Door lock actuator troubleshooting
 

Now that I have my panel off I (right rear - see the thread I started on that a few months ago if interested), I can see what the door lock actuator is doing (and not doing). When I press the unlock button on either the key fob or the one on the console, I can hear the actuator give a loud click, and I can see something (looks like a small arm) on it move upward, but it doesn't unlock the lock. Is this is symptom of a bad actuator, or does it sound like something has slipped off? Thanks.

Nobody? There have been a lot of threads about the door lock actuators on these vehicles, so it seemed like there was a fair amount of experience here about them. I don't want to order a new on until I'm pretty sure mine is bad, and it seems strange that mine makes a distinct click, and something on it is moving, but it doesn't actually unlock the door.

my front drivers door lock actuator was on its way out sometimes it would unlock the door other times it wouldn`t ,you would see the door lock jump a bit but wouldn`t doing anything other times it would not move at all but I would always hear a clicking noise from the actuator. I replaced my lock actuator assembly and my lock works all the time with the new one . I think your lock actuator is getting weak common problem on these x5`s.

Thanks very much - that's pretty much what I was expecting, but wanted some confirmation before buying a new one. OK, I'll go place an order.

Did you have much trouble getting your old one out and the new one in? I haven't looked at it too much yet. Any tips or tricks you'd recommend? Thanks again.

I got the door pannal off ,aitbag moved out of the road then I tried removing the lock cylinder (drivers side) I was pulling and prying but it wouldn`t come out and I didn`t want to break the cylinder so I just got my mechanic that specialises in bmws to take the lock cylinder out and he r&r the lock actuator and put the door pannel back on for me for $67.00 can. but for you I think the rear door would be much easier since you don`t have the lock cylinder . just have to pry off the steel cable and the plastic clip one going to inside door handle the other going to outside handle . I know the actuator assembly is about $170.00

did you check to make sure everything is connected properly to the lock actuator cables or did that plastic peice you see moving actually broke cause mine broke at the same time it was acting up?