E39 Passenger Door Won't Open

[welsh blackbird]

The passenger door on my E39 won't open from inside or outside. Also, the electric mirror and window on that side are not working.

Is there an electrical connection that I could check, preferably not in the passenger door itself, as I can't get the door card off unless I can open the door!

Any suggestions greatly appreciated, as it's just failed the MOT for a non-opening door.

Cheers all.

[danspec]

Mine did the same.

Where the door connects to the a pillar there a round connector. It has about 15 pins. You can’t get to it without opening the door.

It’s the canbus pin on the door connector. Iirc the wire is white.

You have to pull the door airbag cover off carefully as it’s not meant to come off so will have to be stuck back on.

Then you have to remove airbag and behind it is the central locking motor which has to be removed before you can get the door open.

Then remove the plug and you will find rusty broken pins change them and put back together.

Goodluck

[d_a_n1979]

You can remove the door card with the door closed on the rears.

Remove the seat base (it pops up and then out), start undoing the door card at the bottom (careful as the clips/poppers are fragile), but youll soon get it undone. Screens in the door handle section and a clip in the centre of the door card where it’ll need a good pull to release

[4rephill]

d_a_n1979 said:

You can remove the door card with the door closed on the rears.

Remove the seat base (it pops up and then out), start undoing the door card at the bottom (careful as the clips/poppers are fragile), but youll soon get it undone. Screens in the door handle section and a clip in the centre of the door card where it’ll need a good pull to release

The OP described it as being the "passenger door" - I would read that as being the passenger's side front door, and not the rear door.

[d_a_n1979]

Ah I'd mis-read, thought it said rear passenger door

Wondering if a solenoid has blown re the central locking mech, but the bowden cables have been known to pop out of their connection too, stopping the door from being opened

Have you looked on the likes of eBay for a matching door card (ie. damage yours to get into the workings of the door and then once sorted, replace the door card with a spare)?

Alsoi; I'd highly recommend joining the 5 forums: http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ there's a wealth of knowledge on there for the E39

[danspec]

d_a_n1979 said:

Ah I'd mis-read, thought it said rear passenger door

Wondering if a solenoid has blown re the central locking mech, but the bowden cables have been known to pop out of their connection too, stopping the door from being opened

Have you looked on the likes of eBay for a matching door card (ie. damage yours to get into the workings of the door and then once sorted, replace the door card with a spare)?

Alsoi; I'd highly recommend joining the 5 forums: http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ there's a wealth of knowledge on there for the E39

Because the mirror lock etc not working I’d put money on being the pin I said.

You can check by plugging it in and you’ll get no communication from the bus.

The reason why you are stuck with it locked and it won’t open even though the button pops up ; is the central locking box physically moves the unlocking lever away from the lock - hence the problem.

I faffed about with the problem for a month or so looking for ways to get in but in the end I had to pull the panel off.