Passenger door lock stuck

[matt smith]

1991 325i convert - previous owner stored car for 5+ years with the door locked; passenger door stuck shut, lock won't budge. Have sprayed enough tri-flo (Teflon) to float a boat. Local locksmith isn't interested.

Any suggestions before I remove the passenger seat to access the door panel?

[Ceeker]

do you have central locking? if you do; did you try unlocking the passenger side from the trunk? could possibly be the lock cyl or the door lock actuator may have malfunctioned.
Did you try to unlock the door from the inside?

[matt smith]

Have discovered that the door will open with the key, (turn key, pull outside handle) but not any other way. Neither inside, nor outside handle works on its own - door will not unlock, or open except as previously described.

I tried the trunk lock, it made no difference.

Thanks for the suggestion, anyway.