e46 driver door does not unlock - United Bimmer Community

**beemermike** · 07-21-2006, 02:16 AM

Ok so today I tried unlocking my door and then pressing the button again to unlock the other door. I drive a 2000 328ci. The other door unlocked but the driver door did not. However, when I try to unlock the doors while locked, I do hear an unlocking sound comming from the driver door as if something should have been unlocked, but the little pin doesn't pop up and the door remains locked.

The locking switch inside doesnt unlock the door either. the door will lock when you lock the doors, but the only way to unlock the driver door is to pull the handle from the inside.

I figured it could be a lot of things, but hopefully i'm lucky and its only a switch i got to swap out. Can anyone offer any advice. Thanks a lot.

-Mike

**Chris** · 07-21-2006, 02:24 AM

Hey....

Welcome!

I would have said sollenoid needs replaced but that would not be the case as you can lock the doos. Might be a bad relay o something.

Wait till the morning when dudesky and clapton and everyone else gets on, i'm sure you'll get an answer at some point in the NEAR future.

**Dudesky** · 07-21-2006, 05:03 AM

I got nothing man, don't know jack about E46's. But it sounds mechanical in nature; definitely in the door. I'd say pop off the door panel to observe what's going on in there

**EnvyM3** · 07-21-2006, 07:24 AM

Something is definitely slipping or a piece may have been broken inside the door panel. Since you can hear it trying, the motor/gears seem to be good but it's not getting it connection inside to make it unlock. Like Dudesky said, take off the door panel and have a look and you'll be able to see where it is "slipping". Then you'll know what piece to replace and it will probably be pretty easy to remove the bad and put in the good on your own.

Good luck

**c1apton** · 07-21-2006, 08:54 AM

See if this helps:

**beemermike** · 07-21-2006, 12:29 PM

Thanks guys. That's what I would have originally thought too. However, when I press the lock/unlock located on the console, the driver door does not lock or unlock (you can't hear anything either). The other door and gas filler cap lock and unlock just fine.

When I use the button on the key everything locks fine, but it's only when I use the button on the key that I can hear the driver door unlocking but it really doesn't. Could it be a switch malfunctioning?

**Antiburn** · 07-22-2006, 03:29 PM

Your door lock actuator is malfunctioning. They run about 150$ and require someone with know-how to do in 30min. A back yard mechanic that hasent taken a door pannel off before. Possibly 2 hours.

Since yours is a coupe your going to have to unbolt the window from the regulator, remove the 2 10mms on the left side of the door and pull that side of the regulator out of the way. then there are 3 T30 torx by the door latch that you need to remove, a cable that you pull off that connects your exterior door handle to the lock actuator andunplug the actuator. Then you can shimmy it out. The door pin and cables that attaches to the inside door handle need to be switched over to the new one.

Also if you have front side airbags they have to come off, but remember DO NOT turn the key on while the air bag is unpluged or you will have an airbag light that will have to be cleared. Also dont have the key on while you plug the airbag in or it suppoustly goes off in yoru face, or so im told.

**Cuse330Ci** · 09-02-2006, 08:23 AM

I had the same exact problem with my passenger side door, would only open from the handle on the inside of the car. Until it gets fixed try your best not to raise or lower the window on that door. Mine made a pretty awful scratching noise when it was like that, fortunately the window didn't get scratched. Better safe then sorry though.

**miataz1** · 03-06-2008, 07:15 PM

I have the same problem. When I press unlock button on the remote the driver door does not unlock. I press it again, all the other doors unlock.
I replaced the door lock actuator and problem persists. By the way, this is the second new actuator so I know it's not the actuator.

I am not sure what else could be causing this problem. Everything else seems to function ok. Windows roll down if hold the unlock button, etc.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

**Cuse330Ci** · 04-02-2008, 10:24 AM

It's disgraceful how bad the door handles are on our cars.

**Numark318i** · 04-02-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miataz1

I have the same problem. When I press unlock button on the remote the driver door does not unlock. I press it again, all the other doors unlock.
I replaced the door lock actuator and problem persists. By the way, this is the second new actuator so I know it's not the actuator.

I am not sure what else could be causing this problem. Everything else seems to function ok. Windows roll down if hold the unlock button, etc.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

do you have the second key? Maybe the key isnt sending out the right signal?

Is there a way to reset the key maybe?

**miataz1** · 04-03-2008, 01:58 PM

I finally ended up taking my car in to diagnose this issue. After scanning the ecu, I was told a relay seems to be causing the issue. Then the technician cleared the faults from ecu memory which miraculously fixed the problem. The remote now unlocks the door 99% of the time. I think that I will have to take it in at some point have that relay replaced. I hope this helps.

**johnnyf** · 05-29-2008, 06:38 PM

i just ran into the same problem and i have no clue what to do. i dont want to take it into the shop because i know i will end up spending a arm and a leg. help me plez!

**damo318** · 06-12-2008, 10:31 AM

I had the same problem with mine i could hear the unlocking sound in the door aswell.I changed the door lock acuator and now it works like new

**User86** · 07-17-2008, 01:55 AM

I believe I have a similar problem, but on my car it seems to be backwards when I press the unlock/lock button on my key only the driver door unlocks...sometimes. I am able to put the key in the handle and unlock my driver door if the key will not. Once I am inside i try to unlock the doors by pulling on the interior handles and they will unlock maybe half the time. after a few tries of getting in and out of the car they will unlock and i will be good for a few days or so. It is really annoying! I do not believe the key is at fault here because it should lock/unlock when i press the button on the inside right? Do not really feel like talking it to the dealership, well at least not yet hopefully someone can help thanks!