Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Arnott
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #31  
Old 10-25-2020, 05:59 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 17
wuzilla is on a distinguished road
Sorry to bring this one back from the dead after 8 years, but after going through the hundreds of "door won't unlock" posts here, this one seems to be the most relevant (and have the most useful info) for my post:

I was just at the local pick and pull (yes, 8 years later, and E53's are more and more common at the local yards) and ran into two X5's - both with all doors except driver and tailgate locked. I couldn't get them open for the life of me, and it looked like many others before me had tried (the passenger door looked like someone took a prybar to it). One of the things I was hunting for was door lock actuators, so really wanted to get in there lol!

On one door, the inner door panel was off and I fiddled directly with the actuator with no luck. I had assumed that they were all just broken, before wandering here and seeing this might be an e53 bonus trait.

So, in this scenario, where there is no possibility of power, and obviously no keys, are these cars just forever locked until they go to the crusher? Any ideas for getting these doors open (in case I encounter in the future)?
__________________
Rusty, Beater 2001 X5 5spd

Previous:
2017 VW GTI
2001 E46 Wagon (manual of course!)
2000 VW GTI (I see a pattern emerging)
a Saab, and a couple Volvo's thrown in for fun

steve at ogracing dot com
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #32  
Old 10-25-2020, 06:48 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,099
Purplefade is on a distinguished road
Maybe take a small jump start box with you and clamp directly on to the positive and negative battery terminals?? You said the hatch was open on one. May work.

Another thing I would try - and I have no idea if this would work which is why I say try - slide under it and clamp on to the starter cable and ground to the chassis. - Total long shot, but heck, if you can get under it may be worth trying.


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old 10-27-2020, 10:22 AM
Qsilver7's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 3,516
Qsilver7 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by wuzilla View Post
Sorry to bring this one back from the dead after 8 years, but ...

So, in this scenario, where there is no possibility of power, and obviously no keys, are these cars just forever locked until they go to the crusher? Any ideas for getting these doors open (in case I encounter in the future)?

I hint/tip was given back in 2012 (post #18) that described how central locking works. From model year (MY) 2000-up...if the BMW has been double-locked...you can follow those instructions to UNLOCK the doors. But this also will require power to the jump start terminals in the engine bay...or if you can get at the battery in the back below the cargo floor. Why? The interior central locking button will not work without power...that's why you need to supply some power with a portable jump pack to at least power the interior central locking button to release the door actuators from their double-lock position (since you don't have a key to manually disengage the actuator from double-lock).





If the BMW has been single-locked prior to it being hauled away (doors locked manually, or from the inside)...then manual unlocking of the doors can be done from the inside by pulling twice on the interior door handles.


See the info below that explains the difference between double-lock & single-lock...which should help understand why the e53s you're finding at the yards are difficult to open:





__________________
Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
  • 2015 f06 650ix GC (Moonstone exterior/Cohiba brown Merino Leather interior)
  • 2014 f15 X5 50i (Space Gray exterior/Mocha Nappa Leather interior)
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old 02-02-2021, 09:29 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 25
thesalboy is on a distinguished road
I heart useful thread resurrection. Never say die!

Wanted to clarify facts and make a point no one here considered.

To "manually lock" from the outside is possible: with all doors unlocked, open one rear door, manually lock all other doors, then manually lock and close that open rear door. Maybe everyone here already knew that, but I had to noodle on it for a minute. Problem is - no alarm - anyone can just walk up and pop the rear hatch glass.

Here's a reason to despise double locking that doesn't involve locking children inside (however appropriate that may or may not be): My E53 just sits without being driven for long periods these days, and with the battery so hard to access, I'm considering adding a kill switch on the ground cable, running it up into one of the side cubbies in the rear compartment. I can do the manual locking above, kill it through the open hatch, then close the hatch - it's secure because killing rendered the hatch button inoperable.

When I want to revive the car, I can open the driver door with the key, then double-pull open the rear door, with rear seat back already down so I can fairly easily reach the kill switch. If double locked, I'd have to climb over the front seats to get back there.
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old 02-03-2021, 11:12 AM
Qsilver7's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 3,516
Qsilver7 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by thesalboy View Post
...Wanted to ... make a point no one here considered.

To "manually lock" from the outside is possible: with all doors unlocked, open one rear door, manually lock all other doors, then manually lock and close that open rear door. Maybe everyone here already knew that, but I had to noodle on it for a minute. Problem is - no alarm - anyone can just walk up and pop the rear hatch glass. ...

Fortunately I do know that and I've suggested this many times over the decades in BMW forums where the need to do this has come up.


But there is something else you can do that WILL lock the tailgate for those BMW owners that have Tourings/SAVs/SUVs. If you want to "manually" lock the vehicle as well as the tailgate...just press the central lock/unlock button (this is if you have a charged up battery). As intimated in the quote and post above...this is done when you need to secure the vehicle without initiating the alarm siren system:
  1. Open one of the passenger doors (front or either rear) because the driver's door won't lock if it is open.
  2. Press the central lock/unlock button to lock all the doors + the tailgate.
  3. Close the passenger door.
All the doors and tailgate will now be locked and the alarm siren system will not be initiated (the clown nose LED won't be illuminated and flashing)...and you can manually unlock the vehicle using the driver's door lock cylinder (if it is in working order). Even if the vehicle's battery were to discharge or the remote' key's battery was to discharge...you can still manually unlock the vehicle by inserting the key blade and turning 90° counter clockwise to the manual UNLOCK position.
__________________
Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
  • 2015 f06 650ix GC (Moonstone exterior/Cohiba brown Merino Leather interior)
  • 2014 f15 X5 50i (Space Gray exterior/Mocha Nappa Leather interior)
Reply With Quote
  #36  
Old 02-03-2021, 11:32 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 25
thesalboy is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qsilver7 View Post
  1. Open one of the passenger doors (front or either rear) because the driver's door won't lock if it is open.
  2. Press the central lock/unlock button to lock all the doors + the tailgate.
  3. Close the passenger door.
Thanks Q! I'll do this to limit routine battery drain by the alarm before resorting to a kill switch.
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old 02-03-2021, 02:48 PM
Qsilver7's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 3,516
Qsilver7 is on a distinguished road
__________________
Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
  • 2015 f06 650ix GC (Moonstone exterior/Cohiba brown Merino Leather interior)
  • 2014 f15 X5 50i (Space Gray exterior/Mocha Nappa Leather interior)
Reply With Quote
  #38  
Old 02-07-2021, 05:19 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 177
jaima is on a distinguished road
Simple way

Quote:
Originally Posted by jgold47 View Post
Why can't you unlock using the key?
The simple way to get in is to take a number plate light cover/lens off and with another 12v battery and jump leads is to connect the black/earth to the exhaust pipe and the red positive lead to a light bulb metal terminal/connection then press the key fob to open the doors
Reply With Quote
  #39  
Old 02-08-2021, 11:31 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 10,817
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by thesalboy View Post
Thanks Q! I'll do this to limit routine battery drain by the alarm before resorting to a kill switch.

I think if you unplug the hood switch you can achieve the same results.

Watch the corner lights for flash. Of you lock the car with key fob then shut the door after, the lights blink when alarm is set. Also no clown blink.

I noticed no blink on wife's car when locking and checking the hood switch it wasn't being pressed firmly so I added a felt pad to pres it and now it sets the alarm properly
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:25 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.