External door handle replacement

Hi gang,

My external door handle broke a couple of weeks ago. Two years ago the external driver handle broke and now it's the rear drivers side.

I bought a used handle from ebay and am wondering if anyone has come across any instructions on how to install it. I am getting my car ready for sale and don't want to spend too much money on it if this is a job I can do on my own.

I just have basic skills and am not a mechanic. How would you rate this job in terms of difficulty?

Thank you!

TIP

I had to replace my front passenger handle not too long ago. Not too difficult. I'm not sure if the rear door makes it any different than the front. Once you get the door panel off and you can get to the back of the handle, there is a little metal "slide" to allow the handle to be removed. good luck.

Thanks.

How hard is it to take the door panel off?

it's not that hard. i know that there are write ups on how to take it off. i think the whole replacement took less than 1 hour.

Great. Thanks.

How long did this wind up taking you?

Any more information on taking door apart?

Any more information on cost of handle or ebay seller?

Let me know.

Originally Posted by TIPenta

Hi gang,

My external door handle broke a couple of weeks ago. Two years ago the external driver handle broke and now it's the rear drivers side.

I bought a used handle from ebay and am wondering if anyone has come across any instructions on how to install it. I am getting my car ready for sale and don't want to spend too much money on it if this is a job I can do on my own.

I just have basic skills and am not a mechanic. How would you rate this job in terms of difficulty?

Thank you!

TIP

Why do you keep ripping door handles off?

You need to read a few things:

1. Removal interior panel:
http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/door/doorhandle.htm
or
http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/door/panel.htm

2. Understand the "slide" concept, see this from e36:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=232798

I don't know about airbag, check to be sure you have to disable it first (disconnect battery 1h prior etc.).

Ask dealer mechanics, sometimes they will help you.

what year and moldel do you have.

I had to replace the external rear door handle on passenger side. I'm attaching a few pictures for the details that I could not find in this forum for the E39.

I think it's best done if the door lock/latch assembly is removed for easy access. Shortcuts are possible but maybe harder and more risky. Here are the steps I did:

1. Remove the inner door panel, including the inner door opener handle
2. Open part of the door vapor barrier at the corner of the door lock assembly
3. Remove the door lock assembly
4. Look for something that can slide. Raise/clear the stopper lever on one end of the slide bar
5. Spray some lube to decrease friction. Now you can slide it with joy ... Slide toward the front of the car to remove the ext. door handle.
6. Remove the outside door handle
7. Reassembly is the opposite

My ext door handle broke last winter. I was lucky to find one with matching color on eBay.

~harris

Originally Posted by harris2p

I had to replace the external rear door handle

I just did a /door handle(F3) in the bestlinks and only found these:

• Door handle (exterior) removal and replacement
• LED Exterior door handle
• Door handle Interior lighting retrofit

So that every thread builds upon our knowledge base, I'll add the following to the best links which now includes your thread and pics above:

- How to replace the exterior door handle in the BMW E39 (1) (2) (3)

Originally Posted by harris2p

I had to replace the external rear door handle on passenger side. I'm attaching a few pictures for the details that I could not find in this forum for the E39.

Thanks. This is one I haven't seen before, either.

It is possible to do it via the access hole on the side of the door. Open the door and near the door lock, you will see a black plastic cover. Open it up, and you will see the slider. Take a 90 degree pick tool, and put it inside the slider so it site right inside the hole. Hit the pick tool so the slider moves in, and the handle should come right out. It should not take more than 10 minutes.

For the cross-linked record, this recent door-handle thread today has some useful pointers and tech tips:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > e39 Door Handle Problem Driver Side!!!

Originally Posted by lav6880

I've been having problems with my door handle for a while and it's getting worse but don't know which part to replace. I have to pull the handle really hard for the door to open. I'm assuming that it's worn out but is it the parts inside the door? Which parts do I need to replace? Any help is appreciated.

