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Featured Replies

Let me start by saying "all of the fuses are good and key fob is not dead". Problem with my 07 335i driver door it will not unlock with key fob or manually with key. It won't open from inside using the door handle or the unlock button. All 3 other doors work fine, they lock and unlock with key fob. So now my real problem is how to remove door panel with the door shut.

Morning Cindy 

Welcome to the Forum

Sounds like a failed acctuator, it is possible to release the top of the door card and prize it away far enough to see the lever operated by the internal handles cable. This sounds brutal but put a long screw driver or pry bar down onto the lever and give it a good wack with a Rubber mallet/Hammer the door should open.

You can now remove the door card and carefully peel back the membrane (tip. use a hair dryer or heat gun to soften the adhesive) so you can access the actuator and remove it. It goes without saying you will need a new acctuator Also check the condition of the internal cable I have seen a couple where the cable was the fault but sadly you have to brutalise the acctuator to find out I would change both to be safe

Good Luck

Dave

  • Author

Thank you. I'm not sure what lever your talking about could you send a pic or diagram as to exactly where it is.

Morning Cindy

It isnt hard to see it is a little silver lever with a hook end that sticks through the inner door membrane almost in a straight line down from the teltale button on the top of the door card.

A drawing a pic attached hope the help Your aiming at the little hook shaped lever in the picture

Dave

diag_7a71.jpg

s-l140.webp

  • Author

I think I found the problem but I don't know what that part is called and how to get to it with my door stuck shut

Morning Cindy

Sorry cant open your Video

Take a look at www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your Vin into the search box it will call up your Model the look in the Body and Trim sections for what you need. The site is an online BMW parts list as used by dealers when you have the part number double click it and it will show a list of alternates and other models it was used on

As already said from your description the actuator has failed (no inner or outer handles working) I have seen several over the years. There are 2 ways I know of to get the door card off (1) with the door shut the drivers seat needs to be removed or tipped on it's side and then yo can lever off the door card as the door is closed you will break some of the plastic clips so have spares ready. This will expose the door inner skin and the lever that attaches to the inner door handle operating cable. This is the lever that needs a wack to open the door. Method (2) lower the window prise the door trim away along the top edge and back edge (lock edge) you should be able to get enough space to see the lever with the cable attached on the inside of the door, put a long screw driver or pry bar on it push it down and give it a good wack. Life will be so much easier with the door open. Door card off peel back the membrane carefully undo the screws holding the actuator pop out the door button un-hook the inner cable and remove the actuator . 

The actuator is the Black part in the photo you can see the small lever and part 1 in the diagram 

Dave 

 

Morning 

Not sure but the only place I can think there would be a worm drive is inside the Acctuator !! At a guess someone has been there before and broken away the plastic cover. 

How did you get the picture ? is the door open or have you got the door card off ? Seeing that you really do need a new acctuator 

That worm drive turns a nylon wheel that operates the door lock how you will turn it now? I haven't a clue but that part should not be exposed. 

Dave

 

oof, that looks complicated. good luck getting it sorted!

  • Author

I used a camera on a scan tool. Door not open yet and door panel loose but not off. I will update you soon. We are going to junk yard to take apart a door there so we can see what's in there.

Morning

If you reached that far to take the picture you were just beside the internal door release lever (metal lever with a hook end) just put a long screwdriver or pry bar down between the door card and door push the lever down to it's limit then give it a good wack the door will open 

Dave

  • 11 months later...
  • Author

After many months of messing with door i decided to try, again, the key in the door after about 10 tries THE DOOR OPENED!!! So I can finally get door panel off to access and replace the actuator. Thank you to everyone that responded and tried to help me. And to Greydog...I found the lever you were talking about.

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