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  #1  
Old 01-14-2019, 11:28 AM
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E53: Trouble with Front Right Door Carrier

Hello Forum Members:

The door carrier (front right, passenger side) on my 2000 X5 recently broke. I first order an aftermarket replacement (Febi) and installed it. It was a close fit. When I closed the door, it got locked up and wouldn't open either from inside or outside. Fortunately, I had not closed the door panel. After some fiddling I pulled out the grey ball socket which was attached to the actuator. After that I was able to open from inside.

Thinking that Febi may be slightly off, I ordered a Genuine BMW part. It worked a little better and I am able to open the door from outside. However, after I lock using the central locking, I am not able to open either from inside or outside.

I noticed that the bowden cable on the carrier is a little short on both Febi and Genuine BMW and I have to move the part on actuator a bit up so the grey ball socket can be pushed. I also replaced it with the cable from the broken carrier (the cable is still good), but to no avail.

What else I can do? Has anyone faced this issue?

To me it looks like the cable is not letting the actuator go back to its neutral position, so it remains locked. The actuator is also kind of new and is Genuine BMW.

I would really appreciate any tips.

Thanks
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Old 01-14-2019, 04:33 PM
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Sounds like you clipped the cable in the wrong slot their are two. "Cable length issues" are a myth. They don't stretch etc but the knock off DHC have crappy cables and should be swapped as you did. The end of the cable has two grooves if the cable is too tight you need to clip into the second groove from the end.
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Old 01-14-2019, 04:51 PM
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Are you mounting the clip before the ball socket in the correct location? The u-shaped one.


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Old 01-14-2019, 04:57 PM
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Thank you, @mr_robot and @andrewwynn.

I am using the top-groove, second from the ball socket, of the cable to clip it in.

I may have clipped it first and then pushed the ball socket. I can try it in the reverse order in the evening.
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Old 01-14-2019, 05:12 PM
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Yea it should be the top:



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Old 01-15-2019, 11:34 AM
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Thanks for the picture, @mr_robot. This is how my cable also looks. However, I have not been able to try pushing the ball socket before clipping in the top groove. It's been raining incessantly here
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Old 01-15-2019, 01:34 PM
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Good luck on the re-try. If it helps, I used Febi door handle carriers on all 4 doors of my 2001 3.0i, with no problems installing or since then. Links for all 4 Febi parts are below. BTW, I have no affiliation with Febi or RM European, other than that I buy a lot of their parts.

BMW part numbers:
51-21-8-243-615 front left door handle carrier
https://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/...615-MFG36.aspx
Here's the link for the rear:
https://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/...635-MFG36.aspx

51-21-8-243-616 front right door handle carrier
https://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/...616-MFG36.aspx
Here's the link for the rear:
https://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/...636-MFG36.aspx

I've read of a few people having fitment issues with the Febi's, in addition to cable issues. But I believe all of those can be worked out, and there is nothing actually wrong with the parts. Hopefully that advice is helpful - sometimes doubt itself can make something fail.

I came across a note I made when doing one of the front DHC's after I had difficulty in the installation: "Tip on installing carrier - need to have little tab at rear end of it sticking out past door sheet metal, otherwise, will not be able to get screw in." And also, I think there was something I'd need to do regarding getting the threads for that screw hole lined up before making the actual attempt. Definitely things that could make someone think there was a problem with the part.
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Last edited by oldskewel; 01-15-2019 at 04:38 PM.
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Old 01-16-2019, 12:18 PM
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It's extremely hard to clip the cable in all the way, it will make quite a snap when it seats. Your symptoms are as if the cable is being held a little and that would causei it. Similar symptom of the bracket holding was bent upwards.
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Old 01-16-2019, 12:45 PM
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With the OE cable ball socket it is an extremely tight fit and never felt comfortable just forcing it in so I put flat plastic tool behind it to give some support/leverage so I don't break that piece off.

I've tried Trucktek and Febi and found OE fits the best for my OCD lol

The fitment I'm referring to is the door handle to the door lock gap.
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Old 01-16-2019, 12:54 PM
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Note how the cable is very straight also that when attaching it doesn't matter the order (ball or cable first) but it's critical you are not having to pull on the cable to clip it on. It should be neutral tension and if not maybe the cable is connected to the DHC incorrectly.
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