has anyone ever fixed their central locking on an e30?

[mikeedler]

when i turn the driver's door lock (outside) to "dead bolt" all the way to the right. it gets stuck there and i need to take my spare key and use the trunk to actuate it while i jimmy the door lock back on the drivers door.

everything else works flawlessly. i think it is something physical not electronic. it is just like it gets stuck when i turn the drivers door all the way to the right. any ideas?


BTW i replaced the tumbler assembly when i first got the car 4 years ago because the PO (my mechanic said they tend to get warn out and my was loose)

have you tried to adjust the mechanism itself, sounds like its getting bound up.

[StereoInstaller1]

So let me ask you a question: Do you want to learn HOW the thing works so you can fix it, or do you just want it to work?

From what you have said it sounds like you need to rebuild the drivers door lock cylinder, then replace the central lock control module, and possibly the actuator.

If you wanna learn HOW it works, go read your owners manual first, then go to www.wedophones.com and download your electrical troubleshooting manual.

Keep us posted!
Luke

[CreamE30]

I would imagine the problem is the central locking motor piece( the red thing in the door that pulls it closed)- in the drivers door

I looked in the door and didn't see anything red. I saw a black box on top of a white box that looks like it did the pulling and pushing for the lock. Is that it?

[TDE30]

I have fixed plenty of them. What would you like to know?

I'll go to lock the car at the driver's door, and here's what happens...

- I turn the key right to lock it
- The doors lock
- I turn the key to the left to remove it
- The doors unlock
- I turn the key to the right again to lock it
- The doors lock and I remove the key.

The question, why does it take two times to lock the car?

Another question, sometimes I will try to lock the car from the passenger's door and the key won't turn to the left (to lock the car.) It feels like something was stopping the key from turning. Any ideas?

[Miasma]

My central locking didn't work on my first E30. Took the whole thing apart, Cleaned the pins and replaced the module and it worked great.

[PhillyG]

How about this one, All 4 of mine work when I lock them from either trunk or two front doors. But the passenger front door will not unlock with the rest of them. My hypothesis is that the mechanism needs regreased or something It is very hard to turn, and it use to work.

Is that a possibility?

[gearheadE30]

I don't have central locking ;). No electrical crap to go wrong there.

[CreamE30]

I don't have central locking ;). No electrical crap to go wrong there.

uh oh, how come you don't have central locking? I thought it was a standard feature. I have a 325i but the original owner got it with some features like LSD. I'm pretty sure I have central locking as there are some electrical gizmos in the door.

[scabzzzz]

I have an optioned out to the max ES and my power locks have never worked.

You dont even need that shit...

[mikeedler]

power locks are great when they work, heck do you need A/C or power windows-- no, but they are nice to have-- and it is nice to know that when you lock your door-- all others are too- including the trunk and you dont even have to look twice.

on all of the problems you guys listed it is 95% a actuator problem"as far as I remember I have only seen red/white ones, but there can be black ones too"--- that needs to be adjusted, or the magnetic relais is broke-- easy, get another actuator and put it in the door that is acting funny and adjust it with the 2 small screws until it works.

[der affe]

have you tried to adjust the mechanism itself, sounds like its getting bound up.

is it pretty obvious where the adjustments are made?
i looked up in there a while ago when it first started happening and couldn't really see much. maybe i was blinded by the sweat running in my eyes????

[Dragowl]

I recently fixed my central locking and the issue ended up being the driver's side actuator. My problem was that I would try to lock and the system would just immediately unlock it. Replacing the actuator completely cured all my problems. I would start with that...easy/cheap fix.

[TDE30]

^ That sounds exactly like my ordeal, whereabouts is said actuator?

[E30_Pare]

I have an annoying problem with my central locking. It works however when I open it from the truck the driver side lock does not rise all the way up. It only travels about 50% up and I have to use the key to raise it all the way in order to open the door.

[mikeedler]

is it pretty obvious where the adjustments are made?
i looked up in there a while ago when it first started happening and couldn't really see much. maybe i was blinded by the sweat running in my eyes????

pull the door card off and you will see the 2 7mm screw heads, loosen them and then slide the actuator up and down-- real easy.-- I would locate another one though if you are going to go through the trouble to pull the panel off and be ready to replace it--
At the dealer I am at, I have replaced atleast 10 e36 ones in the last years or so-- they just wear out a magnetic solenoid.

maybe just oil it up-- ever once in a while my e36 drivers door feels all bound up and doesnt work, I spray a bunch of wd40 in the key slot and it works for a few months till the next squirt is needed.-- I refuse to buy anything for a e36 unless I must.