Opening car/bonnet when cars dead

[Glenn63]

So my shed Bmw 3 estate’s battery is completely dead, car won’t unlock with remote or with the key. Any idea how I can get in or at least get the bonnet open to jump it? Cheers

[Ed.]

Glenn63 said:

So my shed Bmw 3 estate’s battery is completely dead, car won’t unlock with remote or with the key. Any idea how I can get in or at least get the bonnet open to jump it? Cheers

What happens when you try to open with the key?
Is it hard to turn or seized, have you tried working it loose with wd40/lubricant?

[Fastdruid]

You don't mention which model...this is for the F30/F31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1G2WBgIs3c

[Krikkit]

I'd be working away at freeing up one of the locks - get some WD40 or Plusgas down it and keep working at it

[anonymous-user]

You could lift it up and connect positive to the battery which runs directly to the battery and negative to the metal at least on the E46 3 series.

[GreenV8S]

I don't know that car, but any car that has a mechanical key for the driver's door should be able to be unlocked with the key.

If there is no mechanical key for the door, or the lock is seized, it would be worth checking for access the starter main power terminal as a last resort - this is often placed low down in the engine bay where you can access it from underneath if you can make your way past undertray panels. The alarm may be problematic if you take this route, though - central locking would not work if the alarm has forgotten about the key fob. Getting a locksmith to break in via the internal door release may be your only option in that case.

[Glenn63]

Cheers for the replies eventually worked the lock free with some WD40 think it was just stuck (not sure if ever been used not by me at least) but tried jump starting it and it won’t do anything still completely dead. Hooked up the battery with another car left it running for a while still nothing. It’s also an auto and without the ignition on I can’t get it out of park so can’t move it and the mrs car is behind mine, and advise on this? Or wtf it’s doing in general?!
Maybe some some complete electrical disaster as the odd thing been happening lately, boot keeps locking/unlocking by itself and popping up on dash that’s it open when it’s not, tyre pressure sensors pinging saying they low but not, locked the car after a trip and it kept unlocking saying a door was open but not, damn sheds supposed to be cheap to run!

it’s a 2007 325d also

[anonymous-user]

Do you have no electrics showing when the key is turned fully on?
If so then check the battery connections check,the front engine compartment the powerlead from the battery should arrive there drivers side bulkhead area you need 13volts.

[Ed.]

Glenn63 said:

Cheers for the replies eventually worked the lock free with some WD40 think it was just stuck (not sure if ever been used not by me at least) but tried jump starting it and it won’t do anything still completely dead. Hooked up the battery with another car left it running for a while still nothing. It’s also an auto and without the ignition on I can’t get it out of park so can’t move it and the mrs car is behind mine, and advise on this? Or wtf it’s doing in general?!
Maybe some some complete electrical disaster as the odd thing been happening lately, boot keeps locking/unlocking by itself and popping up on dash that’s it open when it’s not, tyre pressure sensors pinging saying they low but not, locked the car after a trip and it kept unlocking saying a door was open but not, damn sheds supposed to be cheap to run!

it’s a 2007 325d also

Low batteries can cause electrical gremlins, could you charge it till its healthy and refit or replace?

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

The battery might be knackered now, either take it out and charge it properly (if it will accept a charge), or ideally replace it.

[Glenn63]

There is no ignition key it’s just a fob that slots in a whole and button to start but get nothing at all completely dead. Going to get a new battery tomorrow and see if that sorts it. Tbh it’s probably just the battery as since this lockdown iv only been going a couple miles to work and back with the odd ‘extended’ route to try keep it charged but obviously not enough.

[dhutch]

Also a good reminder for everyone reading this to put their key into the door lock and try it. I aim to do it once or twice a year just to keep it moving.

[imagineifyeswill]

Is that the one with the battery in the boot, if so there is a huge fusible link in the cable running forward to under the bonnet, theres a known problem with corrosion at the cable fusible link join causing a breakage, whole cable has to be replaced.

[Glenn63]

imagineifyeswill said:

Is that the one with the battery in the boot, if so there is a huge fusible link in the cable running forward to under the bonnet, theres a known problem with corrosion at the cable fusible link join causing a breakage, whole cable has to be replaced.

I think this was a recall issue that I had sorted last year when the car wouldn’t start, (but ignition/everything else was fine) picking up a new battery this afternoon hopefully that sorts it.

[Glenn63]

Update, fitted a new battery and now all is well, as much as a pain as it was as its in the boot and only the drivers door would open!
On a side note, how far/often would you say you need to go for a drive to keep the battery and everything else fresh? Currently only going to work about 2 miles away which obviously took its toll over the last few months so going to have to take it for bigger run more often.

[Fastdruid]

Just stick it on a charger occasionally.

[untakenname]

Now we're getting a decent amount of daylight a cheap solar charger left on the dashboard should trickle charge the battery sufficiently to keep it topped up.

[rustednut]

Glenn63 said:

Update, fitted a new battery and now all is well, as much as a pain as it was as its in the boot and only the drivers door would open!
On a side note, how far/often would you say you need to go for a drive to keep the battery and everything else fresh? Currently only going to work about 2 miles away which obviously took its toll over the last few months so going to have to take it for bigger run more often.

Using it like that is probably likely to drain the power more than using it less often but driving it further. Big drain of power to start the engine, not enough charge to refill fully.

As said, use a charger occasionally, or a conditioner ideally.

[Glenn63]

Well I take it all back put the battery in all was perfect, went for a run parked back up on Friday. Came to it before to go to work, nothing. Fob doing nothing, opened with the key fob in ignition nothing completely dead again. Surly it can’t be the battery again as nothing was left on lights etc so assuming it’s something between battery and car so back to the drawing board!

[GreenV8S]

Glenn63 said:

Well I take it all back put the battery in all was perfect, went for a run parked back up on Friday. Came to it before to go to work, nothing. Fob doing nothing, opened with the key fob in ignition nothing completely dead again. Surly it can’t be the battery again as nothing was left on lights etc so assuming it’s something between battery and car so back to the drawing board!

Have you checked the voltage at the battery? That's where I would start.