comfort access handles - difference front v rear
 

My drivers door comfort access handle wasn't operating (broken sensor/antenna) but all 3 other handles work fine.

I swapped the handles from the drivers door to the rear door and vice versa as obviously I use the drivers door most - the rear handle works perfectly on the front, fitment is the same on both doors.

I assumed the handles were the same (physically they look and work the same) but there is a different part number for the rear handle vs the front handle.

It is odd because for the non-comfort handle, there is only one part number for both front and rear confirming that physical fit is the same. And my own experience shows that the comfort access system will work regardless of which door the handle is fitted to, so why have different part numbers?

Curious because I'm getting the broken one replaced under warranty, and I forgot to swap them back before it went in for diagnostic. It came back as faulty REAR handle, and so they have ordered a rear handle. Meaning I will have 2 rears. Wondering if this will cause any problems.:dunno:

Did you ever get anywhere on this?

Also - do you know if anything needs reprogramming after replacing a handle or should I just be able to buy a new one and fit it?

I'm in the same situation as you...driver side front CA isn't working... I don't care about the other doors... let me know if you find a solution... Annoying 1st world problem to have :D

switch out the driver rear handle to the front. It takes less than 10 mins to do

Nice! I'll do that, thanks! :)

just don't plug the nonworking handle or it might drain your battery.

thanks for the advice, I didn't even think of that, good call :)

I just ordered a replacement handle from the dealer. £230 and up to 6 weeks lead-time (due to paint) - ouch, but, that's what you get for owning a BMW :rofl:

why not find one from a junk yard? it would be so much cheaper

I couldn't find the right colour and unlikely one will come along (personal colour). Re-painting is a hassle and might affect the comfort access - you can't buy the handles primed only factory painted. Add to that the scrapped handle might have the same issue, which is bound to be water ingress, and die shortly after.

Just not worth the time and hassle.

Huh. That surprises me.

I dont see that in the parts list...maybe a UK thing?

RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

Only has a factory painted handle for use with comfort access; only a primed option for non-comfort access (guess the dealer can paint it for you if you want).

The dealers parts guy found the same thing on his system.

I did find a white CA handle on eBay from Germany for £70 but then all the time to rub it down and re-paint, plus it still being second hand and perhaps not working well with the extra layers of paint etc - didn't seem worth the aggravation.

Just accounting for the cost of my time to re-paint it then the saving isn't really going to come to much.


I really didn't want comfort access, soft-close or the electric boot lifter as to me they add little value and are just expensive things to go wrong as the car ages. Already had this issue with the CA and one of the boot lifter actuators went while under warranty. Dreading the soft-close malfunctioning - I will actually look in to whether or not it can be retrospectively removed.

Problem is everything else in the spec was what I wanted so had to compromise. It took 4+ months of looking hard to find an example I was happy with in terms of spec + condition.

How hard is it to swap out the handles...anyone know of a DIY?