car locking and then unlocking

[Skunkworks]

I just picked up a 87 325i saloon, The drivers door lock is threased so I have to lock it by the trunk or the pass side, sometimes when I lock it it automaticly unlocks. what gives, I want to get this resolved before i do keyless entry.

Thank you

[xtos]

Define threased.
General door lock properties:
Actuator motors push up/pull down the locks.
Two kind of actuators: 2-wire slave, 5-wire master.
On 4 door E30s ,3 master actuators in front doors and trunk,3 slave in rear doors and fuel door.
If one slave fails..door won't lock or unlock. Rest of them will.
If one master fails, central lock unit reads "condition same" returns all locks in previous state thus auto locks/unlocks.
If the drivers door lock is faulty, you have to open the door panel and start troubleshooting. With the door open , engage manually the closed door hinge. Push it in with a screwdriver. Try to use a good lube spray on the mechanism- inside the door-above the actuator,don't use WD-40. After you have it lubed, start locking/unlocking from the trunk. If it auto unlocks/locks, you need to replace the faulty actuator that doesn't have enough power probably to push/stay-up/down.

[Skunkworks]

Define threased.
General door lock properties:
Actuator motors push up/pull down the locks.
Two kind of actuators: 2-wire slave, 5-wire master.
On 4 door E30s ,3 master actuators in front doors and trunk,3 slave in rear doors and fuel door.
If one slave fails..door won't lock or unlock. Rest of them will.
If one master fails, central lock unit reads "condition same" returns all locks in previous state thus auto locks/unlocks.
If the drivers door lock is faulty, you have to open the door panel and start troubleshooting. With the door open , engage manually the closed door hinge. Push it in with a screwdriver. Try to use a good lube spray on the mechanism- inside the door-above the actuator,don't use WD-40. After you have it lubed, start locking/unlocking from the trunk. If it auto unlocks/locks, you need to replace the faulty actuator that doesn't have enough power probably to push/stay-up/down.

what I meant to say is the door locks are thrashed.

This is great info, Its good to see someone posting some really useful info.

Thanks