Closing doors on the new car

My new car has very hard closing doors (these are regular doors, without autoclose) - is it the same with new cars, and will they become softer after few month/etc?

Currently I need kind of to slam the door, as opposed to my 10-year old Lexus, where I just release the door - and it will close by itself..

Originally Posted by nesterk

My new car has very hard closing doors (these are regular doors, without autoclose) - is it the same with new cars, and will they become softer after few month/etc?

Currently I need kind of to slam the door, as opposed to my 10-year old Lexus, where I just release the door - and it will close by itself..

The car is very tight although I don't find the close objectionable.

Roll down a window and see if it is air compression contributing to the hard close.

Roll down a back window because the front windows rattle when you shut these doors raising another concern

Originally Posted by nesterk

My new car has very hard closing doors (these are regular doors, without autoclose) - is it the same with new cars, and will they become softer after few month/etc?

Currently I need kind of to slam the door, as opposed to my 10-year old Lexus, where I just release the door - and it will close by itself..

they are made of aluminium (way ligther than before)

This has been a commonly reported issue on cars without self-closing doors.

I also noticed it on several cars I test drove, as well as EVERY 3 series loaner I have gotten. It's 100% down to the "tightness" of the car, as if you drop one window by about an inch, or open the sunroof, the door will shut fine.

I wonder if there would be a way to open up a hole someplace to let air vent a little bit, but the tricky part would be to do that without introducing NVH.

The doors on my F10 close way easier than they did on my E39. This was obvious on my first test drive. The lighter doors on the F10 vs. the E39 need less force to close.

Hard to say if I've just gotten used to it and close them harder to compensate, or if it has actually gotten better as the seals etc are broken in a bit, but it seems my doors close easier than they did a few months ago when I first got it.

I've never noticed this. When you guys say hard to close, do you mean hard to push the door or you push it and it doesn't latch all the way?

It doesn't latch all the way. happens to my wife a lot, every now and then for me. We never slam shut our car doors. Never had a problem with ex-Benz, Toyota highlander and Lexus. So now we just have to close the F10's doors a bit harder.

Originally Posted by cynerjist

I've never noticed this. When you guys say hard to close, do you mean hard to push the door or you push it and it doesn't latch all the way?

Yes, it doesn't latch.

Here is the clip how it *should be* - this is 2001 Lexus.
I just slightly push the door with one finger - and it closes completely. Currently my Bimmer doesn't show a mile close to this..

I am going to see what I could do with the latches - they seems to be designed moveable (just release 2 screws), so I'll try to reajust them..

Originally Posted by nesterk

My new car has very hard closing doors (these are regular doors, without autoclose) - is it the same with new cars, and will they become softer after few month/etc?

Currently I need kind of to slam the door, as opposed to my 10-year old Lexus, where I just release the door - and it will close by itself..

forget it :P
welcome to the new world of aluminum unbalanced doors that F10 has put all of us!

Originally Posted by sanf

It doesn't latch all the way. happens to my wife a lot, every now and then for me. We never slam shut our car doors. Never had a problem with ex-Benz, Toyota highlander and Lexus. So now we just have to close the F10's doors a bit harder.

the F10's doors seem to be unbalanced
I think they were only designed to be bought with the silent close option (using suction)

there is another thread for that

I'm glad I got the soft auto close doors. The aluminum doors do feel a bit cheap when opening and closing. The weight of regular metal doors (such as my Lexus and the Jaquar XF) gives a sound and feeling of luxury and build quality. However, they do add weight to the car. Tradeoffs in everything I guess.

Hopefully they resolved this for the 2012's as the soft close doors are no longer available on the 535 and 528.

Sent from my HTC Inspire using BimmerApp

Originally Posted by soulunderdog

I'm glad I got the soft auto close doors. The aluminum doors do feel a bit cheap when opening and closing. The weight of regular metal doors (such as my Lexus and the Jaquar XF) gives a sound and feeling of luxury and build quality. However, they do add weight to the car. Tradeoffs in everything I guess.

Yes, good for you!
Auto close is not offered in Canada in 5 series (why??????), I tried it on on the 7 and it works really amazing.
I'd say that overall car looks (and mainly front corona lights at day), ambient lighting at night, and autoclose give 100% limo feeling.
It's pity that we here have only 66% of it...

Originally Posted by quackbury

Hopefully they resolved this for the 2012's as the soft close doors are no longer available on the 535 and 528.

Sent from my HTC Inspire using BimmerApp

The lack of soft close doors on the 2012 535s was one of the reasons I ordered a 2011. There were other reasons, but that was a biggy for me.

I noticed that too, darn it... What a shame... My rental Impala closed lighter. I really have to slam mine shut, something I wasn't quite exPecting from ANY new car. Sounds like they won't loosen up from what you're saying.

Just tested mine as I have noticed the doors need to be closed quite deliberately with all windows closed. Tried it with the sun roof open and the doors close effortlessly so I guess it's caused by an airtight cabin. Not a bad thing.
This doesn't bother me at all.

put some muscle in it! i do know what you mean though since i used to have a is250 and lexus doors close nicely no mater what year it it.

I love my soft close doors. Ordered it without thinking much about it but it is oneof my favorite things now.

The doors are German. Force is the only thing they understand.

Originally Posted by soulunderdog

I'm glad I got the soft auto close doors. The aluminum doors do feel a bit cheap when opening and closing. The weight of regular metal doors (such as my Lexus and the Jaquar XF) gives a sound and feeling of luxury and build quality. However, they do add weight to the car. Tradeoffs in everything I guess.

According to BMW, the weight savings from making the doors aluminum
was 50 lbs...(we are on a 4000+ pound car..)

Originally Posted by nesterk

My new car has very hard closing doors (these are regular doors, without autoclose) - is it the same with new cars, and will they become softer after few month/etc?

Currently I need kind of to slam the door, as opposed to my 10-year old Lexus, where I just release the door - and it will close by itself..

Had the same problem but after having the car after 4 months it seems fine or i've just gotten used to it.