Just had this issue myself.... try take out the switch box containing the window up down and mirror controls and fiddle with the 3 connectors (re-plug them in and out a few times). What I think happens is that the computer electronics gets itself in a pickle when you fiddle around doing the carrier and it flags the hall effect door closed sensor as a problem, and it then ignores it. The system then will not lock the drivers door as it thinks the door is open. Drivers door should not lock in open position for safety reasons. Anyway I fiddled with the switches for a while and mine eventually started working. I don't know if this is relevant but I did this with the ignitions switch in the on position. I tried disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes but in my case this did not cure the problem.

For future reference I think it is best to disconnect the battery before changing the door carrier. This way you can also remove the airbag without getting a warning light, and also, I assume, you will not confuse the computer about the state of the door sensor.

Thanx Cole.

Thanks for all the great information. My X just started this issue on drivers door. Stupid cold icy day went to open the door and it didnt open. Now I will follow all the tips and hope I don't have any issues

I had the same problem. What I did was, turn the key in the on position and I unplugged and then reconnected all 3 wire connectors on the back of the front driver side window switch, and that fixed the problem for me.

Thanx alot that worked for me.

Oh how I wish I saw this thread a month ago!

I Changed my Carrier about 6 months ago. Used an aftermarket one because Genuine parts are insane money in Australia.

Sure enough, my central locking failed about 2 months ago and the carrier about 4 weeks ago.

I've just fixed the central locking by resetting those plugs.

So the brand new Genuine BMW door lock and actuator is still in the box on my desk..........

oh well, I'm sure I'll need it one day...

So, further to my last comment, I have disconnected and reconnected the window switch plugs and sure enough the drivers door lock started to work off the central locking and remote.

But a couple of days later it stopped.
Because the first time I did the plugs the ignition was off I tried it with the ignition on.

The door lock started to work from the remote and central locking switches.

This morning, it has stopped working again.

has anyone had a similar problem and what was the eventual cause?

The new actuator I have was damaged in transit so is being sent back to BMW which means I cant throw it in and see if it fixes it.

any help woul dbe appreciated.

Thanks. That did the trick for me as well!

The final result for me was to replace it with a new one

Thanks so much for this posting. Two years later, and still helping! I was close to the end of my rope, and about to bite the bullet and go to the dealer. This solved my problem in two minutes. Much appreciated!