
The lock motor is attached to the top of the door catch, and comes out with it. I've changed these on both an E34 and an E36, but so far the E30's I have with them haven't failed, so I've never removed one from an E30.
E34 and E36 ones are absolute pigs to remove, and I doubt if the E30 one is any better.

[mikehoddy]

Hi cheers for that..sort of! Mine is a 1993 on an L plate....was hoping to resolve myself and learn a bit at the same time...will keep looking to see if i have any more replies on here..if not will go to a bmw place near me as a last resort..thanks for your comments - Mike

[Banjo1981]

I think Brian's trying to tell you the motor has failed so you'll need to replace it. Unfortunately it sounds like it will be a PIA to do as you'll have to basically take the whole of the door apart to do it.

[Brianmoooore]

There is a small microswitch mounted on the lock motor that looks hopelessly under rated for what it's required to do. This will most likely be the problem.
It may well be possible to retrofit the earlier type lock motor in its place.