Is this the solution to your problem?

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-fix-pics.html

This sounds like the answer to my question. Appreciate it. Gonna take it to my mechanic since that's the only way it'll be in a heated garage/shop. I refuse to work on it when it's negative temps outside and it's negative temps in my garage. Learned my lesson when I replaced my window regulator a couple years ago and the brand new plastic piece to hold the window just snapped since it was so cold inside haha.

Good luck with it. I haven't had to use that method, but saved the info just in case. Thanks to the original poster.

This will fix your problem. http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...andle-fix.html

The link above will not fix the problem, the cables are frozen, they will never move with a coat hanger. The new handle comes with the new cables.

Thank you for the input but I think the previous method will help me out once i get it into a heated shop and everything thaws out. The method you posted only pertains to the outside door handle being broken. I can't open my door from neither the inside nor outside. Won't be able to open the door panel with the door stuck closed.

Right that is because the door cables are frozen, the latches will not release nor lock. The cables come with the new handles.

The common problem if you pull hard enough the handle or carrier will break. The new handles and cables are redesigned and once changed will never freeze. Your door latches and all other mechanisms are fine. Again this was common on the 2000-2002 models and BMW came out with a recall-TSB to change the handles-carriers and the cable.

Your X5 was probably never in that climate before. Same thing happened to me and nothing will fix it other than changing the cables and handle. It will thaw and work until the next wet day then overnight freeze.

Hmm I'll look into that. Last year I had the body shop replace the driver side door handle in which they ordered and installed. I would suspect they ordered the oem part so there shouldn't be a reason why it's broken again.

It wouldn't be that the X wasn't in this climate before being that it was originally sold out BMW Motorwerks out of Minnesota and has been up here in Minot since 2012 so it's seen it's fair share of winters.

Well I have both door handle carriers coming in today. We'll see what happens from here.


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BMW have a 2 years unlimited miles warranty for any parts that they sell. If the body shop ordered BMW OE door handles, they should still be under the BMW warranty.

Oh alright I'll contact them to check it out.


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Hopefully, they didn't install an aftermarket handle but charged you the BMW price.