Help please: Door cylinder not functioning, now windows / sunroof opening randomly

TheGodfather · #1 11-28-2012, 11:23 AM

The car was in a minor collision involving the DS door and is waiting for repair (insurance adjuster is taking forever to make first contact after I have opened a claim.)

Anyhow the DS door handle and inner assembly was part of the damage, and are both inoperable.

The windows and sunroof have begun to roll down on there own when parked (locked or unlocked.) This is very bad, and almost makes the thing un-drivable due to the risk of weather damage or mischief.

The door lock cylinder seems to also have been damaged in the collision (this was a direct hit on the door handle.) It just turns freely but does nothing. It was working prior to the collision, and would unlock and lock all doors as well as roll down windows if held in the unlock position.

I will get to the point: How do I disable my windows/ sunroof until the door gets fixed?

Is there a fuse that controls all windows? Separate one for the roof?

Would disconnecting the window switch panel on the DS door do anything? Won't for the roof though I guess.

Thank you in advance, I hope there is a short term solution, because this is very stressful when you need to drive the car.

EDIT: I am going to give this a shot on my break during work:
http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...-fuseboard.jpg

Looks like I need to remove Panoramic Sunroof -#58, Window lift front - 20, 24, Window lift rear 60.

SlickGT1 · #2 11-28-2012, 11:41 AM

Dude, pull the fuses for now.

Yes, there are fuses for each front door, and the rear doors. Separate fuse for sunroof. It is in your glove box.

Better yet, pull the window control module out from the DS window. It should just pop out without taking the door card off. Unplug that thing, and see if your windows still roll down. I have a feeling that module is shorting.

scottjoh · #3 12-05-2012, 03:51 PM

What you need to do is pull the lock cylinder out, look into the hole where the lock cylinder was and using a large flat blade screw drive rotate to screw on the actuator back to the center position and then put the lock cylinder back in. Done! No need to mess with fuses, disconnecting modules, etc, etc. Your problem is that the lock cylinder broke while turning to unlock and that is where the module is still sensing it's position. Or intermittently sensing it.

I have some picture here for the 3-series, but, the X5 is very similar www.bmwgm5.com/lock_cylinder.htm

TheGodfather · #4 12-05-2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottjoh

What you need to do is pull the lock cylinder out, look into the hole where the lock cylinder was and using a large flat blade screw drive rotate to screw on the actuator back to the center position and then put the lock cylinder back in. Done! No need to mess with fuses, disconnecting modules, etc, etc. Your problem is that the lock cylinder broke while turning to unlock and that is where the module is still sensing it's position. Or intermittently sensing it.

I have some picture here for the 3-series, but, the X5 is very similar BMW E46 Lock Cylinder Instructions

Hey thanks a lot! Your explanation for what is causing the problem makes quite a bit of sense. I hope it also explains why my central locking is not working right now either. I am afraid to mess with the central locking from outside the car for fear of locking myself out... seeing as how I am without a manual opening method now.

I will give this a try after work and see what happens.