car won't start with door open?
 

Went through a whole ordeal this week with the car. push-started it several times and was parking on hills all week. last night it wouldn't start again... so I closed the door... it started right up. Who on earth would come up with that "safety" feature? and why didn't someone tell me sooner?

Oh and what's the deal with the little plastic key? is it a vallet key or something?

My car starts with the door open.

The gray key is the valet key.

so confused
 

Now it seems to start with the door open. I wonder if it's theft deterrent related. when I started it before I had to have the door closed. when i turned the key all the door locks locked and then I was able to start the car. I'm so I don't have a grey key. just two black ones and some key made out of plastic. what's it for?

You may have inadvertantly activated the feature they call dead bolt?

I know it does some odd stuff to the car when engaged on some BMW's

Dave

thanks!
 

I knew something strange was going on

Tis didnt come with double lock, so the pump should never be deactivated. A more description background/history would be better to help others truly diagnose the real issue.

Mine has dead bolt, when you set it you can't open the doors and engine won't start until you open and close the doors.. Its a 95 base/active, stock Alpine remote and alarm.

Don't know why but it does... Even talks about it in the owners manual...

Dave

Ive read that in my manual as well as the OE documents that came with my Clubsport. I tried activating it on my 95, 96, and 97 ti, none of them activated it.

As far as I know, it was a programming option with the dealer installed security system. You have to pay the dealer to turn it on, and I think it only works with EWS cars.

All I do is hit the lock button once, it beeps hit it again and it beeps 2 times, and once I do that I also can't open the gas filler door, and the interior door handles won't open the doors, and the alarm arms and starts the little LED flashing. If I hit the button 1 more time it chirps 3 times and unlocks the car.

Dave

My Clubsport had this feature as well. I never noticed that the doors wouldn't open from the inside or the car wouldn't start, but I didn't own the car very long before I sold it. I did however notice the one, two and three chirps and the LED flash just as you described.

the story
 

so here's the full story.
I got the car only about 2 months ago and havn't driven it much. right now I'm prepping it for paint.
my dad borrowed my car the other day and drove it around town. He got out at one place and when he got back in the car he saw the little black plastic key on the keychain. I had never tried it as I wasn't exactly sure aht it was for. anyway he put it in the ignition and tried to start the car. NOTHING
he called me and we were able to push start the car. (yes I could hear the fuel pump etc.) the next day I followed all the little leads that I got on the fo and tried EVERYTHING (tailight fuses, clutch interlock etc.) nothing seemed to work. I had the doors open at the time while trying to start it. finally I took the battery cable off and let it sit for a while thinking that this simple operation might reset the computer or something. when i got back in the car (with door closed) it started right up the next couple days it would start with the doors closed but not open. it would also lock all doors when the key was turned in the ignition. now the car will start with the door open.

All E36s had this function, thats a running joke on bf.c....to lock friends in your car. No matter if you have an alarm, when the doors are locked, the gas door locks. As far as activating it by the dealership, ive heard of this, also a few other codes they could program, such as door lock on ignition, window and roof close with key fob, and a few others.

To the OP, sounds like your original owner had a few thing programmed into the car, as e36s shouldnt lock doors on start up unless you have some major shorting going on in your car. The E36 is "supposed" to be anti-lock your keys in the car, yet people manage to do it, and this feature sounds like INSTANT lock your keys in the car if it locks on ignition. You may be able to contact your nearest BMWNA Dealership and see what was programmed into it, if anything, and possibly have it removed if you dont like it.