central locking packed up and water in boot wells
Moderator: martauto
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terence
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:00 pm
please help... the central locking on my 1989 320i 2door has packed up...both doors and boot lock manually so locks are fine but none operate the central locking...any ideas? fuse is ok and cant find a relay......also i have big puddles of water in the 2 resesses in the boot floor.any ideas?..thanks
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eko
- Old timer
- Posts: 11531
- Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: South Devon
Hya mate,welcome to the Zone
The central locking relay is located below the speaker in the drivers footwell.
To get to it you need to remove the speaker,then there is a plastic cover just below it.
Remove this cover and the relay is under there.
To remove the relay you need to remove 2 philips screws which secure it!
Also worth noting that these cars usually have a problem with the wires running into the drivers door pillar,i think this is the most common cause of central locking problems on E30`s.
Its worth doing a search on the Tech forum to get more info on this!
Boot seal knackered?
The central locking relay is located below the speaker in the drivers footwell.
To get to it you need to remove the speaker,then there is a plastic cover just below it.
Remove this cover and the relay is under there.
To remove the relay you need to remove 2 philips screws which secure it!
Also worth noting that these cars usually have a problem with the wires running into the drivers door pillar,i think this is the most common cause of central locking problems on E30`s.
Its worth doing a search on the Tech forum to get more info on this!
Boot seal knackered?

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jmc330i
- Engaged to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 6621
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Somerset
There should be a rubber bung type thing at the bottom of each recess that has a slit in it to let the water out. These sometimes need prodding with a screwdriver as they can get blocked. If you look from the under side of the car you should be able to find the bungs and open them up from the outside.terence wrote:i have big puddles of water in the 2 resesses in the boot floor.any ideas?..thanks
The pooling of the water can be caused by condensation from the inside of the quater panels running down into the recesses and not being able to get out because the rubber bungs are blocked.
HTH and welcome
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
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MONSPORT42
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 506
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
When my boot wells filled up it turned out to be the drain pipes from the sun roof. They slot into a tray attached to the inner rear wings behind the carpet/boot liner. Mine had become dislodged and therefore just drained into the boot. The trays themselves can also get clogged up with mud and overflow with the same result.
Worth checking the seals round the rear light clusters as well as the boot shut seal itself but if it's a lot of water it's most likely to be the first.
Worth checking the seals round the rear light clusters as well as the boot shut seal itself but if it's a lot of water it's most likely to be the first.

YOUR LEFT FOOT'S FOR BRAKING
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
If it's not rear light seals, then I'm afraid the reason may be good old fashioned tinworm, especially on the outer section of the wheelarch on the right hand side.
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Forgot the central locking. Use the forum search function to find out abot two red/black wires, and what to do with them.
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terence
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:00 pm
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no_whippets
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:00 pm
Tagging onto this thread - my c/l is playing up, working intermittently. I can hear some electrics growling in the driver's door, I guess this is that relay I've been reading about. Can't take it to the garage for a while and am not that bothered - except today I went to fill her up and couldn't open the fuel cap! Swore at the car and it only went and bloody worked... anyhow is there any way to get to the cap if the c/l is jamming?
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
There is a slot in the boot liner where you can hook the solenoid back with a piece of stiff wire.no_whippets wrote:Tagging onto this thread - my c/l is playing up, working intermittently. I can hear some electrics growling in the driver's door, I guess this is that relay I've been reading about. Can't take it to the garage for a while and am not that bothered - except today I went to fill her up and couldn't open the fuel cap! Swore at the car and it only went and bloody worked... anyhow is there any way to get to the cap if the c/l is jamming?
Cure for your central locking is the same as the OPs, and involves finding two red/black wires and joining them together.
I've posted the full details many times. Use the forum search button, and enter my name and central locking.
