Help! Door won't open!

garethdeb · Post by **garethdeb** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:59 am

Guys and Gals
We're heading for Cheddar for a week's hol and the front passenger door suddenly won't open. It locks and unlocks but neither the inside or outside handle will release the catch.
Any ideas how to open the door so I can get the door card off? I'm guessing there's a pull rod dropped off the catch mech somewhere, just don't know how to get at it!
Cheers all
Gareth

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petert · Post by **petert** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:15 pm

'Search' will help you find the definitive answer (outpost has a good guide IIRC - in principle I think there are three scerews to be removed, disconnect the lights, loosen off all the pop connectors around the perimeter, prise the card away from the door and pull upwards to remove the final push connector right in the middle. Take care not to pull it too far when it finally comes away or else you will break the fragile light guide that illuminates the door handle.
Peter T

garethdeb · Post by **garethdeb** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:15 pm

Lights? What lights do you mean?

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PhilT · Post by **PhilT** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:20 pm

Try this mate

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/ ... -pics.html

petert · Post by **petert** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:03 pm

Lights at the bottom of the doors - my E53 had them so i assumed all did...
Peter T

Sanj · Post by **Sanj** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:29 pm

[quote=""petert""]'Search' will help you find the definitive answer (outpost has a good guide IIRC - in principle I think there are three scerews to be removed, disconnect the lights, loosen off all the pop connectors around the perimeter, prise the card away from the door and pull upwards to remove the final push connector right in the middle. Take care not to pull it too far when it finally comes away or else you will break the fragile light guide that illuminates the door handle.
Peter T[/quote]

Almost - correct on 3 out of 4 screws. Two behind the interior trim, one at the bottom of the door card near cubby hole, you can see that one and the last one is behind the airbag plastic cover.

Everything else PeterT has covered. Just that LED light and the switch connectors plus the door pull plastic clip.

garethdeb · Post by **garethdeb** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:40 am

Can I really get the door card off with the door shut without damaging it? How can I prise the plastic clips off?
Didn't know about the LED on the door handle, either haven't got them or mine have blown!
Gareth

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Sanj · Post by **Sanj** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:41 am

By no means an easy task. In fact you'd be better off unbolting the seat first (4 bolts) to get it out of the way. Remember the connector underneath and if you disconnect, don't switch the car back on (otherwise the airbag light will come on and can only be switched off by scanner/dealer).

The door card won't come off completely. It will never get past the point where it meets the side of the dash.

But once you have it pulled away far enough you can get inside and try to open the lock by pulling on the mechanism, see this link to get a better idea. Then you can get the door open and the rest of the card off (with care and removing all connectors).

PhilT · Post by **PhilT** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 3:58 pm

[quote=""garethdeb""]Can I really get the door card off with the door shut without damaging it? How can I prise the plastic clips off?
Didn't know about the LED on the door handle, either haven't got them or mine have blown!
Gareth

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You don't have to if you follow the instructions in the link I posted above - it shows you how to release the door, then you have full access to remove the door card and get in to fix the carrier

garethdeb · Post by **garethdeb** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:53 pm

Well, finally got the door open, took two and a half hours! Had to take the seat out then eventually got the door card off. Took another hour of faffing around with the lock mechanism but it eventually tripped so I could open the door. I got the lock mech out but there's a lever or something not working inside it and it's a riveted unit so just ordered one from a breaker at Â£25 so I'll get that fitted next week when I get home. What a pain in the backside. Next job will be to take to drivers side one out and thoroughly lubricate it so it doesn't go the same way.
I'd thoroughly recommend others spray lubricate their locks to prevent this happening to you as it will always happen when you least want it to, like going on holiday!
Regards
Gareth

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