Jumping into the central locking stuff!
Central locking means that locking/unlocking one of the doors or trunk with the key will unlock all the doors and trunk (usually). From inside the car, you can push down on one door lock and the other door will lock (same for unlocking, usually). You can also pull on the door handle to unlock/open the car (usually). (this makes breaking into an e30 really easy with plastic strapping) Central locking will also push out a rod to lock the fuel door shut. There isn't a button to press to lock/unlock. The system will not let you lock the car if the driver's door is open, this prevents you from leaving the keys in the car and locking yourself out. You can 100% lock the car with the trunk open, toss in the keys, close the trunk, and lock yourself out.
Driver's door - you can twist the key in the lock a little to actuate central locking, or turn it 90* and remove the key to "deadbolt" it. Now central locking is disabled and you can't pull up on the lock inside the car to unlock the doors. This lock is usually worn out and slightly broken, so people try to avoid using it. If you "deadbolt" the car and the lock breaks, you're fucked and its going to be REALLY hard to undo this since pulling on the door handle won't unlock the car. (break a window, rip off door card, fix it from the inside).
Passenger door - you can only twist the key in the lock to actuate central locking. This doesn't work if the driver's door is "deadbolted"
Trunk - Twist the key to actuate central locking, or turn 90* and remove the key to lock the trunk and disable central locking for the trunk. The trunk lock is usually in the best condition and most robust, so people tend to use this instead of the driver's door.
I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest getting a remote lock actuator. Something like this. Central locking works by closing a circuit to tell the brain to lock everything. This device can be wired to apply voltage to the signal wire to simulate the same thing. I put it behind/under the speaker in the driver's footwell right next to the central locking brain. Its an easy hour of work from start to finish, and I haven't toughed my door locks in years. Plus, it's really nice to be able to unlock your car as you walk up or lock it while walking away. EVERY e30 owner should do it, its such a great creature comfort for less than $20.
Central locking means that locking/unlocking one of the doors or trunk with the key will unlock all the doors and trunk (usually). From inside the car, you can push down on one door lock and the other door will lock (same for unlocking, usually). You can also pull on the door handle to unlock/open the car (usually). (this makes breaking into an e30 really easy with plastic strapping) Central locking will also push out a rod to lock the fuel door shut. There isn't a button to press to lock/unlock. The system will not let you lock the car if the driver's door is open, this prevents you from leaving the keys in the car and locking yourself out. You can 100% lock the car with the trunk open, toss in the keys, close the trunk, and lock yourself out.
Driver's door - you can twist the key in the lock a little to actuate central locking, or turn it 90* and remove the key to "deadbolt" it. Now central locking is disabled and you can't pull up on the lock inside the car to unlock the doors. This lock is usually worn out and slightly broken, so people try to avoid using it. If you "deadbolt" the car and the lock breaks, you're fucked and its going to be REALLY hard to undo this since pulling on the door handle won't unlock the car. (break a window, rip off door card, fix it from the inside).
Passenger door - you can only twist the key in the lock to actuate central locking. This doesn't work if the driver's door is "deadbolted"
Trunk - Twist the key to actuate central locking, or turn 90* and remove the key to lock the trunk and disable central locking for the trunk. The trunk lock is usually in the best condition and most robust, so people tend to use this instead of the driver's door.
I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest getting a remote lock actuator. Something like this. Central locking works by closing a circuit to tell the brain to lock everything. This device can be wired to apply voltage to the signal wire to simulate the same thing. I put it behind/under the speaker in the driver's footwell right next to the central locking brain. Its an easy hour of work from start to finish, and I haven't toughed my door locks in years. Plus, it's really nice to be able to unlock your car as you walk up or lock it while walking away. EVERY e30 owner should do it, its such a great creature comfort for less than $20.

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