Help Please

[fatboy69]

The battery on my 3 series BMW has gone flat so I need to charge it.

Only problem is that I cannot get into the car as the central locking has deadlocked so I'm unable to open the door to pop the bonnet to charge the battery.

Apart from putting a window through anyone an idea as to how I can gain access to the car?

Thank you.

[fatboy69]

Anyone? Please? I got job interview in less than 2 hours can't get there in time without a car.

[Smitters]

If putting the window in is the only option, spend that cash instead on a taxi. Maybe you can claim the expenses for the interview? Anyway, good luck and do mention it if you feel a little flustered once in the room. The fact you were able to work a solution and get to the interview anyway ought to impress.

[Sweller]

Can you open the drivers door with the key?

[fatboy69]

Gloucester to Bristol in a taxi isn't, sadly, an option. Train gets me into Bristol 40 minutes after interview due to start.

Tried opening door with the key but it won't pop the lock. Owners manual is in the glovebox of the car........

And I dont have home start recovery either. My cover kicks in if the car is more than half a mile from home. Can't push it half a mile, which i had thought of, because handbrake is on & swmbo always parks the car & leaves it in 1st gear.........

Grrrrrrrrrr

[tercelgold]

What model is it, you could try turning the key and lifting the door handle at the same time, opening the boot if possible as that's where the battery is on some.

[fatboy69]

E36 318is. Tried that but it won't pop the lock. Battery on mine is in the engine bay. Tried opening the boot but that doesn't work either.

Have been able to change interview too Monday morning so at least haven't got to worry about that.

Edited by fatboy69 on Friday 4th January 10:14

[bimsb6]

Does it open by quickly turning the key back and forth in the door lock , works in my transit .

[fatboy69]

It should do that but it doesn't. Waiting for local garage to come out to give me a helping hand. Grrrrrrr.

[Krikkit]

What kind of stupidity is it that means you can't open the doors with the key?

[tercelgold]

Good news about the interview at least. The only thing I've found on t'internet is that the boot shoud open with the master key maybe turning it beyond the feeling of resistance or putting some lubrciation in. If not and the battery is in the front then there probably isn't an auxiallry positive terminal to power it up for unlocking.

[deanogtv]

My old TVR T350 had a handy extension lead to plug in whenever the battery was dead to need give enough charge to open the door. Sad bit was the alarm drained it every other day and there wasnt always a plug socket in the middle of a tesco car park

[fatboy69]

Krikkit said:

What kind of stupidity is it that means you can't open the doors with the key?

It's the new BMW anti theft device...... German efficiency at its best!

I have got into the boot now although with the battery being in the front it's not really much use although i can now unload the boot.

Tinternet thingy tells me that I should be able to unlock the drivers door by turning the key to its maximum - tried that. It doesn't work so have emptied half a can of WD40 into the lock to see if that helps.

The good thing is that the company who were due to interview me today were extremely understanding & had no hesitation moving the interview forward to Monday.

[fushion julz]

You certainly *should* be able to open the boot with the master key...You should be able to open the drivers door, too, but you do need the master key.

If you are now in the boot, then you can take out the boot courtesy light and trckle charge the battery using the wires/terminals...make sure your charger is set to "low" or it will pop the fuse.

[BigBob]

Can you get to the starter motor from underneath? If so you could put a jump lead onto the battery side of the solenoid and the other jump lead to earth. This would power up the car battery allowing you the central locking to work.

HTH

BB

[E30M3SE]

Maybe come at this from a different angle.

Your battery is fine but your bonnet release handle inside the car no longer works.....

'Google' bmw e36 bonnet cable broken.

[fatboy69]

Technical knowledge is zilch so not even going to attempt the last two suggestions however I do appreciate the replies.

My mechanic will be here shortly do I'll leave the tech stuff to him.

[chrisw75]

Same thing happened to me with my MG ZT-T. Ended up smashing the drivers' window in the end. It was the only way in..

[crossy67]

BigBob said:

Can you get to the starter motor from underneath? If so you could put a jump lead onto the battery side of the solenoid and the other jump lead to earth. This would power up the car battery allowing you the central locking to work.

HTH

BB

Best idea yet. Great tip ta