2001 BMW X5 Driver Door Carrier Stuck
 

My driver door won't open from the outside as well. Door carrier is sticking out slightly as is the case with others on this post. It will open from the inside. This happened recently (2 days ago) when I tried to open the door after it had been frozen during an ice storm. I can't believe this happened as I didn't pull that hard on the door. Unfortunately, I was unaware of this issue prior to the storm. I just bought de-icing spray as a precautionary step for the future.

I don't have the means to do the repair myself and am getting a quote tomorrow. It looks like an expensive repair. I try to avoid dealerships but not sure if my local guy has replaced this before. Any thoughts on what the repair should cost or if there is any chance it is just stuck are greatly appreciated!

It sounds like the carrier broke. You might also try a foreign car repair. I found one in my area that charges about half what the dealership does.

I imagine the carrier replacement must be a common place occurance.

My shop here in TX quoted me $170 out the door with parts, but I did it myself.

Thanks Ritchie and Blowout for the replies. I am having it looked at tomorrow. They won't know until they take the panel off. I will certainly post the findings.

sounds very much like the carrier is broken. i just had the same issue with my x5 - - door handle jarred slightly, wouldn't open.. the hinge on the rear side of the carrier snapped. Apparently a very common issue..

In addition, my lock asembly is broken internally.. argggg... that's a key-coded part, which isn't so cheap....

The X5 is easy to break into on the drivers side. Can you see any signs of an attempt to force the lock?

I replaced my lock with a keyless cover so it looks like the other door handles. It prevents break ins from the drivers side door. The problem is you cannot open the door with a key now and can only unlock with the key fob.

I added external jumper terminals underneath the rear of the car and ran extension cables from the battery. I did not want to get locked out because of a dead battery.

actually, my remotes have been broken (dead batts), so we've been using the key entrance for about a year. i just have been way too busy to pull it down and replace the batteries (and I'm too cheap to buy new keys)...

the key assembly wasn't broken, it's actually the little rod that extends off the end of it which broke. rather strange.....

This is Exactlyyyyyy what has broken on my right rear passenger door! I discovered that this morning while trying to fix it and found out this peace has a broken part exactly as showing in the picture above. And due to what I've seen so far, this part seems to be a "hell" to remove it from inside door and replace it.

01 BMW X5 4.4i

I'm curently experiencing exactly the same issue with my rear passenger door! Today I've been working all day trying to fix my door handle that wont open from outside as described above, but unfortunately I discovered one of the 2nd. hex screw from outside is broken from the previous owner. The top of the screw is completely off and left the rest of the body inside the hole, which left me in such difficult job and unable to remove the broken assembly inside and replace it.

Great instructions plus door lock
 

Gents,
Thanks for all of the great instructions, worked like a champ replacing my driver's side front door carried assembly.

One strange thing: when I tried to test everything before completely putting the door panel cover back together, the handle worked, but the lock would not. It would try to go down, and do the "prairie dog" dance, going slightly up and down a lot.

I went back and read through the instructions, and assumed this was because I had not disconnected the battery, or because I hosed something up with the lock.

But, when I went to put everything back together (aiming to fix the lock the next day), the lock worked fine.

Maybe this has to do with the window control not being hooked up when I tested it?? Not sure, just wanted to post this here in case anyone else runs into the same issue.

Larry