Have you tried using the key and make sure the door is unlocked first? The locking mechanism may be stuck and preventing the latch from opening.

Since you're in the door already, try pulling/prying up on the metal hoop on the latch. It's what connects the outside handle with the latch. If that won't open the door, it's either locked or the latch is broken. Metal hoop circled in picture below.....

Thanks for the quick reply. I definitely have unlocked it by way of both connections (the key and the lock knob that sticks up). That metal hoop gets pulled as well with no result. I think it should be a stuck latch..

OK. I did a bit of drilling to expose the area a bit more. Here are some photos.

wow...a little more cutting and you could just cut the door out...


hope you can repair that, though.


have you tried wiggling the levers to see if there is any free play, or looked into the bottom of the door for tiny broken bits that would indicate something has jammed??

you might need to get a little more umph behind it, but something should movewith enough leverage.

sorry to say, though, i have no keen insight other than what has already been offered.




df

Thanks for the reply. I've messed with every lever you can see, no luck.

As for the cutting, It doesn't matter. I just want the damn thing open. I have another door.

Did you ever sold this problem?

i believe there was another door won't open thread, and the op took it in to a shop that (apparently)m had the door open in a matter of minutes.

i have *no* clue as to how or what was done to accomplish this, but if there is some strange alchemy in regards to how to do this i wish that those that do know would share. it would be a wonderfull addition to the sticky's....




df

Is it just me or does this latch mechanism look like its locked?

My DS door gets a little tough to open in cold weather. I pull up on the handle but it feels like the parts in the door don't like to move very freely when it's cold. I just have to be a bit careful with it. Does yours feel like that or does it all feel like it's seized up inside?

Could be a sign of a broken door handle. If the handle likes to "stick", that may indicative of the handle's frame being broken.

E36 Drivers Door won't open from Inside or Outside

I have a 1994 320i (E36), the drivers door would not open from either the inside or outside it was like the door mechanism was deadlocked. I tried a number of different suggestions as described in various forums however nothing worked. In the end I came to the conclusion that the mechanism was broken and would require replacement. I purchased a second hand door mechanism and took the car to a smash repair shop as I expected they would know how to get parts apart and have the tools to cut open car parts after an accident. They were able to get the mechanism out without cutting the door frame and replaced the the unit with the second hand one I bought. I understand that they had to cut and chisel the old mechanism out, destroying it, to release the door. The cost was under $AUD100 plus the cost of a second hand lock mechanism (BMW quoted $800 for the part and time, approximately $AUD1100 all up). If the door completely dead locks this is probably the only way that you will get the door to reopen to make repairs. Hope this helps, good luck.

Door won't open door will not open insside or outsde

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Old Today, 12:59 PM
White528iSyd White528iSyd is online now
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Mein Auto: E39 528i
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Door won't open door will not open
I had this problem with our 528i E39 1996. the passenger door seixed and could not be opened by internal or external handle. The lock indicator went up and down electrically/electronically via the actuator but the door would not open.

I tried spraying WD40 or aerosol liquid lubrication into accesible areas. I tried multiple door handle operations inside and outside. I tried thumping against the inside and outside of the door to unjamb it.

I read about making a hole in the door lining to break up the actuator and the risks with the air bag (DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FIRST AND LET THE CIRCUIT DISCHARGE FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE MAUCKING ABOUT WITH THE EXPLOSIVE AIRBAG!!!), but was reluctant to do this but it seemed the way to go. BUT then I found this and it worked for me. door open, no damage done.

I used a hacksaw blade as a thin stiff insert between the window wound down and fully open and the inside rubber seal to get down to the locking mechanism at the rear of the outside door handle - thst is where you aim for, and then move the tool around feeling for a lever you can push down that is a mechanism that is springy and you can move. After a while of doing this and feeling around with the tool. You can manipulate the inside and outside door handles while doing this trying to open the door.

Finally it opened, no damage! I did scratch the window tint a liitle bit because i used a hacksaw blade but no big deal. Then I used my finger to operate the door lock clasp instead of closing the door again, and opened and closed the mechnism with both door handles many times to ensure it was working. I sprayed al parts with WD40 and removdd the little opening cover next to the lock on the normally concealed door edge to access into the lock area. Make sure you pull out the inner oval like section on this port hole as it comes out and then if you want to you can pull out the outer part of the port hole. At first I levered out the whole port hole cover but found I should have done it as a two step process. You cannot put it back in the hole in the door metal unless you take it apart as the two parts and put the base in before the cover.

Lubricate the lot and keep using the door as I suspect it was seized by moiture or disuse and became stuck as the locking pin that you can feel delatch when you slowly open the door latch with either handle with the door open and using a finger to reset the latch each time. Try practising with a door you can open first so you get the feel of it. Maybe it also teaches the other jammed door what you want it to do?? these cars are getting old and probably imprinting on the owners mentality, so be nice to it )

Identical E36 locked door problem...

Hamishc said:

I have a 1994 320i (E36), the drivers door would not open from either the inside or outside it was like the door mechanism was deadlocked. I tried a number of different suggestions as described in various forums however nothing worked. In the end I came to the conclusion that the mechanism was broken and would require replacement. I purchased a second hand door mechanism and took the car to a smash repair shop as I expected they would know how to get parts apart and have the tools to cut open car parts after an accident. They were able to get the mechanism out without cutting the door frame and replaced the the unit with the second hand one I bought. I understand that they had to cut and chisel the old mechanism out, destroying it, to release the door. The cost was under $AUD100 plus the cost of a second hand lock mechanism (BMW quoted $800 for the part and time, approximately $AUD1100 all up). If the door completely dead locks this is probably the only way that you will get the door to reopen to make repairs. Hope this helps, good luck.

Click to expand...

Same car, same problem, same BMW quote, same location (Brisbane)...can you please advise the location of your friendly smash repair shop to save me a hundred phone calls?
Thanks...
Since checked an independent BMW trained mechanic who suggested a locksmith...then started with local smash repairers. The first could only remove the door lining; then Western Suburbs Bodyworks got interested. Supplied with a complete latch, they removed the window regulator and chiseled the faulty mechanism until the rotating catch could be released.
In summary, used mechanism $75, two days, $150 intermittent (?) labour, no body damage and only minor damage to tint film on the window glass. http://s1.bimmerfest.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb.gif

BMW 325I 94 CONVERTIBLE passenger door wont unlock outside or inside

BMW 325I 94 CONVERTIBLE passenger door wont unlock outside or inside door locks go up and down but the more i pull on the outer handle and inner handle they just wont open ? IF I PULL THEM REALLY HARD IT EVENTUALLY DOES A POP NOISE BUT OPENS FORCED anyone know if its a simple fix??

Anyone hear ever heated of wd40 or stp? The latch mechanism gets corroded after the window seals fail at the back end and water runs into the mechanism. 9/10 anti corrosion products will save this day.

And yes it did sprayed some lithium grease and it solved the problem but i also got a broken oper handle from the inside guess i need to replace it no big deal ***55357;***56397;***55357;***56397;

i live in san francisco area. door wouldn't open regardless what i do. what did you guys do to fix this. it just happen to me today. thanks in advance.

Try some of the methods in the postings above. You may need to remove the panel (which is difficult, but can be done with the door shut).

drivers door wont open from inside or out

HI, i have a bmw 540i that has a drivers door that i cant open from inside or out. Is it possible to take the door panel off without wreaking it, any advice would be much appreciated, my patients is running thin with it.