FROZEN DOOR LOCKS PROBLEM :-( Need to upgrade Door handle or just bowden cables???

[sobi6111]

Preparing for winter. As last winter my passenger and driver doors often froze and coudn't latch up properly and were bouncing and i was driving holding doors with hands ,or opposite if i closed them somehow they woudn't open from inside till car warmed up(and inside handle felt like it is broken until car defrozeand), after car defroze doors again very opening and closing correctly but for a while till next an hour or so stay at outside. it was a shame to crawl to BMW from back doors,and people see u fro their old car which never freezez

I searched a few posts here but need a final clear answer. What part #s i need and will it cure that for sure? Do i need upgraded bowden cables or whole door handle mechanism or something????

How hard is DIY?

My car 2002 BMW x5 3.0i made 12/2001.

Thanks

[Tleong]

I just get a cup of hot water and pour it on the handles in the morning

[X5Flyboy]

very common problem. one solution is not to live where the tempeature does not fall below 32 deg(F). Hey! It solved MY door frozen door lock problem. An $$$$$ solution is to replace all the door lock mechanisms with a redesigned BMW lock that is supposed to prevent water getting into the locks. At least I heard about this, but have not confirmed it. frozen locks never seemed to stay frozen long, so letting the car warmup while you scrape off the ice or go back in for another cup of coffee may just be the least expensive solution. Good Luck!

[x5yankee]

I just broke my inside door handle and it cost me $400 to fix. So be careful if take it apart

[Tleong]

Originally Posted by X5Flyboy

very common problem. one solution is not to live where the tempeature does not fall below 32 deg(F). Hey! It solved MY door frozen door lock problem. An $$$$$ solution is to replace all the door lock mechanisms with a redesigned BMW lock that is supposed to prevent water getting into the locks. At least I heard about this, but have not confirmed it. frozen locks never seemed to stay frozen long, so letting the car warmup while you scrape off the ice or go back in for another cup of coffee may just be the least expensive solution. Good Luck!

For the car to warm-up, don't you need to be able to open the doors first?...

[X5Flyboy]

Originally Posted by Tleong

For the car to warm-up, don't you need to be able to open the doors first?...

Sorry, I almost never had THAT problem. And when I did I tried the other doors to get in. My most common problem was the door not locking after I opened it.

[RDM3]

Originally Posted by sobi6111

Preparing for winter. As last winter my passenger and driver doors often froze and coudn't latch up properly and were bouncing and i was driving holding doors with hands ,or opposite if i closed them somehow they woudn't open from inside till car warmed up(and inside handle felt like it is broken until car defrozeand), after car defroze doors again very opening and closing correctly but for a while till next an hour or so stay at outside. it was a shame to crawl to BMW from back doors,and people see u fro their old car which never freezez

I searched a few posts here but need a final clear answer. What part #s i need and will it cure that for sure? Do i need upgraded bowden cables or whole door handle mechanism or something????

How hard is DIY?

My car 2002 BMW x5 3.0i made 12/2001.

Thanks

I had this issue last winter, there is a cable inside the door that has a covering on it, when it wears out it exposes the cable, the cable will rust and once water gets down there it freezes, you will have to get the cable replaced, probably around $400 I think for part and labor, it is more than just a cable, its the latch and such.

[butundo]

I bought a set from ebay for around $70. I used the instructions from this site to repair for free!