» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 06-21-2009, 04:57 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | Door lock actuators I'm having problems with my doors being hard to open. The passenger door is so bad, I usually have to open it from the inside to let someone in. The passenger side actuator was replaced under warranty a few years ago by BMW. Now the same one is acting up. The drivers side is even starting to give me trouble. The remote alarm locks and unlocks the car fine. Do they need adjustment or lubrication? __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 06-21-2009, 07:27 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,233 | no clue how bmw door locks work, never popped my door open, but on most cars the lock actuator and the opening mechanism are two different things. Is it a possibility that the external latch mechanism is the problem. __________________ -Jeff | | | 06-21-2009, 08:25 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | Is the handle hard to pull (resistance) or does the door just not unlock/open when you pull on it? __________________ I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | 06-22-2009, 04:56 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | It isn't hard to pull, it just doesn't engage the door lock. If I snap my hand up very quickly, the door will unlock. Seems like a spring loaded device isn't disengaging. Is this portion of the door documented in the Bentley manual for maintenance? I don't have the repair manual handy: at work Quote: Originally Posted by aceyx Is the handle hard to pull (resistance) or does the door just not unlock/open when you pull on it? | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 06-22-2009, 05:49 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,233 | should be, but i don't think its your lock actuator, that would only affect power lock pins going up and down. __________________ -Jeff | | | 06-22-2009, 05:57 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | I doubt it's the actuator. If it was bad, the door wouldn't unlock with the remote. It sounds like the exterior door handle mechanism is worn out and will need to be replaced. Clex2 did a write up on replacement of those.. I can't locate the link, but I will search some more... __________________ James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 06-22-2009, 06:27 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | __________________ James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |