Door handle

[Patriks7]

Hi guys, spending more time with my X5 and suddenly more issues arise

Today I went to open my passenger door, and suddenly it did not work. No matter how hard I tried, it did not open from the outside. I am assuming the handle carrier is broken. Before I order anything or take apart the whole thing, are there any tips on what to check? I think I saw some posts with some DIYs, not sure what would be applicable in my situation. Adding some photos as well.

[daveking]

dont buy from ebay.
changed mine in december and it broke again
3 days ago.

crappy job.


Dave king

[andrewwynn]

There are a couple possible things possible but you didn't explain if the handle lifts easily with no internal sounds of mechanical motion. The typical broken DHC is from the hub of the axle breaking this more often than not happens if the door actuator is frozen with ice: was it below freezing when it first didn't work? (Or in the recent past was it below freezing and took more than normal force to open )


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by daveking

dont buy from ebay.

changed mine in december and it broke again

3 days ago.



crappy job.





Dave king

You can break an OEM dhc on the very first time if it's below freezing and ice formed on the door actuator. That is the most common form of self destruct with the DHC. You have to learn if the handle feels stuck down do NOT pull harder. The problem is not frozen door seal it's a frozen door actuator.

Paying more will not improve your odds against a freeze related destruction you have to learn the sign of a frozen actuator and never pull firmly on a handle that is frozen.

If the handle won't move more than 6-8mm before sticking down do not pull hard. Open the door from the inside and drive until the inside of the car warms up enough to defrost the actuator. Also when you ever open up a door; fix the actuator to reduce the odds of freezing see my actuator fix thread.

[daveking]

i think the problem is that the door handle pull's upwards and we try to pull
it straight.
since mine broke my one broke two of my friends have broke in the last few day's.
one was a e46 [third one]

[daveking]

i think the problem is that the door handle pull's upwards and we try to pull
it straight.
since mine broke my one broke two of my friends have broke in the last few day's.
one was a e46 [third one]

[StephenVA]

KEEP JERKING ON IT!
This way you will need the handle and the door carrier which has been posted hundreds of times. The door handle carriers all break over time, some break as soon as it freezes overnight especially in a sleet storm. VERY common problem and easy solution repair. Lots of documentation in the DIY section and lots of posts on each of the three solutions listed below...

DIY Article Crib Sheet Solutions:

A. Replace with OE carrier and install will be easy as it fits and the alignment little screw will insert and everything will be a 1.5 hr task for a DIY effort level 3.

B. Buy the cheap aftermarket unit and plan on a 2 day approach that will require re-engineering the part and using the old alignment screw and possible damage to everything. Oh you will end up using the old cable to make it work. (BAD DECISION)

C. Repair and wire the old unit. Temp fix that is good for an unknown length of door cycles.

Your $$, Your car, Your pain

[Bmwe5320023.0]

Find the fix that andrewwynn posted on this forum and do it. It will never break again

[andrewwynn]

Not in the same place at least. I have had a fixed one break at the next weakest link or have the cable fail but the hinge pin fix is many times stronger than new.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Patriks7]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Not in the same place at least. I have had a fixed one break at the next weakest link or have the cable fail but the hinge pin fix is many times stronger than new.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks for all the responses guys!

It was definitely not due to freezing weather, as the car for the past ~10 years has been located on the Balearic Islands in Spain, I don’t think there has been one freezing day in that time.

I ended up using your fix, as that is what was broken. Hope it will last some time

For anyone else interested, here’s the link to the fix.

Now onto the next quarantine fix.