Anddd the next problem is?.....
 

So after resolving my power steering issue BMW decided to not even let a full 4 days pass by without having the X come up with another problem. Oh joy.

-Me and my friend walk up to the X

-I unlock it and we both open the doors to get inside

-My handle pulls but the door doesn't open, his side opens but doesn't close now

- it doesn't help that it's been in the negatives the last few weeks

- is it the case of a broken door handle on both sides or did something inside the door frame slip off??

- I can lock and unlock the vehicle still but one's not opening and the other isn't closing.


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Not opening is a bad door carrier. You will need a new door carrier.

Not closing is the latch on the door is stuck and needs to be lubricated and work free.

The cold weather is responsible for these new problems.

Damn and I just replaced the door carrier on the driver's side last year. I need to get out of this state. It's tearing the X apart

If you bought an OE BMW part, it is still under warranty. If you bought a cheap ass part, that it why the part was cheap. When it comes to BMW parts you get what you paid for.

I think the issue is N Dakota is experiencing extreme temp drops. The tips on getting ready for winter should have been on your list weeks ago. Any moisture trapped in the door latches, handles, cables, etc will freeze. The normal action of opening those doors causes the mechanisms to try to break the ice. Which is stronger - Ice on everything or the force of the person opening the door? Those with kids and guests always find out the hard way that jerking open the outside handles repeatedly only causes more damage up to and including broken latches and exterior handles.

AS upallnight mentioned, lube now and replace what is broken.

Now, getting out of North Dakota during the winter months is only a drive away! :thumbup:

Yes Kids on these door handles is a problem. Both of mine that have failed all occurred from my Kids repeated use of pulling on the handle. Once I replaced the handles I had to have a "how to" session with them to avoid future premature failure of the door carriers.

I am pretty sure I remember your posts on that "issue". I always enjoy those random passengers who feel compelled to slam the doors when exiting, play with all the switches, ashtray flippers, jerk up door handles repeatedly, etc . Nothing makes me more nuts than non car people pounding on my stuff!

I am so anal that in all my cars I have matching cloth mats to keep the dirt off off my freshly vacuumed floor mats. I know, it is a curse of the overly clean compulsion disease - OOCD.

Haha if only it were that easy. The military dictates on how long I stay. I wouldn't even be here if it were up to me. I just think it's funny how it only happens to BMWs or maybe just me cause no one else seems to have a problem with it up here.

How would I get the driver's door to open if it won't open from the outside or inside? Taking off the door panel is gonna be tricky with the door being closed. I don't even want to close the passenger door since I know it won't open once it closes.


Also the central locking system doesn't work when unlocking the car.

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Good thing that doesn't carry over when you write!

Shoot I might just have to employ your method of mat care now that I got a set of BMW X5 E53 "Individual" mats in the vehicle.:thumbup:

For those who want to go down this path of OCD:
Bed Bath and Beyond - bath mats https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sto...933?poc=215746

Great color selections. Pick your color match!

Now that winter is here I switch out to these

Same exact thing happened to my 02 X5. Replace the cables on both doors. I think they come with new handles. The Bowden cables collect water and freeze.

There has been many myths on this board to just lubricate or use antifreeze on them. They all don't work...tried them all. The cables are redesigned after 02 and do not to freeze.

I even called BMW for assistance because there is a TSB to change them...they told me to pound salt. The Mini coppers suffered the same problem.

Because of the problems with X5's, I still own 2, I went to Porsches.

Bought a PORSCHE before I bought a BMW. Will probably get a Cayenne for the next truck.

I don't want to ruin this guys post.

If you don't have kids or if they are full grown look at the Macan, its like a 911 on stilts and that's what I drive in the winter. Nothing like the fit and finish and build quality. The new ones are cheaply priced now.

The Cayenne is great if you need something larger with kids. My Macan seat 4 adults fine. Cayenne S black on black is bad ass.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q...psaywhleh2.jpg
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q...psz8mhj2gx.jpg

So is there anyway I can get my driver's side door open since I can open it from the inside or outside?


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Might as well throw it in there also. After replacing everything for the windshield wiper reservoir, I'm still getting a huge leak. Looked around and saw fluid leaking from this area. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...ff9cb90461.jpg


I assume it's the grommet underneath the pump that needs replacing again?


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I rather have a V8!!!

Cayenne is a V6 turbo or non turbo. I have 407 Torq at 1,300 rpm and 400hp. 0-60 4.3 sec.

Make sure the grommet is installed on the pump first then it pops into place. Most likely the washer hose itself is leaking to the pump...mine did the same thing.

Yes it has to sit in a heated garage overnight, then will work until it freezes again.

Get the car to an independent shop and have them replace the cables. You can do it but you would need a weekend and a warm garage.

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.

So after driving the X for a little while yesterday, I pulled into my garage and figured "why the hell not" and attempted to open the door....

Door opened up without a hitch. Tried the passenger side and it opened also.

Closed both doors and locked/unlocked the X and was able to open the doors from the outside.

Noticed that the central lock wasn't working at first but i'm able to lock/unlock all doors from the inside now.

I'm gonna lubricate all the door jambs and locks come tomorrow or next week when we have the heat wave of 30 degree temps as the high. (Stay away from WD-40? or any recommendations on what worked best for ya'll?)

It's been negative 20 degrees with wind chills of negative 50 today so the X has been sitting in the garage all day as I refuse to venture outside. (Let's hope for the best when I attempt to open the door tomorrow *knocks on wood*)

So the question I ask is is it possible that the cable slipped off the lock causing the problem?