Door lock issues
 

So.. I've been doing diagnostics on the central locking system for the car for 2 weeks now trying to figure this pattern out:

1. The driver's side door unlocks the driver's door, passenger door and the trunk.
2. The passenger's side door unlocks the driver's door, passenger door, and the trunk, but the lock doesn't pop up.
3. The trunk will unlock itself, but nothing else. However, the trunk will lock everything.

The trunk lock started working sporadically during the early part of summer, and has since stopped. I replaced the trunk lock actuator, and that did nothing to improve the unlocking abilities of the trunk.

I'm out of things to check. Any suggestions?

:videogame

i was just going to say replace the door lock actuator, same thing happened in my car, except none of the locks worked at all(it was stolen, and the guy cut all the wires) so i went to the dealer and asked and they said to replace the door lock actuator located near the glove compartment, check to see when you turn the key in the drivers door if you can hear a click from there

Do you have a picture of this actuator, or at least it's location?

It's annoying having to unlock the trunk to put anything in it, and then having to unlock the car, too.

no i dont actually know where it is, the dealership told me then i never bothered, but i think i can find a pic, let me lookhttp://www.shapor.com/pics/ebay/2004...0/DSC03515.JPG
EDIT: i dont know exactly where it is... but if you can hear a click from that general area maybe you can pinpoint it, i dont recall, it was like 1 year ago, but i think its near the speaker

Yes i myself have the same problem, Somedays (3-4 out of 7) i unlock the truck which unlocks itself yet, i dont hear all other 4 doors unlocked, this means i have to go to the passenger door and unlock that then it will work, as for the drivers door godamn thing wont do either.

Kestrel...I did a full diagnosis myself..compare my results..

1. BMW Factory Alarm = locks/open doors and trunk
2. Driver's Door (turn key all the way to the right)= double locks all door and trunk*, locks fuel door, closes all windows left open**
3. Passenger door = mines don't lock anything, only opens all doors and trunk.

4. Trunk* = (the trunk is the most interesting on the E36) with all doors locked turn key right it unlocks doors/trunk and fuel door. turn key left and it double locks doors and fuel door.

*okay, I haven't figured out this pattern-but you can do something with the key in either the drivers door or the trunk lid lock-where the trunk lock becomes completely independent from the door locks and the keyless remote. So the trunk remains unlock when closed, even if the keyless remote locks the doors. But once you double lock the door (or trunk) with the key then the trunk locks when everything else is single locked. Kestrel this may be your solution.
I think you turn the key on the trunk lid all the way right (or left) and hold it for a few seconds then the trunk unlocks and remains unlocked...to reverse this you just trun and hold the key in the other direction. :dunno

**hold key at far right position for 3 seconds...then keep holding and watch your windows go up.

Del -

I don't believe my car is equipped with the "double lock" system. I think they pulled that feature for my model year. At any rate, I don't have keyless entry, either.

I'll try the trunk lock left / right thing, but I've tried something like that before.

heheheh I knew about the windows rolling up, but the motor is somewhat shotty on the driver's door, so the window won't roll up all the way. It comes up about 1/2 way, and then engages the anti-trap feature. I'm thinking that the motor's on its way out anyway.

I'm going to tear the dash out this weekend and get the multimeter. Have my GF turn the key while I measure wires. :)

uhhh... del has the same model years as you do. just a 318. i'm betting if a 318 has it then your 325is whould definitely have it

I think there's two versions of this one...

A pre 5/95 and a post 5/95. The manuals and documentation I have read indicate that there was some kind of change in the system. All I know is that there is no "secondary" click to the right to lock. I get 90 degree turns right or left. :dunno

My car is actually a late 95 model of production date 9/95 and was sold in january 1996.
The only thing my car has that is of 1995 design is the M42 engine..All the trimmings and gadgets are of 1996 designs.

And now I've upgraded the interior to leather door panels and seats from a late model 1998 328i....plus the rims from a 2003 Z3 BMW...

So I have the best of all the E36 years in my car....

Is it true that the central locking botton on the center console isn't supposed to work when the car is off?

I'm pretty sure it (like windows and the sunroof) works after you turn the car off, until you open a door. After you open a door though, all accessory power is cut until you turn the car on again.

Oh, and welcome to UB! :wave

Thanks!