E46 Door Handle Problem - Please Help
 

I own a 99 323 and recently the LH (Drivers) external door handle has decided not to work. The first time it decided to go dead I remember hearing something fall between the exterior door skin and the interior door panel. After removing the interior door panel and side air bag I found a small plastic grey clip that appears to have broke. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem, perhaps which part I may need to order, or if anyone knows how to remove the exterior door handle on an E46 so that I can get a better look at the problem? I've been having to open the door from the interior handle for the past 2 weeks and it's driving me insane. Any information would be helpful.

hey.

had wha ti believe to be the same problem as you with my 330's passenger door.

what broke was the cable that goes from teh exterior door handle to the lock. That clip is probably the clip that held the cable in place. Once it moved it prolly shifted out of its position causing it to break under the pressure of opening the door.

Basically you have to buy the door handle mechanism and replace the cable. Atleast thats the easy way. Actually replacing the entire machanism was more then i could do.