Lock cover is missing from driver's side door - did someone try to break in?

[Ross]

If you are talking about the rectangular cover over the key slot it is probably still there just stuck.
Opening a locked E34 is difficult, I cannot imagine anyone doing so and not following through with the theft. More likely someone forgot to lock it or the central locks are acting up.
The cover will only be sold as part of the lock cylinder.

[repenttokyo]

If you are talking about the rectangular cover over the key slot it is probably still there just stuck.
Opening a locked E34 is difficult, I cannot imagine anyone doing so and not following through with the theft. More likely someone forgot to lock it or the central locks are acting up.
The cover will only be sold as part of the lock cylinder.

Not just the rectangular cover - the entire round metal cover that the rectangular slit cover sits in the middle of is missing.

I agree with you that I don't think someone tried to steal it - but the cover is completely gone, so it must have fallen off while driving, or during locking / unlocking.

[Ross]

You're stuck with buying a new cylinder unless you can get another lock and are able to cobble it together.

[repenttokyo]

You're stuck with buying a new cylinder unless you can get another lock and are able to cobble it together.

i am hoping to do the latter - since it pops off, in my mind, it should pop on, at least somehow.

[repenttokyo]

I called BMW again to see about getting a lock cylinder that is keyed to my car.

They told me this time that it's impossible. They said I would have to go to a locksmith to get the new cylinder keyed to my car. I asked them what they would do if I brought the car in and had them do it, would they call a locksmith? They said that they hadn't 'encountered' this particular scenario in the years that the person on the phone had been with the dealership, because in his experience the lock cylinders all come keyed.

So now I really don't have any reliable information from BMW regarding whether it is possible to get a workable key cylinder at a reasonable price or not.

[repenttokyo]

I just ordered a handle with the lock cylinder attached from a scrap yard, going to see if i can take off the part I need and install it on the car.

Since the cover has to turn with the key, I am somewhat at a loss as to how I should attach it, however, if it doesn't just snap right in. Maybe if I glue it to the top of the lock cylinder, it will turn with the cylinder?

[bubba966]

I called BMW again to see about getting a lock cylinder that is keyed to my car.

They told me this time that it's impossible. They said I would have to go to a locksmith to get the new cylinder keyed to my car. I asked them what they would do if I brought the car in and had them do it, would they call a locksmith? They said that they hadn't 'encountered' this particular scenario in the years that the person on the phone had been with the dealership, because in his experience the lock cylinders all come keyed.

So now I really don't have any reliable information from BMW regarding whether it is possible to get a workable key cylinder at a reasonable price or not.

So they told you they can get you an un-keyed cylinder for your door that you'd have to get keyed to match at a locksmith, but that they couldn't get you a cylinder that's already keyed to your vehicle?

Sounds like whomever you were talking to didn't know what they were talking about. Never heard of anyone being told this. And while I haven't ordered a door cylinder yet I did order an ignition cylinder that was keyed to my car. Though I recall that being about $100.

See no reason why you can't get a parts cylinder and swap your keyed guts into the parts cylinder so that it's keyed to your key and all back together again. Not sure of the particulars as I've not pulled a cylinder out of a door yet so I don't know exactly what it all looks like.

[Tiger]

Yeah, it sounds stupid... they have all the keycodes for all the BMWs produced but they can't make a lock to match that keycodes they have.

[632 Regal]

I pulled plenty of locks and it sucks, If someone tried to pull the lock from outside with a dent puller it is possible they just pulled the outside metal protector deal. I can't see just reinstalling the outside without replacing the whole assembly. Looking back I don't see how that's possible to replace.

[genphreak]

You can, I've done this and re-keyed my own before.

It is fiddly though, so look out. Plenty of light, watch out for the little springs and things. Take pics of it before pulling it down, else you **WILL** be wondering which way round some of the less conspicuous parts go...