Central locking - how does it all work?

[martinclan]

Does anyone know of a definative guide to the central locking? There are lots of posts but what we could all do with is a guide for how the whole lot works together.

I have a problem whereby the central locking works from any door except the driver door. If you try to lock the from the driver door the pin only goes part the way down and it dosen't lock. If you open the door slightly then the pin drops and everything seems to lock although I suspect the deadlocks aren't coming into place. Very occaisionally if you turn the key several times it works!

I guess this is a mechanical fault but it would be good to have an explanation of how all the bits hang together - mechanical, electrical and dead locks - before I attempt to take it to bits.

Cheers guys
Robin

[Brianmoooore]

Have a look at www.unofficialbmw.com/e30.html .
There are a couple of desciptions in the FAQs.

[elliot]

Does anyone know of a definative guide to the central locking? There are lots of posts but what we could all do with is a guide for how the whole lot works together.

I have a problem whereby the central locking works from any door except the driver door. If you try to lock the from the driver door the pin only goes part the way down and it dosen't lock. If you open the door slightly then the pin drops and everything seems to lock although I suspect the deadlocks aren't coming into place. Very occaisionally if you turn the key several times it works!

I guess this is a mechanical fault but it would be good to have an explanation of how all the bits hang together - mechanical, electrical and dead locks - before I attempt to take it to bits.

Cheers guys
Robin

hi robin
first of all take the rubber shroud off between the door and pillar. get a small screwdriver and push each wire connector. i had the same fault as you and after stripping the c/l to bits found it was the white wire not connected properly
either that or the solenoid which is in the door panel (red thing)
the c/l relay thing which is behind the drivers speaker. you can slide the cover off and see whats going on, check the resister between blue and white.

a few ideas

[astondg]

Sorry to go ot, ignore this if you want, but is the picture in your sig a Marlin Sportster kit car type thing? I just saw the website for them last night http://www.marlinracing.co.uk/s_sport.htm when searching for E30 stuff.

I can't help with the central locking sorry.

Aston

[martinclan]

Hi Aston

yeh it's a Sportster - or it will be when it's finished.