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Door stuck closed? Lock actuator broken? Here's the fix...

 
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 8:11 pm    Post subject: Door stuck closed? Lock actuator broken? Here's the fix... Reply with quote

So, my rear door lock actuator broke in its locked position. I wasn't able to manually unlock the doors, and as a result, couldn't open the door. After searching the archives for a similar scenario, I couldn't find anything that helped me out. I went to tinkering with the door and finally found a way to open it up. While I was at it, I thought I'd show you guys how to replace the lock actuator too.

First, start out by taking the door panel off. It wasn’t too difficult getting it off despite the door being shut. Just start in the upper corner (farthest from the front seat).



The red circles are plastic clip locations, and the blue circles are metal clip locations. You'll start by unclipping the right-most blue circle.

There are two torx bolts, behind little plastic covers, you have to remove. They are just below the interior handle. Also, remove the door pin by unscrewing it.

Once you remove the door panel, remove the foam vapor barrier by simply (but carefully) pulling it off. It's just glued on, but be careful not to tear it.
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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)


Last edited by Brandon318 on Fri May 19, 2006 9:30 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 8:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Next, insert a long flat-head screwdriver into the hole shown. It's one of the holes that the clips were in.



You're feeling for the sliding clip that holds the external door handle molding on. You're going to slide it toward the front of the car. I don't have a picture of it, but if you look through the hole, you can see a tab that sticks out. The tab position is drawn in the picture below.



Once you push that tab forward, the external molding will be free and the door handle screws will be exposed.


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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 8:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unscrew the screws and move the handle down and out of the door. You can only remove the door handle from the door with the window up.



Next, unplug the door lock actuator.



Remove the door lock actuator by lifting straight up. You will have to pry the clip to release the actuator. It's not really a clip though... the door lock actuator has an indented cut out that the clip on the plastic sleeve clips into. It's simple, you'll see. The little cut out is circled below.


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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a picture of the backside of the actuator assembly (the side you can't see when you're working).



One more pic of how to remove the actuator. I had a hard time getting it off; at first it seemed like there was something else holding it on near the front of it. It was just the lock shaft keeping it from coming off; it's a pretty snug fit. Just work it off with a screwdriver and you'll be fine.



Once you have the actuator out, unlock the door by pulling up on the lock pin.

Now the door is unlocked. The circled tab opens the door.


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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pull the tab back toward you.



Door is open!!!!

Now, if you want to replace the lock actuator, keep on reading.

Lift the window about three inches upward. Pry off the clip holding the window arm to the window, pictured below.



Once it's off, pull the arm out of the socket.



The window is now free.
_________________

Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)


Last edited by Brandon318 on Fri May 19, 2006 8:48 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unplug the window motor (circled below). Lower the window a bit (by pushing it now) and pull the window sealing off from around the window. It won't come all the way off in the middle of the door.



We need to remove the black trim (window channel) nearest the front door. Once you remove the window sealing, you will expose three screws. Two are pictured and circled; the other is just below them.



Once you remove the screws, pull of the trim by pulling up and to the rear. The pictures below show how it's attached.




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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pull off the rubber sealing at the base of the window. I found it easiest to just remove them with the metal clips.



Remove the window by lifting upwards. It's a bit tricky to get it out, but just keep trying, it will come. Be careful with it, it's glass. Smile



Now you will need to remove the other window channel. Remove the top most screw.



Next remove the two bolts. One at the top of the door, and the other near the bottom.




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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Remove the window guide by pulling toward the front of the car and downward slightly.



It's very difficult to fully remove the rail from the door, so just move it aside for now. Also, to avoid damaging the seal, hang it in the same way I did it in the pic. The red arrow is pointing to the rail we put aside.



Remove the gadget pictured below.



Remove the door handle. Notice the unplugged window motor connector (circled). Also, the white clip needs to be unclipped.


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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2006 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Remove the handle from the rod.



Remove the three torx bolts holding the door lock/latch assembly.



Pull the assembly forward and attach the new lock actuator.



Bolt the assembly back and test the lock. If it works, you're done! Just reassemble in the same way you took everything apart. One important note: Remember the tab you pushed to get the molding off? You will have to push that tab back the other way, while holding the molding (haha, rhymed), to get the molding back on.

You will also have to reinitialize the window motors - don't forget to plug it back in. To reinitialize the window, roll the window down all the way; roll it up all the way; and then press the "up" button for 5 seconds.

If you have any questions, email me at b_wehman@hotmail.com
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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)
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scrat



Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 1251
Location: california

PostPosted: Sat May 20, 2006 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow good job brandon. Dale should post this in the garage area. Nice work.
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scrat



Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 1251
Location: california

PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2006 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brandon i dont think this one is as good as yours can you check it out and see if they are correct on the procedure.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131544
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Brandon318



Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 1692
Location: Monterey, CA.

PostPosted: Tue May 23, 2006 11:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's pretty similar, but it only applies if you are starting with an unlocked door, which is fairly uncommon. Wink
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Brandon
BMWCCA #346993
1991 325iC Alpine/Gray
1998 M3 Alpine/Modena
1994 318is (Murdered)
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kai-robin



Joined: 05 Dec 2005
Posts: 45
Location: West Coast, Norway

PostPosted: Tue May 23, 2006 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

very nice and good job
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