If the vehicle was double locked (locked with remote or using driver's door)...then the only way to unlock the vehicle from inside is to:
- press the central lock/unlock button on the console (if battery is dead then obviously this won't work)
- this will allow you to pull twice on an interior door handle and the door should open
If you don't follow the procedure above when trying to unlock a BMW built after the 2000 model year from the inside when the car has been double-locked...then the interior door handles will NOT open the doors.
If you have a BMW built BEFORE the 2000 model year...then if the car has been double-locked...then the interior door handles will never work until a recognized key is used in the door lock cylinder, ignition, or with the FBZV (remote keyless) feature. (think about what that means...espeically if the battery is dead)
See 3rd paragraph in the info below...it applies to not only the e38...but the e39/e46/e53 models as well.
If the BMW terminology of DOUBLE-LOCK is unfamiliar to you...and you didn't know or understand why the interior door handles don't work if you double locked the vehicle...see info below: