Winterizing the Door Handles
 

Old age has set upon me.
Aside from lubing the inside of the handle from the exterior - what is the purpose of removing the side plastic cap on the side and lubing from there again ?

Yesterday here in the Midwest it was 26F and my driver door handle was stuck, I pulled and opened the door, but when closing door it would not latch, almost as if the internal latch was stuck. I had to open door panel and I sprayed PB blaster on the latch and upper door handle. Works great now. Thinking I should at least open the passenger side and do the same

When you remove the little plug (#3 in the diagram below)...it allows you to lubricate the mechanical workings of the door handle that may get frozen by water that runs down the interior of the door when temps drop way below freezing.



Using a lubricant that helps dispel water...helps prevent the freezing and broken door handles that occur during this time of the season.

I use a product called TRI-FLOW that has TEFLON in it...which helps remove moisture/water...which helps with the freezing. I also try not to wash the vehicle if I don't think that any residual water/mositure won't evaporate before temps dip below freezing. And if you have rain/freezing-rain, sleet, snow, etc that may melt and run down the door along with impending freezing rain...this is the reason for lubricating the door handles and removing that little plug and using a product that can help dispel/displace water/moisture from this area.


These are my annual winterizing products...the TRI FLOW is used on all parts that move or can bind (locks/hinges/etc) and the silicone is used on all gaskets and rubber to help them not freeze together, as well:

:iagree:
open the plug now and "winterize" as in the coming months it will be so cold all those pot metal parts will freeze. The hard pulls when frozen breaks the weakest parts of the door carrier. The door handle issues we all face each winter are well posted here on the forum in the event of breakage.

Preventive care is best! Good luck for those up north in the frozen tundra already. Drive safe.

Save yourself a lot of hassle. I tried all the above plus antifreeze and it works one time maybe.....

BMW has redesigned the door handle cables, they are only available if you buy a new door handle. This effected Mini Coppers and many models of BMW's. Your dealer will have a boat load in stock because they are a known issue and there are TSB's about it. They really should have recalled them but it's not a safety issue until you get locked in.

The cables they changed are called Bowden cables. There is no way around it. Water or even moisture gets in the cables and freezes, depending where you live it not as bad as others, humid air on the coast by me in the northeast is the worst. I changed both front doors and now its a none issue.

You mean only available if buying a new door handle carrier or an actual door handle?

Door handle Carrier. Dealers will know exactly what you need. I had link to the tsb but it no loner works. It listed the parts needed and repair procedures.....Maybe "Q" can find something in his bag of tricks. Amazing the info he posts.

I replaced my door carrier (passenger side) about 1.5 years ago, curious as to which TSB it is, but thanks for the info man!

The only TSB I can find for the e53 X5 door handle and the "freezing" issue...says that its for those with build dates prior to 7/02:

Well that would explain why my door handles have not had a problem freezing, with my 9/2003 production, nice find QS!