Snapped Key in Door = New Key - New Key Wont Fit Lock's.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 5:41 pm

I just got my snapped key out of my door to find the new key I got from BMW doesn't work in any of the lock's, only the ignition. What are my option's? / What's the best one?

Get new locks all round including barrel + new key

Find the lock numbers (if they are all the same) and get a key made for them? - Then have two keys.

These are the only two I can think of. Would love some other opinions or ideas.

Thanks.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 5:58 pm

Door barrel locks (except the boot) can be recoded, so with some time, patience and a couple of rebuild kits you can have your doors and glovebox match your ignition key. This page explains how:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ck_Repairs

If you're very lucky, BMW will be able to order you a new boot lock to match your ignition lock.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 6:12 pm

Very interesting!

Just out of curiosity, If I could possibly get BMW to match my ignition lock for the boot, could they do the same for the doors?

And also in your opinion; is rebuilding a lock that difficult with a rebuild kit?

Thanks

Post Wed May 14, 2014 6:15 pm

Building up a 'lock repair kit' is straightforward,you just need a bit of patience,as in your case you need to experiment to get the correct tumblers in the correct place.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 6:17 pm

They can do them for the doors, but the cost will be much higher than doing it yourself with a rebuild kit.

It is fiddly, and since you don't KNOW the code for your key there'll be lots of trial and error fitting different tumblers in until the barrel turns smoothly in the lock. But I did two locks and the glovebox in an evening with spare tumblers I nicked from other gloveboxes, so it cost me pennies in total.

Depends whether you want high cost + no hassle, or low-cost + greasy fingers for an evening.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 6:25 pm

I'm going for the latter, where do I get these kits? Straight from BMW I'm guessing.

You guys are saying the word tumblers and I have no idea what your on about. I think I defiantly need to read that Wiki page.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 6:30 pm

Tumblers will be correct when both ends of each one sit absolutely flush with the outside of the barrel when the key is inserted.
A crude, but cheaper and easier way to match a barrel to a key, is to insert the key of choice into the barrel and file off any ends of tumblers that aren't flush. this will give a lock that will work with more than one key, but is unlikely to be a security risk in practice.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 6:32 pm

Re-build kits are about £20 from your local stealer,may take them a day or two to get them in for you.

Tumblers are the little gadgets that the key 'tumbles' as it enters the lock cylinder.
There are several different one's,so you will need to get the right one's in the right place for the lock to operate correctly.
Of course,in the unlikely event of your door locks being in perfect condition,you could always strip the lock to the cylinder,insert you ign key and take an angle grinder to the pretuding tumblers....but I have yet to find a driver's door lock in good,undamaged condition!...and doing this will also mean that a multitude of keys will open your door...

Post Wed May 14, 2014 6:32 pm

Click the Wiki link and look at pictures 5 onwards for a definition of "tumblers".

A cheap source of them is old glovebox locks, which can be had for a lot less than 20 quid.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 7:03 pm

Have you checked the snapped key against the new key to see if they are the same?

If your locks as all original them there may be a dodge key and take it back to bmw to replace it.

Post Wed May 14, 2014 8:24 pm

Grrrmachine wrote:Click the Wiki link and look at pictures 5 onwards for a definition of "tumblers".

A cheap source of them is old glovebox locks, which can be had for a lot less than 20 quid.

Just how many glove-box locks have you seen with this part?

This is the main cause of driver's door lock failure...

Post Wed May 14, 2014 9:03 pm

Well guys you've all been a great help. I have both door cards off ready for the two rebuild kits. I'm liking the idea of grinding down the tumblers that aren't flush, but will defo try the legit way first. The snapped key is different to the new keys.

But I'm confused.. How does the original key work in both the ignition and the doors.. as well as the boot for that matter and the new key only work in the ignition. The new one looks like a very different key.

As for a security risk, I snapped the last key this had to it's name so I think grinding will be a safe option if I need to. I'm going to order the kits as soon as I can.. redo the lock and order a back lock for the boot. I'll keep you guys posted on here.

Thanks again!

Post Wed May 14, 2014 9:55 pm

Your car would have been supplied with four keys when it was new. Three of these keys would have operated every key hole on the car, but the fourth would only fit the ignition and doors, and wouldn't operate the glove box lock or the boot.
From what you say though, this doesn't appear to be what's happening here, so either your door, glove box and boot locks have been changed or they're badly worn, and will only work with equally worn keys. The glove box lock rarely gets changed or worn. Does your new key work with that?