2011 F11 - boot won't open
Discussion
The boot release on my 2011 5-Series Touring has stopped working - is there any way other way in?
I can use the remote control to open the glass section and the same goes for the button by the bonnet release - but I can't find any sort of manual release for the bootlid itself?
Seems a bit stupid, if that's the case
I can use the remote control to open the glass section and the same goes for the button by the bonnet release - but I can't find any sort of manual release for the bootlid itself?
Seems a bit stupid, if that's the case

I've just had the exact thing with my 2010 E91 in the end it was the boot release catch what had failed.
When it does fail the ring will not work to realise the boot. Cost me £300 at my local indy
Bmw have recently changed the design as they had to order a new part and was told its a common problem.
When it does fail the ring will not work to realise the boot. Cost me £300 at my local indy
Bmw have recently changed the design as they had to order a new part and was told its a common problem.
Well, top marks to PMW - they serviced the car on Friday and also looked at the boot. Told me that it was a brittle plastic part that wasn't connecting with the soft-touch microswitch and had plastic-welded it and would be better than new.
Drove home and went to open the boot - at which point the whole thing sounded like it had exploded inside
To say I wasn't impressed would be an understatement!
A phone call to PMW to tell them what had happened and was told that they would order and fit a whole new soft-touch release mechanism, free of charge.
Got a call this morning to say the part was in, so drove up at lunchtime and was home with a fully-working boot by 2:30pm
First-class CS from PMW - they could easily have charged me for the part, despite their assurances that their original fix would work.
Drove home and went to open the boot - at which point the whole thing sounded like it had exploded inside

A phone call to PMW to tell them what had happened and was told that they would order and fit a whole new soft-touch release mechanism, free of charge.
Got a call this morning to say the part was in, so drove up at lunchtime and was home with a fully-working boot by 2:30pm

First-class CS from PMW - they could easily have charged me for the part, despite their assurances that their original fix would work.
Not too sure - as far as I can work out, the rubber handle you grab under the numberplate is attached to a plastic 'thing' that activates a microswitch and that 'thing' wasn't working properly - they said it wasn't a great design in the first place.
Have replaced the whole bit that you grab from the outside and the internal gubbins as well - no idea how much the part costs but I can't imagine it was massively cheap.
A good piece of Customer Service IMO, as I'm now very likely to go back there to get the rear pads & disks done as a result, rather than someone a bit more local. So they lose a bit on the boot mechanism but get another £500-worth of business to compensate.
Have replaced the whole bit that you grab from the outside and the internal gubbins as well - no idea how much the part costs but I can't imagine it was massively cheap.
A good piece of Customer Service IMO, as I'm now very likely to go back there to get the rear pads & disks done as a result, rather than someone a bit more local. So they lose a bit on the boot mechanism but get another £500-worth of business to compensate.
Edited by pincher on Monday 24th August 15:49
It's part No.8 on here - http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=MX52-...
There seem to be three designs of the boot handle; the latest fits earlier versions. I wonder if they changed it due to poor design (twice)?
Also wondering whether it'll happen to mine in the future, since I always use the remote button or footwell button to open the boot, never the handle itself.
Also wondering whether it'll happen to mine in the future, since I always use the remote button or footwell button to open the boot, never the handle itself.
Jobbo said:
Interesting - I don't have comfort access but my remote has two boot buttons, one for the glass and one for the main boot. The footwell button opens the main boot, not the glass. Wonder if it can be coded on yours?
I haven't got comfort access either - the button with the diamond on it doesn't seem to do anythign and the fotwell button definitely only opens the glass. Strange.Have you tried holding the diamond button down for a couple of seconds? You need to do that to open the boot to avoid inadvertent operation. Although I'm pretty sure you need to do the same for the glass, so you'd be used to that. It really sounds like yours has been coded so the boot doesn't open except with the handle; seems very odd.
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