e61 auto boot - info which may help if you have problems
Discussion
My auto boot started playing up about 9 months ago. By playing up I mean initially requiring 3 presses of the boot button to operate, not operating via the key and latterly being manual operation only (ie, use some heft). I read a lot online about water in the spare wheel well, frayed wires behind the hinges, motors on the way out etc etc. Conincidentally, my rear wiper had stopped working as well as the rear demister all around the same time. I assumed a wiring / electrical fault.
I took the car to a garage - it turned out the rear demister had stopped working due to a wiring issue but the rear wiper simply had a clogged spindle which they freed. They claimed the had fixed the boot - but a day later I realised they had not. I took it back to them, again they checked it over (for free this time) and claimed it was fixed. It quite obviously, was not.
In fact, after desktop research, I realised the problem could be fluid - or lack of. I bought some aeroshell 41 aviation fluid for about £10 from a company called Transair, took the car to a BMW indie and asked them top up the fluid in the pump. Possibly a DIY for some, but I have a logic7 amp in the way and I just could not be bothered. Anyway, the boot is now absolutely as good as new. So if your boot sometimes, very occasionally, works but most of the time sounds a little rough / doesn't open or close automatically it is worth checking the fluid level in the pump and topping up if low. It may save you months of irritation.
PS - BMW initially told me they would only supply the entire unit at a price of about £500. Days later I finally got someone to admit they did a fluid "kit" for £61. You probably don't need either, just a £10 can from Transair.
I took the car to a garage - it turned out the rear demister had stopped working due to a wiring issue but the rear wiper simply had a clogged spindle which they freed. They claimed the had fixed the boot - but a day later I realised they had not. I took it back to them, again they checked it over (for free this time) and claimed it was fixed. It quite obviously, was not.
In fact, after desktop research, I realised the problem could be fluid - or lack of. I bought some aeroshell 41 aviation fluid for about £10 from a company called Transair, took the car to a BMW indie and asked them top up the fluid in the pump. Possibly a DIY for some, but I have a logic7 amp in the way and I just could not be bothered. Anyway, the boot is now absolutely as good as new. So if your boot sometimes, very occasionally, works but most of the time sounds a little rough / doesn't open or close automatically it is worth checking the fluid level in the pump and topping up if low. It may save you months of irritation.
PS - BMW initially told me they would only supply the entire unit at a price of about £500. Days later I finally got someone to admit they did a fluid "kit" for £61. You probably don't need either, just a £10 can from Transair.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff