HELP! E34 Door Locks Won't Unlock

[grecobeemer]

I have a 1989 BMW 525i, I locked the doors last night and today they won't unlock. Lights were not left on or anything else to drain the battery. I can turn the key to the right, but when I turn it to the left it goes like 1/4 turn and stops. Anyway to manually unlock them?

[HE53]

Turn to the lock all the way to the left. It will go past where it usually "electronicly" unlock everything to where it manually unlocks the door your opening.

This is also in your owners manual. :)

[Gunslinger]

Turn to the lock all the way to the left. It will go past where it usually "electronicly" unlock everything to where it manually unlocks the door your opening.

This is also in your owners manual. :)

Which is locked in his car. D'Oh!

[HE53]

Which is locked in his car. D'Oh!
When you buy a car... you should read the manual. D'OH! then you'd be able to unlock the doors and use the other functions of the car.

For instance, do you know how to make the wipers intermentant to different speeds? Read the manual to know.. otherwise you only have one intermentant speed.

Also you can roll up all your windows with the key in the drivers door turned all the way to the right.. that info is found on the same page as the unlock with the battery dead seneario.


I could have been an ass and told the guy to search, but its easier to just tell someone than to be an ass to someone such as yourself.

[grecobeemer]

I tried a quick search, but had to be at work in 20 mins after I posted. The key will turn to the left for 1/4 of the way, but seems like it'll snap if I use more force.

[HE53]

I tried a quick search, but had to be at work in 20 mins after I posted. The key will turn to the left for 1/4 of the way, but seems like it'll snap if I use more force.

Keep working it.. It should go until the key is completely flat at 9 and 3 O'clock

[Qsilver7]

emergency door unlock procedure for the e34
go to the passenger door...insert the key
lift and hold upward on door handle while turning key to the emergency unlock position (see diagrams below)


You will have to overcome some resistance since you are manually lifting the door pin that is usually electronically assisted. Some have also had success by "pumping" the handle while turning the key to the emergency unlock position. If you still can't get in on the passenger side...then move to the driver's door. (the lock goes in the opposite direction)

PASSENGER DOOR
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_366.jpg
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
DRIVER'S DOOR
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_150.jpg

NOTE: for those with 1993-1995 e34s...don't be alarmed when looking at the diagrams...you DO NOT have a "single lock" position...BMW instituted "double-locking" starting sometime in 1993. The only way to single locl these 1993-1995 e34s is if you lock the doors from the interior or have the BMW/Alpine keyless entry system. If you only use the top button (on the little black square 3-button fob)...the car will go into single lock and you can still open the doors from the interior. If you press the middle button on the fob...it will double -lock the car. Anytime you lock the car using the key in the door lock...the car will be double-locked and any passengers inside the car will be stuck...unable to open the doors.

[HE53]

emergency door unlock procedure for the e34
go to the passenger door...insert the key
lift and hold upward on door handle while turning key to the emergency unlock position (see diagrams below)


You will have to overcome some resistance since you are manually lifting the door pin that is usually electronically assisted. Some have also had success by "pumping" the handle while turning the key to the emergency unlock position. If you still can't get in on the passenger side...then move to the driver's door. (the lock goes in the opposite direction)

PASSENGER DOOR
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_366.jpg
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
DRIVER'S DOOR
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_150.jpg

NOTE: for those with 1993-1995 e34s...don't be alarmed when looking at the diagrams...you DO NOT have a "single lock" position...BMW instituted "double-locking" starting sometime in 1993. The only way to single locl these 1993-1995 e34s is if you lock the doors from the interior or have the BMW/Alpine keyless entry system. If you only use the top button (on the little black square 3-button fob)...the car will go into single lock and you can still open the doors from the interior. If you press the middle button on the fob...it will double -lock the car. Anytime you lock the car using the key in the door lock...the car will be double-locked and any passengers inside the car will be stuck...unable to open the doors.

I was hoping you'd chime in soon... I remember you having the diagrams from the manual hosted.

[grecobeemer]

Btw not using master key, I think I double locked it when I locked it and trhis sucks. I heard I can short the reverse lights with another battery anyone ever do this? Any risks? What about the license plate lights? Can I short that connector instead?

[grecobeemer]

Update: Car still locked

[jeijay]

I read about that, you need to supply positive power to the car thur the light, but you have to know the positive side to hook up the battery.

[flyeryan]

shorting the reverse lights will not do anything unless the headlights are on, because the lights are an open circuit. I had my battery die on me, and I was able to open the trunk (not sure how) and pull a trunk bulb, figure out which side was hot and which was cold, and let it trickle charge the battery enough to get it to open the locks. Good Luck.

[Redfive]

I had to do this once. I jacked the front end of the car up. Slid underneath and attached the positive clip from my battery charger to the starter. It only works for a couple seconds so have someone else unlock the door while you apply the power.
If that doesn't work, there is a much bigger problem. All of you door lock actuators could have failed in the locked position. I had this happen, but they were in the unlocked position, fortunately. If that's the case you've got a serious problem. Lets hope not.

[Qsilver7]

Btw not using master key, I think I double locked it when I locked it and trhis sucks. I heard I can short the reverse lights with another battery anyone ever do this? Any risks? What about the license plate lights? Can I short that connector instead?
I don't understand this statement...are you saying that you locked your only key inside the car? Because you can use any of the car's keys to unlock the door. They all are (essentially) "master" keys...except the valet/service key...but it still can be used to unlock the doors using the emergency unlock procedure. (the valet/service key is only restricted from the trunk & glovebox lock)

Example...these are all the keys I have for my 95 525iT...I can use any of them to "emergency unlock" the car:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/739000-739999/739005_128_full.jpg

[grecobeemer]

I had the day off yesterday, so I found a plug, powered it with my brothers LR discovery and unlocked the doors. Car jump started, charged and tested battery which is fine. I think I left the dome light on:confused
Thanks for all the replies and help guys.