Originally Posted by uncle ken

http://www.bmwtips.com/
look under Tips and Tricks/General/ #8

Originally Posted by vank

Outer handle and inner handle are not tied together. I was having trouble opening my door from the inside after I had taken the door panel off to replace a regulator, but I had no problems opening the car from the outside. Turns out that i just didn't have the cable in the guide so after putting the cable back into the guide (which you can do without taking the door panel off again) I had no problems opening the door.

Originally Posted by Takechan

Yeah mine broke off last winter. At the end it felt like I had to pull the handle quite far up until it opened. One day it just came clean off lol.

Here is a picture:


I used this guide.

Originally Posted by Steve D

Funny coincidence, I just walked in from changing my driver door inner handle after it snapped off yesterday. With the new handle I noticed that I now have to pull the handle almost all the way to the stop to open the lock and it doesn't fully return. I'll check that cable guide; I probably knocked it loose installing the new handle.

Steve D

Originally Posted by dtm888

OP, don't know if this will help, but I ran accross it when I was looking for something else.
go on YouTube and search for "adjust e46 door handle" first video you see might be of help.

I know its an e46, but I think the concept could be the same. I would send you the link, but I'm on my mobile right now and can't copy n paste it over.

Good luck

Originally Posted by ztitans1

Great post guys. I replaced my drivers side outer door handle last night. It was actually not that difficult removing the panel and the airbag then pulling back the left top corner of the black soundproofing material to expose the inside of the door. I used a small screwdriver to pry back the tab and a large flat head screwdriver to push the slide towards the front of the car. The tab is on the left of the slide (looking towards the inside of the door from the driver's seat. Once the tab is pulled back to free the slide it moved with very little effort. Installing the new door handle was very simple and the slide simply goes back in place and the tab locks it into position. 30 minutes tops. I ordered the door handle from an online wrecking yard for $35 including tax and shipping.

I shopped a local parts place that quoted me $200. Found a new one (unpainted) for $105. A used purple one on ebay for $73. Then ultimately the $35 one that is already the right color. I feel very fortunate. Thank you for the information on how to put that in.

picked up both front and rear driver's side handles at a junk yard. $17 for both. Replaced them both in about 30 minutes and most of that time was taking off and replacing the door panels.

There is a good set of DIYs posted recently by Fudman and others for replacing door lock actuators, with and without the door actually being open that I am cross referencing here so that others benefit:

- How to replace the exterior door handle in the BMW E39 (1) (2) (3) & how to open a single stuck shut locked front or rear closed E39 door from a broken door latch/lock (1) (2) & how to properly maintain a door lock (1) & a DIY for how to replace the front lock door actuator (1) & how to disable automatic door locks (1) (2)

My door handle broke, and the door wont open, does anyone has any knowledge of , how to open the door to change the handle?
Thanks

Hi.
I've replaced my passenger outer door handle on e39 528i. No problems.
The rear one seems to be giving me hard time.
Does anyone know if the door lock should be removed in order to get to the clip that needs to be pulled up in order to release the slider.
Please help. It is the rear passenger door.
Thank you.

For cross reference, this thread was opened today:

Originally Posted by YourOPeein

I've replaced the broken driver door handle on my 2001 E39. but that's not the fix. I took the door apart, tugged on the cable and the door still opened. When I reconnected the door handle - even screwing it place, the new handle won't open the door.

Is it safe to say the cable should be replaced?

Originally Posted by fbad

Hi.
I've replaced my passenger outer door handle on e39 528i. No problems.
The rear one seems to be giving me hard time.
Does anyone know if the door lock should be removed in order to get to the clip that needs to be pulled up in order to release the slider.
Please help. It is the rear passenger door.
Thank you.

I know!!!! I cannot get to the clip you have to push up to get slider to come all the way forward. It is driving me insane I am thinking of moving the latch assembly because nobody seems to want to comment on the rear doors.