Passenger Front Door Won't Open
 

Using either exterior or interior handle. When locked the lock will pop up when pulling the interior handle. Exterior handle doesn't feel like there is hardly any resitance. I'm guessing maybe the cable has snapped or the handle mechanism is broken or possibly the latch or lock mechanism is stuck. It can't be frozen it's inside the garage and it's 66 and sunny outside here in California.

This sucks. Every time I turn around it's something else with this car.

Try lock and unlock from the inside (with the button) And then try again


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I sounds like double-lock malfunction. Cycle the central lock locked and unlocked then if no-go, follow the "locked myself in" procedure:

Crawl into the passenger seat

Use the key fob to lock the car. (press lock twice to disable the motion sensor)

Pull the door handle it should do nothing at all.

Now press and HOLD the central lock button while pulling the door handle

This should unlock the door

Pull again on the door handle. This should actually open the door. (warning: will trip alarm be prepared to key in the ignition or press unlock on the key fob to silence the alarm).

The problem is internal to the door actuator almost certainly. A recent thread almost identical problem once it was back in sync started working properly.


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Interesting... This had occured to me and I feel like I have experienced this issue before but I'm not quite sure what I did to fix it. Thanks guys I will try these tips and report back!!

Didn't work :(. Driver door is doing wierd shit pops up and down when I use fob. Only locks with key...

If you can only lock with key means actuator is broken. You better address before none of your doors will open.


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- I just posted similar issues on my E39 5-series forum, see if you can learn anything there:

Door lock actuator issues - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

So how many actuators are there? Rear doors are fine...

One actuator per door. Since you mentioned passenger front door, is there a key on that side? (sorry, I have an 01 3.0). I just replaced mine this weekend. It's the same issue as yours . . . key fob and internal button won't open the passenger door. Only the inside door lever works.

Change it actuator asap before that internal lever stops working too. It would be difficult to remove the inside panel if door is closed.

You will find how-to videos on how to remove the panel and to remove the actuator itself. I got the replacement one from Amazon for $135 (Dorman) and hopefully it lasts. It took me 2.5hrs to replace the first time. Buy few door push clips while you are it since guaranteed you are going to break a few.

If a door starts acting up with either handle not working then fix it NOW before it wont open at all. Trust me on this.

When I bought the wife's 528i the passenger front door wouldn't open from the actuator/door lock failing. That was a nightmare to fix. Took a few days to finally get the door open to change the thing out.


That's said it sounds like you may be at the point of no return already.

I bought one of those bore scope's with the video display to see what I was doing inside the door. I need to go back over the notes I have on it to try to figure out how I finally got it open but the best I remember is I went in thru the airbag cover and from the window opening with the window down. Its been a few years.