Replaced door lock actuator, can't open door

Multibeemer · #1 02-02-2015, 12:39 AM

The front passenger power door lock on my '03 4.4i stopped working recently, so I bought a used one from eBay. I tested it outside the car first to confirm that it works, but after installing it in the door, I have two strange problems:
1) The actuator, which worked just fine outside the door, now doesn't work, either when I press the button on the key, or the one on the center console, and, more pressingly,
2) I can't get the door open! When I pull on the cable, I can feel the latch moving, but the door won't budge. Manually pulling up on the door lock button's lever doesn't help.

I've replaced several door lock actuators on my various BMW's over the year, and I've never had anything like this happen, so I'm thinking that, as usual, there's some obvious detail I've overlooked. Any idea how I can get door open so I can start troubleshooting why the actuator stops working when it's in its home inside the door? Could the two issues be connected? I have a feeling I have a major dope slap coming on when somebody points out the bone-headed thing I'm either doing or not doing. Thanks.

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Multibeemer · #2 02-02-2015, 03:52 PM

There isn't a child-safe lock on the front passenger door, is there? I didn't see one, but it's acting for all the world like a door with a child lock in the "child-safe" position.

Multibeemer · #3 02-03-2015, 09:28 AM

Oh, and the "door open" message is on when I start the car, even though all the doors are shut securely.

Multibeemer · #4 02-04-2015, 06:29 PM

Wow, 108 views, and no replies? Either I've done something off-the-charts stupid which nobody wants to point out to me, or this is the first time this has ever happened to anybody. As I said, it feels for all the world like there's a child safety switch that's disabling the door latch from opening the door, but this doesn't explain the "door open" warning.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I can't open the door via the outside door handle, either.

Multibeemer · #5 02-06-2015, 03:02 PM

One other piece of info - I've noticed that on the two back doors, the little light that's inside the door latch trim piece is always on on both back doors - I don't think these were on before. Anybody...?

cgrosse · #6 02-07-2015, 11:34 AM

Wow man I replaced my latch assembly for my drivers door with no issues....pull the inside handle too ? Worse comes to worse contact a BMW body shop or independent repair for help...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psj4z_GCKTI

puddinboo · #7 02-07-2015, 01:02 PM

does the actuator sound likes its working when you lock unlock the vehicle?are the cables hooked up correctly (not binding somewhere)hopefully you still have the door panel off ,if not I will post a link for ya?

Multibeemer · #8 02-07-2015, 08:25 PM

Thanks for the replies. The weird thing is that the actuator definitely worked when I tested it outside the car, but now that it's attached, it isn't making a sound. The connector only goes on one way, although I suppose I could try disconnecting and re-connecting it. The cables don't seem to be binding anywhere, but I'll check this again, too.

The door panel is still off. The other really weird this is that when I pull on the cable, I can hear the latch clicking, and it sounds very normal, but it doesn't open the door. Again, it's acting as though a child lock were in the "off" position. Looking at the back doors, the switches for the child protective locks are (of course) on the edge of the door that you can't access when the door is closed. I suppose it's possible that I accidentally turned the child protective lock to the "off" position. So, if I have a non-functioning door lock actuator, and a child lock that's preventing the inside handle's cable from opening the door, how can I get the door open?

puddinboo · #9 02-07-2015, 10:07 PM

heres a link that may help you out.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...e-outside.html
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-fix-pics.html

Multibeemer · #10 02-08-2015, 10:08 PM

puddinboo,

Thanks for those links. Remember what I said in my first post - that this problem is surely caused by some boneheaded thing I did or failed to do? Well, one of the threads in your post made me realize what it was - I had disconnected the window switch in the passenger side door panel. Once I connected it back up, everything works normally. I thought that being a window switch, having it disconnected (which I of course had to do to get the door panel off) would have no connection to the door lock mechanism, much less the inside door lever. Oh so wrong. I still don't understand why I couldn't open the door from the inside, but for some reason, it all works now. Thanks for helping me out of this jam. Now, on to removing the badly-slipping transmission from our 04 325i and replacing it with one from a salvage yard...

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