I just acquired a 89 750il that had been sitting for a long time. The battery appears to be dead and the key will not fit into the ignition to unlock the steering wheel. Its parked in the street until I can find out a way to turn the wheel. Will a new battery unlock the ignition core?

try turning the wheel while trying to insert the key. what do you mean the key wont fit. is the ignition blocked?

The battery has nothing to do with the key fitting in the hole. If the key won't turn, then try shifting the wheel slightly and turning the key to release the ignition lock.

it is not an issue of the wheel lock. the key will only go halfway into the ignition. I read somewhere that when the battery dies in the BMW's that the doors will not unlock so I was thinking maybe this was what was going on.

-tyler-

...I read somewhere that when the battery dies in the BMW's that the doors will not unlock... -tyler-
That statement is a combination of misperception and misunderstanding.

If the car battery dies AND the doors are locked...you must use the EMERGENCY UNLOCK PROCEDURE that is outlined in the owners manual. The door locks are no longer "electrically" assisted and have to be operated manually. You go to the passengers door, lift and hold the door handle up, then turn the key to the emergency unlock position.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_366.jpg

If your doors are already unlocked...then obviously there is no need to perform the emergency unlock procedure. But you can still lock & unlock the car by performing the procedure outlined above until power is restored.

This is so funny, because when my battery died on me. I thought the only option i had was to break a window. I took a flathead to the quarter window and went to work! I was pissed to find out that there was some precedure you could use, to open her up. Damn BMW's.

This is so funny, because when my battery died on me. I thought the only option i had was to break a window. I took a flathead to the quarter window and went to work! I was pissed to find out that there was some precedure you could use, to open her up. Damn BMW's.

Next time you get locked out of something call me, I'll bring my favorite hammer and we'll have a good ol' time.

I just acquired a 89 750il that had been sitting for a long time. The battery appears to be dead and the key will not fit into the ignition to unlock the steering wheel. Its parked in the street until I can find out a way to turn the wheel. Will a new battery unlock the ignition core?

Just call a locksmith.

More than likely something is lodged in the ignition, like a family of racoons that have been living there since it got parked.

Mmm...raccoons :stickoutt

Next time you get locked out of something call me, I'll bring my favorite hammer and we'll have a good ol' time.

A hammer doesn't work on the e38 windows. Trust me i tried. It was like hitting the side of a tank! I think they're some type shock resistant glass or something. I even threw a brick at it! :eyecrazy

A hammer doesn't work on the e38 windows. Trust me i tried. It was like hitting the side of a tank! I think they're some type shock resistant glass or something. I even threw a brick at it!
Whoa!! What situation were you in where you had to do that? I would have to be in a really bad situation to have to do that. On the other hand, it's good to know they're so sturdy.

Whoa!! What situation were you in where you had to do that? I would have to be in a really bad situation to have to do that. On the other hand, it's good to know they're so sturdy.

haha that must have looked awfully suspicious to onlookers. I mean..a man hammering a window?!?! A BRICK??? :eek:

haha that must have looked awfully suspicious to onlookers. I mean..a man hammering a window?!?! A BRICK??? :eek:

HAHAHA, seriously. I love the visual that goes along with that.

Satety glass on the side windows is impact resistant. Like most tempered glass, it can be broken only by a sharp blow to the edge of the glass, or a very sharp blow to a small section of the glass (like using a hammer and a nail set). The secret is in breaking the surface tension. The glass does have a tendency to shatter into a million shards when this tension is suddenly released.

On the other hand, I have seen tempered glass react violently to sudden changes in temperature.....

Windshield and rear window glass should be laminated which prevents fragmentation on impact....the glass is bonded to a sheet of polycarbonate.

just like someelse said slightly turn wheel then insert key in ignition.

only half in ?
barrels siezed up, spray some penetrating oil and leave overnight.