Tailgate latch trouble, fuse maybe?
 

OK, so my tailgate latch release button has left the building. Push the button on the tailgate, nothing happens, I have checked the switch it appears to be ok. Can someone tell me the fuse that controls this item?
2006 x5 4.4
Thanks

I know you've checked everything.... but..... remember that the rear hatch cannot be opened from the outside unless all four doors are unlocked.

When you press the trunk opening button on your key, does the hatch open?

When you press the hatch release button on the dash/console, does the hatch open?

The hatch opens with the key remote or console button, only the tailgate is not functioning,
thanks

If it opens with the two buttons listed above, it doesn't sound like a fuse problem....

Just so we're on the same page,..... (I re-read your description of the problem, and I want to make sure I understand.....). Forgive me here...

1. Hatch opens with key and console switch. When you lift the hatch, you can depress the switch on the top edge of the tailgate (lower half) and the tailgate releases to allow you to have both halves open....

...or..

2. Hatch opens with the key and console switch, allowing you to lift the hatch, but the switch on the top of the tailgate DOES NOT open the lower portion.....

...or....

3. When depressing the exterior hatch release, with all doors unlocked, the hatch does nothing.. (no unlock, no sound, no nothing...)....

... or...

4. When depressing the exterior hatch release, the hatch opens, but the tailgate switch does nothing, (no unlock, no sound, no nothing...)

Dan

#2, the hatch opens fine either way, the button on tailgate will not open (release) tailgate. #4 fits as well, i can open the hatch with ex. release but the tailgate button does nothing.
The latest development, the rear seat recline buttons on both side pillars adjacent to rear seats are not functioning ie. they have no effect, the controls for the rear seat recline on the sides of the rear cargo area adjacent to the hatch are working properly?
Thanks

I see the problem now..... I'll take a look at mine this afternoon (I'm at work), and try a few things and see if I can duplicate the problem.

I'm not sure if the seat not reclining and the non-functioning tailgate are related, but I'll see what develops.

bump

take it apart and check the swich contacts to see if there coroded.

Did u get to the bottom of this? Mine is doing same! Number plate (licence plate) lights don't work either and the bulbs are ok....

This is a long shot maybe.

I had a dead tailgate release button and one dead licence plate light. The other light was working but very dim.

I investigated and found that a seal had perished badly and was letting water into the switch and licence plate lights. I replaced the seal, cleaned the corrosion off the light contacts and dried out the switch with a hair dryer. Hey presto, both lights back on full strength and no problems from the release button any more.

The seal in question. I don't know what you call it but there's this "strip" of trim above the licence plate area, attached to the very bottom of the tailgate. For example if you were opening the tailgate using the release button your thumb would be on this piece of trim. That can be removed by undoing three or four torx screws on the bottom of it and then the seal in question is visible between the strip and the bodywork.

Mine had almost turned to dust it was that perished !

Hi there,
The moisture gets inside and shortens the circuit.
What I've done with mine was removing it for examination,finding that if the right light(license plate) bulb was installed it would get a short circuit and the button wouldn't work at all..it worked fine once the bulb was removed,so I bought it inside and dried inside with the hair dryer.
Also the connector inside of the housing was loose and I suspect it was where water accessed through into the otherwise sealed plastic capsule.
So I used the glue gun and sealed the connector hole as well gluing it,so there's no play at all.
It's been two or three months and never had the problem,and we've been through the worst winter I've ever seen.
Before I fixed it I would turn off the engine and would get the hatch unlocked or turn on/off the lights and get the same result.
Good luck:thumbup:

I ended up going to the dealer, diagnosis was bad cpu in the rear, replaced for $600 and everything now works fine.

wow

Just posted this exact same post elsewhere in reply to another thread so apologies if your reading it twice!
Solved my problem (kind of). Took the tailgate trim off (with the boot release and number plate lights in) and pulled it apart. Now this is quite difficult as the thing appears to have been melted together, presumably to seal it and keep the water out. So, on inspection, 2 of the 4 wires inside had worked loose. Result methinks, just solder them back on and bobs yer uncle. However, when i took the pcb out for easier access i found the back had corroded and the bus bars were completely gone for about 4 inches!!! So its goosed then! Bunch of arse.
Take note BMW. If you have 2 pieces of plastic and you need to join them together to keep them watertight. Dont melt them together!!!!!! Use a bit of rubber! It works for the rest of the bleeding car manufacturing world!