Frozen door locks - Common Problem ?

[laserneedle]

It's really something how BMW is always stressing how important the safety of the passengers are. At the same time they refuse to do the right thing and issue a recall on a door that won't stay closed. I've attached a file with just some of the consumer complaints against BMW. I went to the dealership two weeks ago. I told them about the problem and they said they couldn't be sure of the problem until I actually could bring the car in with the door still frozen. I then pulled out the service bulletin and showed it to them. With labor and parts- $150-200 per door! I told them to fix the drivers side and I will sue to have the other three replaced. So that is exactly what I am doing. http://www.xoutpost.com/images/attach/pdf.gif

[tfsguy]

Thanks for all the feedback, and didn't realise just how many people have experienced this. It's really disappointing that a car of this quality and marque is let down by something so simple, and would have thought this would have shown itself during cold weather testing before it was even productionised.

My car is a 2002, so out of the 3 year warranty but does have a BMW Extended warranty, so will be enquiring about this work being done at no cost to myself. I don't want to have this problem again when I'm away from home, as would be a bit of a nightmare to have to ask my 2 1/2 year old son to hold his door closed while we drive for a bit should it happen to one of the back doors !!!

We are expecting minus temperatures tonight again in Scotland, so will be interesting (and very annoying) to see if I get the same problem tomorrow.

[wees1234]

happened to me many times. But, the odd thing is that when it happens, the temperature outside is about 25-35 degrees. I would expect it to be a little colder than that for the locks to freeze, but it still happens. Any solutions, maybe "lock de-icer?"

[Will]

Yepp, happened to me too. But after, yet again, arguements with the dealer the fixed it f.o.c. Here in Sweden we do get freezing weather quite often so more people "notice" this fault thus more complaints to the dealers.

[GregNYX5Owner]

Ok the quick fix to get the door to close. The X5 lock will freeze after it rains and then the temps drop below freezing.

Once you get the car door open, inside the door jam on the door, you will notice a black oval rubber cap, remove that cap with a screwdriver, carefully. Once open, get a hair dryer and blow the hot/warm air into that hole, it will melt the frozen water along the cable and allow the door to latch. It works, but the problem will occur again given the conditions above. I keep a cheap hair dryer in the car for this reason during the winter.

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by GregNYX5Owner

Ok the quick fix to get the door to close. The X5 lock will freeze after it rains and then the temps drop below freezing.

Once you get the car door open, inside the door jam on the door, you will notice a black oval rubber cap, remove that cap with a screwdriver, carefully. Once open, get a hair dryer and blow the hot/warm air into that hole, it will melt the frozen water along the cable and allow the door to latch. It works, but the problem will occur again given the conditions above. I keep a cheap hair dryer in the car for this reason during the winter.

:xoutpost: Greg!

[GregNYX5Owner]

Originally Posted by Michelle

:xoutpost: Greg!

Thanks Michelle.

[Aimster]

my rear door is hard has hell to open. You have to try to open it from the inside. Does not work from the outside at all.

I have to go get it fixed

[Zulu95]

Did we see this? THE CURE??

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/m...k-problem.html

[streetsoffire]

This happen to me for the first time in three and a half years....... at 2am and 21 degrees. I guess it was because I washed the X earlier in the day. Doors kept 'rebounding' and did not catch. I had to start driving home holding onto the doors.......