I just posted the same question in another forum and I think it was the wrong forum, any how. heres the problem, I just got this '95 318i a couple of weeks ago. it runs great but the door locks dont work, the driver side locks and unlocks but its really hard and it takes a long time, the passenger side dont turn at all. the trunk locks and unlocks perfectly, and when I turn on the car the drivers side locks. but not the other ones.
what can be the problem? and also if I lock or unlock the truck shouldn' the front doors lock or unlock too?
thank you for the help...

no one? any one?

Please clarify your statements as much as possible. Door locks don't work (how ,when?).
Do you mean closing the door do not lock it? or the remote does not lock/unlock it?
or the key itself mechanically when inserted into the keyhole does not lock/unlock it?
or the center console switch does not lock/unlock it? or at drive off the doors do not lock even if programmed in the car/key memory? or any combination of these
circumstances?
It can be a problem with one or several doors, or the whole system being managed by central locking system (zke).

Well now I'm confused!!!! I'm gonna try to explain as clearly as possible, locks will not unlock or lock with the key, I don't have a remote entry system. the driver side will unlock or lock with the key but its really hard and it takes a long time to lock or unlock. passenger side keyhole don't turn at all left or right. trunk will lock or unlock with the key with no problem.
I can unlock all doors manually and lock them manually, I don't see a master control to luck or unlock all doors. maybe this model don't have the option? is a '95 318i once doors are unlock manually doors will open with out a problem. but once I turn the ignition key on the driver side door locks, but only the drivers side, not the other ones, I hope this will help a bit more, thank you....
This is my first BMW and its a bit different than my F-150,and Excursion. and VW rabbit

Your car has central locking (zvm II) whether you like it or not. You may not have the remote, or the car may not have the wireless option but it still has central locking thru
the car key (meaning, the key when used in the driver's keyhole, or front passenger's or trunklid, should operate central locking/unlocking). I know it does not work in your car. First the basics: a) the key rotates inside the key cylinder and moves levers which connect to the door lock itself
b) the lock button on top of the door is connected to the door lock
c) the door lock is connected to a small motor called actuator which electrically locks/unlocks it based on signals of the general/central locking module (zvm)
d)there are actuators in the 4 doors, trunk and gas lid/cover
e)the trunk locks to the right and unlocks to the left, at rest on center.
f) pass locks/unlocks the same but with no rest position
g)driver's unlocks to the left, partially to right is lock, full to the right is lock with arrest (meaning buttons are disengaged from locks and would not work).
h)there are small door contact switches on each door.
Now, my opinions about what are wrong... assuming that the keyhole is not dirty and freely rotates, the lever that it moves might not be moving freely, if it does, then the actuator is defective (check the plugged-in connectors), if the actuator is good then the module is bad, if the module is already good but central locking still does not work, then the position switch(es) may be bad, or the wires connecting the system, or the fuse to the zvm. Do not look for relays, the zvm is a actually a set of relays.

Basically, what Techvet is trying to say (in a nutshell), is that either your lock actuator(s), central locking module, or linkages are shot. Pull of the door panel and check to see that the linkages are freely moving. The lock actuators on E36's tend to display the symptoms you're describing when they go bad.

Thank you very much I will check this. just one more question, if the trunk lock turns freely with easy in the key cilinder to lock or unlock but the driver side sometimes rotates and sometimes won't move at all to the right or left. does that mean I should start checking the driver side or the truck? and the passenger side the key cilinder don't rotate at all. and where is this ZVM module located? thank you for your time.

Apply generously silicon spray inside the key lock cylinders. If it still does not move, then it has to be either replaced or repaired. The trunk lock seems better than the rest but spray it also with silicon. The ZKE/ZVM module is behind the glove box.
And it has to be coded after replacement (not necessarily so if it is a used module)