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Thread: Battery Dead, cant get in!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    SOUTHERN CALIFONIA
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    3

    Default Battery Dead, cant get in!

    I did a search on the forum already and also went on bmwe34.net

    but im still confused "hence a newb", bare w/ me ladies and gents..

    I have a 1990 e34 525i
    I havent driven it for about 3 years and the battery is dead i tried opening it w/ the double locking system but no deal, i read about people using a battery charger of some sort but i confused what it is? is it a regular jump start or batter charger pack? if possible anyone can give me a picture of the battery charger specifically what i can use to give power to the trunk light and remember im a newb give me a warning where to plug it in? and where i can purchase one?

    thanks sorry if this may be confusing..

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Houston
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    I read in the bentley manual [which is defeniatly worth the money] that there is a "emergancy" way to get in, which is the passenger side door if your battery goes dead, try that.


    Quote Originally Posted by chief_rucka
    I did a search on the forum already and also went on bmwe34.net

    but im still confused "hence a newb", bare w/ me ladies and gents..

    I have a 1990 e34 525i
    I havent driven it for about 3 years and the battery is dead i tried opening it w/ the double locking system but no deal, i read about people using a battery charger of some sort but i confused what it is? is it a regular jump start or batter charger pack? if possible anyone can give me a picture of the battery charger specifically what i can use to give power to the trunk light and remember im a newb give me a warning where to plug it in? and where i can purchase one?

    thanks sorry if this may be confusing..

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    SOUTHERN CALIFONIA
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Milkboot
    I read in the bentley manual [which is defeniatly worth the money] that there is a "emergancy" way to get in, which is the passenger side door if your battery goes dead, try that.
    do i just open the passenger side door trying the double locking method, i tried opening the passenger door regularly but still didnt work.

  4. #4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by chief_rucka
    I did a search on the forum already and also went on bmwe34.net

    but im still confused "hence a newb", bare w/ me ladies and gents..

    I have a 1990 e34 525i
    I havent driven it for about 3 years and the battery is dead i tried opening it w/ the double locking system but no deal, i read about people using a battery charger of some sort but i confused what it is? is it a regular jump start or batter charger pack? if possible anyone can give me a picture of the battery charger specifically what i can use to give power to the trunk light and remember im a newb give me a warning where to plug it in? and where i can purchase one?

    thanks sorry if this may be confusing..
    Emergency locking/unlocking from Bentley -
    To manually unlock the passengers door place the ignition key in the lock cylinder and lift door handle while turning the key fully in the clockwise direction. To lock the door manually turn the key fully in the counterclockwise direction.

    1989 E-Firty Tooring - 2.9
    1989 E-Firty For - 535is

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    USA
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    1,839

    Default

    so, in addition to a new battery, i would perform an oil and coolant change, and dump all the gasoline from the tank and fill it halfway with fresh.
    Alusil, Dinan DME | ITG Air Filter | Eibach/Bilstein HD | 26/20 Swaybars | Iridium plugs | Depo/ProLumen HID | Optima batt. | no AC | Stoptech brake lines, Frozen rotors, brass bushings, Superblue

  6. #6
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    Mar 2006
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    oh and flush the brake fluid asap!!!
    Alusil, Dinan DME | ITG Air Filter | Eibach/Bilstein HD | 26/20 Swaybars | Iridium plugs | Depo/ProLumen HID | Optima batt. | no AC | Stoptech brake lines, Frozen rotors, brass bushings, Superblue

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2004
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    Japan
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    First he has to open the doors before he can start with maintenance.

    I assume the battery is completely dead after 3 years. The emergency unlocking procedure is probably the best. Try on passenger and drivers door. I do not know where you live and if you have right hand or left hand drive.
    So to talk about passenger door is meaningless.
    http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/Locked.htm

  8. #8
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    To the best of my recollection, early cars (at least early E32s) used the driver's side. BMW later switched to the passenger front door in probably 1989 or '90, so it wouldn't be accidentally engaged in normal use. I would think the "side" stays the same regardless of RHD or LHD. Insert key, lift door handle, turn key against the normal stop in the unlock position, and continue to turn it another 45º or so in the same direction. It should engage a manual unlock of that door. It's been decades since I've had to do it (since BMW quit using Varta batteries), but I think that's how it worked. I'm sure the owner's manual shows the procedure

  9. #9
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    May 2004
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    would think the "side" stays the same regardless of RHD or LHD.
    Yes, that is correct, I know it from the U.K. boards.
    They always say try it on driver side which is in fact for LHD the passenger side, and that might be confusing for him now.
    And many people also do not know where that is, if you tell them it is on the right side of the car, is that from position sitting in the car or standing in fornt of the car and looking at it?

  10. #10
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    Feb 2006
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    Cathedral City, CA
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    What we had to do last year was to just open the trunk, and use some jumper cables to one of the trunks interior lights, that was enough to get the doors unlocked using the normal key in the door lock method.

    We attempted doing the emergency unlock on both the driver and passenger doors but it didn't work for us, but we have a 91 525i if that makes any difference. Just something to keep in mind if the normal emergency unlock doesnt work maybe. But also make sure if you go this route that the polarity is correct. We didn't and ended up with a smoking trunk interior light the first time we tried it. We finally got it right the second time.

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