Frozen door locks - Common Problem ?

[mysweetx5]

Get one WD40 at any retail autoparts store,
Look through the mechanism door lock, and spray all around inside.
This will prevent all future frozen up, with the mechanism fully oiled with WD40 there's no way your door will be frozen. if it worked for me, as many other bmw owners used it, why not working for you as well.

[evertonfc]

i did give it a good squirt with wd40 when it warmed up the next day. i was bit disconcerted to note that most of it seemed to drip down onto the running boards. forecast for below freezing again this weekend so i will open up the grommet and spray it liberally inside and see how it goes.
Thanks

[DoubleA]

Happend to me a couple of time on very cold day, like -25 celsius. Once I couldn't open the door after I left the X5 at the airport for 2 weeks on a cold winter, when I got back from Mexico, it was really cold and because I pulled too hard I broke the mechanism. I had a local garage to fix it for 200$ they had to order new mechanism + the door handle which was broken but they also had to paint the handle. When the door freeze I simply get in by another door, start the engine and let the truck warm up for 15 min and then the door open normally.

[bigdipper]

I am in the UK.I have an 06 with the same problem,and get no joy from main stealership.Sounds like a big coverup job!! I usually get some warm water and pour over and around the door handle,that seems to do the trick.

[johnlacson]

Just happened to me this afternoon. Was -3°F. Didn't have internet till now since I was driving but I figured the mechanism froze. Blasted the heat on the door. Got to work, and the door unlocked. Strange design, I feel that this should be an all metal, mechanical system for minimal failure.

[evertonfc]

yep. same here again. frozen this morning. couldn't drive off as the door wouldn't lock. it finally unfroze enough to lock. drove to work and it wouldn't let me out. 10 minutes of gentle persuasion and i escaped. same tonight on the way home. right now it is sat on my drive with the engine running trying to thaw it out.
It's only -6C but with the moisture yesterday the age old design problem rears its head.
I'm buying a new car this year.
It wont be a BMW.

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by evertonfc

yep. same here again. frozen this morning. couldn't drive off as the door wouldn't lock. it finally unfroze enough to lock. drove to work and it wouldn't let me out. 10 minutes of gentle persuasion and i escaped. same tonight on the way home. right now it is sat on my drive with the engine running trying to thaw it out.
It's only -6C but with the moisture yesterday the age old design problem rears its head.
I'm buying a new car this year.
It wont be a BMW.

Lol $6.00 can of wd40 or a new car.

[weiln12]

I don't have any issues with door locks freezing, and it gets COLD here. However, windows do freeze and won't go up/down. However, I have that happen on all my vehicles I leave out including my Tundra.

It gets fracking cold sometimes, stuff freezes. Just thaw it out and drive. Or, get a garage. It appears almost all the issues I'm dealing with on my X5 are due to age and temperature. It happens to all of them, including Toyota's.

[StephenVA]

The door latch issue has been posted for years. Every year as soon as the cold weather begins, those who use their X5 for a daily driver start posting experiences with "Frozen Doors". Lubing up latches, handle pulls, hood hinges, etc has been standard auto maintenance since the 40's. If you live in a frozen rust belt area you focus on cooling systems, starting systems, weather prevention techniques, like spraying the suspension with an ATF/WD-40 mix, etc. Like you do on your house. Get ready for winter - gutters, down spouts, roof, windows, doors, heater, etc.

There is a opening in our doors (see rubber plug) to allow access to the latch to spray a quality rust inhibitor lubricant (use a favorite brand) on to the mechanics. These latches received a "updated/Improved" part replacement in a cheap attempt to resolve the water tracking into the part itself from the cable. The OE parts (additional lube required upon installation) last a long time.

Tip: If the handle is FROZEN and hard to pull, STOP, get your heat gun and warm it up, as the next hard pull will break the part at the normal fail points. Been there done that.
There is a ton of posting on lubing, replacing, and frustration with non OE parts on door latches/Handles frozen, etc.

We can debate the engineering of this part later, as there has been multiple updates on later models (None can be transferred to the E53 as a bolt on). In the meantime, lube, leave door unlocked if in your driveway, garage it, keep your heat gun close, or move down here to warmer climates, where people are happy not frost bitten nor rusted.

[garrett.fell]

I've never been able to remove that plug. I've seen where I think it is but wasn't able to remove it without presumably breaking it.

The last time I had the drivers door panel opened to replace the broken mechanism - I applied the rubber glove finger "fix" to it and that seems to have helped keep water out of where it doesn't belong.

The passengers side door is another story!


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