Hi all. I've got a good friend with his X (2000 4.4) and his wife just discovered the exact same issues as the OP.
Can I please beg of someone to let me know how to access the X5 with a key fob that does not seem to be remotely unlocking the doors (not sure if she tried to pop the trunk) and manually turning the key doesn't seem to help either.
PS: we just replaced his door handle carrier a few weeks ago, but the X has been operating fine since, and this was NOT the first time we replaced a door handle carrier so we are very confident that we did it correctly again this time.
Appreciate any help, Please PM me.
Again, thanks in advance.

If you have a spare key fob, there is an old wives tale. You can unlock it via a cell phone. Have the other key fob and hold it to the phone.
Not sure if it will work but its worth a try.

The "wives tale" is just that...a tale...it doesn't work. :tsk:

Do we know if the vehicle has power? If so, and inserting the key manually into the driver's door lock cylinder and then turning the key counter clockwise PAST the electronic actuation of the key (approx 90°) doesn't unlock the door...what happens if you hold the key until the "convenience open" feature starts to roll the windows down? (again, do we know if the car's battery is dead or not?)

If there's power, try the convenience open feature, once the windows are down you should be able to reach in and unlock the doors (if the doors weren't double-locked).

To double-lock the vehicle requires it to be locked with the key (either remotely or manually). If the car was locked up by going thru any of the passenger's doors and manually locking it...then the vehicle is in single lock mode and a double pull of the door handles is all that's required.

BMW changed the operation of central locking around the 2000 model year...and now, if the vehicle is double-locked...you can now open the doors from the inside...but you have to follow a procedure first:

• press the central lock/unlock button on the center console first, then
• pull one of the door handles twice, and it should open.

Manual UNLOCK procedure (when there's electrical failure...and other remote key doesn't work):

Hey I've got a friend, who knows a gal, who has an uncle, who needs to access the Popes X5. Can someone please send me the instructions so I can break in.
Sorry I couldn't resist.......:rofl::rofl:

qsilver7, thanks for the info. He managed to get into the trunk with the key fob. The key fob and physical key wouldnt unlock doors but trunk hatch would open with remote for some reason. Anyhow, he crawled in and started the x5 to which the alarm went off for 2 seconds then it stopped he said.
He managed to get the x home but its playin with him and his central locking. his drivers door handle is not working, hence why turning the key in tumbler would not open now... still unsure why his key fob wouldn't open doors, yet would pop trunk. he has the x on a battery tender now so we'll see. very weird behavior. I suspect its the x5 battery so I recommended he get a new one (2000 with original battery, so it seems). anyhow atleast he never had to break his window

Thanks for posting back with the resolution. Lucky for him that he could get the tailgate to open.

It would have been nice if BMW would have at least installed a door lock cylinder on the front passenger door...that would give a 2nd way to manually get into the vehicle if something happens to the driver's door lock cylinder...especially since there's no tailgate lock cylinder to manually enter the vehicle from the exterior.

exactly!!! or put one in the trunk too as a back up.

PASSENGER DOOR WONT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE
 

Hi all, first off a big thank you to this forum and its members. The assistance you have provided has been invaluable. And am therefore please to contribute as well.

PASSENGER DOOR WONT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE
First determine by listening if the actuator is working or not. In my case it was not. So there was no signal from the door module (located on passenger door window switch) to the actuator.
I could therefore not open the door from either the inside or outside. THERE IS NO NEED TO REMOVE DOOR CARD INSITU IN THIS CASE.
What you need to do is “hot wire “ the actuator;
Remove the door switch, using a flat tool, preferably plastic.
Undo all the connectors on the bottom of the unit.

Attachment 60432

The white connector feeds power to the actuator motors.

Attachment 60431
You need to find the BLUE, WHITE and BLACK wires on this connector (PINS 12, 6 & 7)
The BLUE is the common wire with WHITE and BLACK going to the motors in the actuator.
LOCK: +12V to the WHITE/ BLACK wire and –ve/ ground on the BLUE wire
UNLOCK: +12V on the BLUE wire and –ve/ground on the WHITE/ BLACK wire
You have to reverse polarity to LOCK and UNLOCK.

Attachment 60433

TIP: I simply used a small jumper wire and used the existing +12V and –ve available on the big black connector to pulse the actuator.
WARNING: There are BUS cables amongst these – SO PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT UNLESS YOU ARE COMPETENT AND ABSOLUTELY SURE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!
PM if I have not been clear on any issue and I can also send you a copy of the schematic.