Here's My Situation !!

[tommramon]

Re :E 39 the cars battery was low so my daughter jump started it let it run 30 minutes, turned it off and LOCKED IT and now the key won't open the door (claims it won't do anything) either remotely or manually. She's three hundred miles away. Help !!!!!!!

[SD08]

possible trunk entry?
if not, do what i did. My battery was fine, but the key wasn't working. I pretty much pried open my sunroof, and once i got in the car just put the key in the ignition and everything unlocked. In your case, you might have to crawl to trunk and do your thing

[tommramon]

Originally Posted by SD08

possible trunk entry?
if not, do what i did. My battery was fine, but the key wasn't working. I pretty much pried open my sunroof, and once i got in the car just put the key in the ignition and everything unlocked. In your case, you might have to crawl to trunk and do your thing

I'll tell my daughter to try opening te trunk.....guess I'm flustered being so far away. Something that just occured to me is that if she can get in the trunk they (daughter and boyfriend) may be able to hook up the battery and get the door to open. Worth a try ! Thanks for the input. Tomm

[bmwdirtracer]

If the trunk is locked too, advise her to have someone remove one of the license plate lights, give the system power from another battery to the light's positive wire while grounding the other battery's negative to the car. Then unlock the car while the power is being delivered.

[tommramon]

Originally Posted by bmwdirtracer

If the trunk is locked too, advise her to have someone remove one of the license plate lights, give the system power from another battery to the light's positive wire while grounding the other battery's negative to the car. Then unlock the car while the power is being delivered.

Well,as luck would have it the trunk won't open either,I hope that that your idea works so we can get a new battery(if needed) and I can have her drive my car back to me.Her e 46 is nice but I'm spoiled by having driven my e 39 for so long. Thank you sir!!

[bmwdirtracer]

On some later model cars, giving power to the starter main is easier, but the E46 has that big aluminum plate which makes it a pita to do the starter kluge, the license plate light is easier, though it involves dropping the plate light bracket on an E46.

[tommramon]

Originally Posted by bmwdirtracer

On some later model cars, giving power to the starter main is easier, but the E46 has that big aluminum plate which makes it a pita to do the starter kluge, the license plate light is easier, though it involves dropping the plate light bracket on an E46.

Am forwarding your advice to my daughter(student at Oklahoma State ) and hopefully some of their group have a bit of automotive knowledge that they can resolve this dilemma.............do you reckon the AAA service might help out on this ??Meaning are they knowledgable enough to tackle something like this ??? Thanks

[Bowler807]

Originally Posted by bmwdirtracer

If the trunk is locked too, advise her to have someone remove one of the license plate lights, give the system power from another battery to the light's positive wire while grounding the other battery's negative to the car. Then unlock the car while the power is being delivered.

I'm confused about this suggestion. If the lights were not left on, how could the power get to the system? Would it not stop at the light switch???

This might work if it is a "live" circuit, but a switched off circuit I don't believe will work.

[bmwdirtracer]

What can I tell you. I haven't researched the circuit. I definitely works on E32-34-E36 gen cars, haven't had to do it on anything newer, though I've used the starter hot on several X5's. I can tell you that the marker lights don't work, but the license plate lights do, go figure.

[urotech]

I feel confused... the metal key will really not unlock the drivers door OR the trunk manually?? If so that is some really bad luck that both lock assemblies are bad.

[bmwdirtracer]

It really sucks, urotech, but there are certain older models of BMW's that can't be opened with a key if they are locked, and the car has a dead battery. Doublelock is doublelock. (Hey, there are certain X5 and other early-decade BMW's which cannot be easily unlocked from the inside if the driver hit the lock button on the key as he walked away. {Europeans know how to treat kids)

http://mauiscca.net/2009/092709/pages/09270277.htm

(Just for kicks)