Lift Gate Release Problem
 

Good afternoon-

My liftgate WILL open via the button on the key, and with the button on the dash. It stopped working using the release handle on the liftgate.

I haven't found this particular issue in my brief search- has anyone encountered and corrected this one before?

Thanks!

That's fairly common, there should be some threads here on replacing or repairing the switch.

I just replaced the whole "rear grip" which included the rubber coated switch and two license plate lights. I bought an aftermarket part on Amazon or Ebay.

It worked fine.

My original grip on my '06 E53 was black plastic with a chrome plastic outer cover held on with two sided tape..The replacement was black plastic and my chrome plastic cover fit perfectly over it.

This is a really good example of what would be preventable with a few cents of better quality materials when the car was built. Also why we can afford to buy them after the original owners pay the big price and the value quickly drops exactly for the same reason! ;)

Lift Gate Release Problem
 

On mine the rubber cover failed and water got in and shorted the switch. It would open on its own until the computer locked it out.

People have just replaced the cover I tore it off and that worked. I like the replace the whole part idea.

Oh yeah...the grip strip! Water damage, corrosion or just simply a weak point with the wire being so crimped in a tight space .
I went to the bone yd and picked one. The de-install helps me with the reinstall. Not exactly a difficult job, but as the BMW goes a tedious job.

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Thanks for the responses. I assumed it to be the switch in the liftgate, but you never know-

Mine is outwardly fine- rubber intact. I'll wait for some better weather to address, as my x5 lives outdoors.

Winter is ending here in VT, so time to take care of a few things. I'll be removing the lift gate handle and exploring my options with the release switch, as well as the license plate lamps which are both out now.

The only replacement parts I have found online were on Ebay, coming from Latvia- Not terribly confident about that sourcing, so will see if some surgery might help.

What seller Latvia? I bought my mirrors from Latvia and could not possibly be happier with the seller and the outcome.


–awr–

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I've also had excellent deals from sellers in Latvia - just have to be patient, as shipping down here is.... slow.

Mine: rubber held the water in. So “rubber looks fine” can easily be the problem. You can’t see it under normal circumstances. I just removed the rubber and never had another problem with it.


–awr–

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I should have been clearer- Not confident in shipping from overseas- nothing to do with the supplier.

They used DHL so secure shipping. Wasn't cheap but i got a pair of $1000 mirrors for $300 incl shipping. Def worth considering. Not sure how PayPal works other than usa but buyer protection is pretty solid here I USA


–awr–

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I'll pull the liftgate handle tomorrow, see if I can repair the switch and the lights- They don't work now, nothing to lose.

I have owned my X5 for about 9 years now, really nothing else out there I would choose to replace it with. Just did front struts, expansion tank and rad hoses, new spark plugs. 230k and still looks and drives great.