Central locking actuator issue.

[E-Terdy]

First time poster, Long time lurker.

I recently swapped my ninth VW for my first BMW. So far aside from a few maintenance things that needed to happen, my first month of owning a 1990 325i have been fantastic!

Initially my drivers side lock actuator worked fine, and would lock/unlock both door + the trunk normally. However about a week ago, the drivers door would no longer lock, but only unlock. As a temporary solution I've just been using the passengers side lock to do the job.

I pulled off the door card today and cleaned/inspected the locking mechanism to find it more or less sticking, preventing the actuator from doing its thing.

If anyone has run into this, or a similar issue, some advice would be greatly appreciated!

-Rob

[carguy101]

Welcome to the e30 scene. There is a group buy for a keyless entry system by GE, and I have been pretty happy with it thus far. I was having an issue with the contact within the lock not always wanting to lock the door when using the key, and the keyless solved the problem.

[E-Terdy]

Awesome ! PM me some details please, I would definitely be interested in purchasing a keyless system.

[carguy101]

I am not the one selling them but I purchased mine through here http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=234209

[E-Terdy]

Great ! I'll be ordering one next week on payday ;)

How straight forward is the wiring ? Something anyone with a bit of an electrical background and color coordination could accomplish ?

[carguy101]

Yeah, pretty much. The only difference in my experience was that they mention a connection for two of the colors that happen to have multiple wires of the same description in that vicinity; use the smaller diameter wires for them to work in reference to the unlock/lock connections.

[E-Terdy]

Awesome, Thanks!

[dogsbark26]

I would recommend rebuilding the driver lock cylinder first. Get the OEM system working properly before adding keyless entry.

Welcome to the forum.

[E-Terdy]

I would recommend rebuilding the driver lock cylinder first. Get the OEM system working properly before adding keyless entry.

Welcome to the forum.

The locking system still works properly, i just cant use the drivers door to lock all the rest, only unlock. I can still lock all the doors by using the passenger door though.

[dogsbark26]

From your description, the electrical portion of the locking system IS working properly. However, the problem you describe is with the driver door mechanical lock. It is a common wear point (as this lock mechanism gets used the most) and the reason I recommend rebuilding that cylinder.

Here is a good reference for this procedure (easy).

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S5u_PQDk1qbROZBWovgFcLjTf09cDAyF8dE7TSqxenc/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mFfzb_uey3skKXyHjswmoVnXzAyNwW9D1yg1UMWogqM/edit

Okay?

[E-Terdy]

Great resource, thanks! I'll dig into my locks this weekend and check for wear, then probably order both the rebuild kit and the key less system.

[dogsbark26]

Yeah, it's great to be able to make it work like it's supposed to. I've got keyless entry too but when I park someplace scary I prefer to use the locks.

[jrobie79]

i did the cylinder swap and it works flawlessly now...i had the same problem where I could only unlock from the driver side door, now the whole system is 100%

[hahaitzskippy]

did a quick search and found exactly what i was looking for...

just wanna bump this for anyone looking to fix and work on their locks

Thanks