Does the trunk lid just try to pop open?
 

Okay, this is going to sound weird, but since you guys know everything, maybe you can help me, too.

According to the non-BMW dealer where I bought it, my 2003 4.4i had the trunk lid "adjusted by the BMW dealer in Seattle" before I purchased it last Fall. They said it was just noisy, so they made it more secure. It's generally been fine, although sometimes hard to get to close properly. I'm not sure why it does that, since I'm not forcing it or anything.

On a couple of occasions over the last week, I've come back to my X to find the trunk courtesy lights on, as if the trunk lid had been opened. But the truck is locked up, and the alarm is armed. So I'm thinking the trunk latch isn't securely tight, or it's so tight it's trying to pop open.

I've read about adjusting the black rubber stops on the upper trunk hatch to get it to fit tighter to stop a rattle, but what's up with the trunk lid being open enouigh to let the courtesy lights come on? They don't set off the alarm, and I don't think anyone is messing with the truck when I'm not there. So how do I make sure the trunk stays latched right? Does it try to just pop open on its own sometimes? I'm in the cold Pacific Northwest, so I don't think it's a heat-expansion thing. Is this all related to those latch stop adjustments?

What do you guys think?

Dave

Check that both latches on the lower tailgate are secure before closing the top. Occasionally I find that the right latch on mine doesn't engage right. Maybe this is the problem.

if it was a repair done last fall as in a couple of months ago, I would find out where and go talk to them. bmw of seattle treated me well when i was there last weekend and I am from Canada

i have the same problem as brian, when you close the bottom tailgate give it a good push on both corners to latch them

it could be the actual trunk latch that is defective. the new 5-series has the same problem. If your car is under warranty, I would bring this to the dealer to repair rather than the non-bmw location where you purchased the vehicle. otherwise i would bring this car back and have them fix this.

Try adjusting the bump stops, if you turn them too high the lights on the trunk lid will stay on because there is too much space between the trunk lid and the latch. Try adjusting them smaller by a couple turns at a time till you get it perfect.

Cool. Thanks, guys. I'll check out these ideas, and see how it goes.

No warranty on the X, and BMW Seattle is far enough away to be inconvenient for me. So I'll see what I can learn/adjust on my own.

Dave

Problem solved. With a little trial and error, and the help of a Torx25 driver, the stops are adjusted properly, and the courtesy light issue is gone. The upper hatch looks like it rides better now, too.

Side benefit: Adjusting the stops also got rid of a periodic rattle from the back end when going over small bumps. I thought it was something under the trunk floor, but nothing there was loose. After adjusting the upper hatch stops, the rattle is gone.

Cool!

Dave