outside door handle stuck

[gnehzekul]

i will try that this saturday. thanks for the help

[pilsberry]

I'll pass along these tips that might help.
I just replaced the driver's side door carrier. It's one of those jobs that takes 3 hours the first time and 45 minutes the next.

First of all, it wasn't apparent to me that the door jamb plug (item 3) that hides the screw (17) is a 2 part item. Simply push/pry the center part out first, then remove the outer part that remains in the door. The hex key (to remove 17) should be oriented in a way that points towards the outside of the door, not towards the front of the vehicle. This is the reason for the oblong shape of the access hole.

After pulling the lock assembly out of the door, remove the small nut that is now exposed (mine was rusty) on the handle. Also, back out the screw so that it dosen't interfere with handle removal. You have now removed all the screws required to remove the handle and the carrier.

So just how does the handel come off? Also not too intuitive IMO, but here's how.

Pull the handle as if opening the door and rotate clockwise about an eigth of a turn. The left end of the handle pivots as the right end breaks free from the carrier. Now just wiggle the left end until it's retainers are aligned with the slot in the carrier and gently pull it out.

That's pretty much it; except for the cable attachments inside the door. Just take your time there, as they un-snap from their attach points.

Hope this info was useful.

Bryan

[Coke]

This just happened to mine AGAIN. The first time was a month ago, $472.00 to repair at BMW. This time the passenger did the same thing. Anyone have any better pics of how to repair it?

[rastaFarai]

did you get this repaired? this just happened to me. I have my door panel off on drivers side. I think it's annoying that this happens frequently on this car.

This is my first time, from what I can tell, the tension cable from the inside door handle is not working when the door is in place, when I attach the tension cable, and pull the handle i feel some resistance, once I start putting the panel back on, no more tension. Basically, from what I can tell, when i pull the tension cable towards the front of the car or towards the door handle- i have tension and can feel the mechanism working. Once put in place (panel moved towards the rear of car / or to the left) - no more tension.

From what I've figured out - It looks like the material around the tension cable was attached to the door? Is that all that holds it in place to be in the right place for the correct tension? Should I be going through the procedures described in this thread - removing the outside as well and checking the mechanism in the door?

sorry for the long winded follow up question.. but i'm driving around with no door panel and window switches hanging... lol wish i was back in FL - i could spend all day outside fixing..

[tbc111]

I had this problem couple of weeks ago on the passenger side door. And yes, it was the door handle carrier (on the floormat in the 2nd pic). Had to bring it to the dealer who had the skill to open the panel and all. Got the part for around $84 (exchange rate vis a vis our local currency).

The posts on this thread are quite accurate as far as dismantling the door panels, etc... I wanted to take more pics for record purposes but the SA gave me this look so I got only these.

[rastaFarai]

thanks - he pealed off your entire "foam" huh? Wasnt sure i wanted to do that - do you know how easy it is to stick back on? I found the carrier on ebay for $45+10 shipping. Supposed to be warm tomorrow so i'll see if i can get this done.. will take some pics too

[tbc111]

Originally Posted by rastaFarai

thanks - he pealed off your entire "foam" huh? Wasnt sure i wanted to do that - do you know how easy it is to stick back on? I found the carrier on ebay for $45+10 shipping. Supposed to be warm tomorrow so i'll see if i can get this done.. will take some pics too

Yes he did. But, surprisingly, he was able to put it back on as if nothing happened. So the door lock's as good as new! Good luck with yours and I'm sure the pics will help with the DIY guys around here.

Oh one more thing, they gave me a free car wash.

[gregwx5]

Here the write up I made when my driver side carrier broke!

Had same problem...seemed complicated at first but is actually very easy!

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...tml#post421172


WOW!!! Can I say Thank You x5world!!! I managed to fix my door handle and the problem was exactly with part #15. The actual metal structure that held one of the parts fatigued and broke off making the handle inopperable. I bought my part from the dealership..$112 but $89 with CCA


For future reference these are the steps I followed:

1) Remove door panal using instructions on main page. I disconnected my battery. You have to unbolt the airbag, but do not have to disconnect it. I just taped it to the door so it does not hang by the cable.

2) Pop off the painted trim piece that is around the key hole on the exterior of the door.

3) Pop off the black plastic oval on the side of the door. (2 pieces)

4) The hex screw (#17) that holds the carrier is located inside this hole. You will NOT see the screw by looking directly into the hole towards the front of the car. You must look into the hole as if you were looking at the side of the door (It took me a while to find this screw, just don't look into the hole directly because the screw is off to the side). The hex screw that holds the carrier screws into the lock assembly, you could see the hole from the outside. Once you find the screw remove it.

5. After removing the hex screw, the lock assembly (key hole) is lose. Gently pry out the entire assembly (the end of the shaft has a star shaped structure that presses into another piece when putting everything back together)

6. Now you could see the bolt and nut that holds the handle to part of the door carrier. The bolt has a square head. Remove this bolt.

7. Now the handle could be removed by pulling the handle up and twisting. The handle will pivot on the left side, then pull it out of the carrier.

8. Once the handle is removed, remove the rubber seal and the philips head screw (#16) holding the carrier is exposed underneath.

9. Disconnect the cable on the inside of the door. Unsnap the white plastic piece, and the metal cable with ball.

10. The old carrier could now be removed, and the install the new one using the same idea.

[Blowout]

I'm currently in the throws of replacing the driver door carrier as well. As described by others, the outside handle was popped out a bit and the door would not open from outside. From the inside everything worked fine.

One addition to gregwx5 step by step is on #7.

- Once the nut was removed from the handle, I needed to slightly pry out that edge because there is a detent holding the end of the handle to the carrier and preventing the handle from rotating. Once that was done it twisted as described.

Once removed, the carrier showed a break on the side with the spring. This is weak spot in the design of this part it seems. They must sell alot of these.

Thanks the information posted by others on this thread. It kept another X5 owner from opening their wallet to a stealer.

[kalsingh1]

Hi Guys,

My front pass door is deadlocked and I cant open it. There is no tension on the outside handle, and the inside handle only pops up the door lock indictor. I remember the door did this last summer, and I just thumped the door a few timed on the in and outside, and the door started to work.
But nothing seems to work, I have been advised that I need to take off the inside trim whilst the door is still deadlocked. I have tried this, taking of all bolts suggested on this site, but the door trim seems solid and I fear the door aperature is holding it in place? Catach 22?
Has anyone got advice other than taking the car to the main dealer, I would appreciate it. Many Thanks in advance.