Locked out 535i E34 1989

[Geoff]

Early December 2011 unable to unlock vehicle, have right hand drive in aussie land. purchased new in 89. asked road service to enter vehicle without success.
received a couple of requests that by lifting door handle and turning key 110 degrees on both front doors without success. Battery at 12volts. Have entered when battery has been flat but no go this time. Still locked out Help please Geoff.

[shogun]

Geoff, there are some possibilities:
BMW E34 Website
this refers to a left hand drive car, remember that when you read driver side and passenger side door, on Aussieland you have RHD.

unlocking deadlocked car via trunk light connection
The emergency unlock is known by lifting the passenger door handle and then turning the key over a certain resistance.
Even with a dead battery the trunk can be opened with the key by turning it anti-clockwise and then push the doorl unlock button.

To avoid wrong connection of power to the wires or to blow the fuse, Timm from the 7 series register in the U.K. has made a nice write-up:

A few pointers to connecting power to the boot/trunk lamp:

Firstly, the boot/trunk light is a good place to connect power as it is constantly connected to the battery via Fuse 33. However, you must only use a charger at this point, and only one that can supply a maximum of 10A. If you use a fully-charged battery you will blow Fuse 33.

The boot/trunk light has two wires going to it, RED/WHITE is the positive supply, connect the chargers +ve terminal to here. Connect the charger-ve lead to somewhere on the chassis.....this removes any possibility of reverse polarity.

When the charger is connected and charging, allow 10 minutes before trying the central locking, this is just enough time to get enough charge in the battery to supply the locks.

If you have not got a charger you can use a battery but MUST connect it via a 55W (headlamp) bulb. This reduces the current to a safe level.

DON'T connect to any other lighting point, these go via the LKM or General Module and it is not a good idea to stuff power up these!


Maybe these pics towards the bottom of this write-up might help
*DIY How do swap a door handle in a million easy steps. - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum


If the doors are deadlocked, you cannot even open the doors from inside by pulling the know.
You know it is deadlocked when the inside handle and lock pull do not work with ignition on.

the car is double locked or deadlocked as protection against thieves which might smash the window and then try to pull the door pin or the inner door handle, that will not work if the door is deadlocked. See owners manual about deadlocked or double locking.

[Paul in NZ]

the door unlock is a strange procedure.If you turn the key all the way to left or right( i cant remember now) you then lift the handle.You will see the door lock knob move slightly.You have to repeat the procedure three or four times before the door will actually unlock.Be patient It is a double movement of the key and the handle

[Geoff]

Have tried all what you have mentioned without success. have found second hand front window, you can see whats going to happen.
Thanks for the input. ps the alarm light is not on with 12volts of power therefore I believe the micro switch that is on battery cover is
faulty thus a deadlock has been introduced on all doors.

Thanks for your input geoff

[Bill R.]

On the US models you turn the passenger side key clockwise beyond 90 degrees, while holding the door handle up. You have to twist it so hard you're sure the key will break. I twist it really hard while pumping the door handle up and down. Sometimes you can see the lock knob move up a little each time you raise the handle and twist. On a aus. model it would be the drivers side door.

[myles]

Where are you located Geoff?

[Geoff]

Myles
Located on the central coast north of Sydney

[shogun]

Maybe myles can help you out with a window. He ownes 1989 535iM, 98 318isM, 90 525iA. Maybe he has a spare window for you if that is the real last resort to break into the car.

But I would try to get in thru the door lock.
These are pics from the doorlock of an E32

Body -- Doorlock mechanism
If you succeed to break off the outer door handle cover, there are 2 screws behind it which hold the lock
see here in the instructions to replace the door handle gaskets

FIXES - DOORS

Here I have pics of the door parts for better understanding

SYSTEMS - DOORS

Body -- Doorlock mechanism

when you unscrew the lock system from outside, you might be able to go withn a screwdriver from there thru that hole into the door and can reach the locking system to unlock from there.

Maybe others have better ideas, so let us know

[genphreak]

Myles
Located on the central coast north of Sydney

I have to visit a friend in Empire Bay soon, are you far from there? I could come by- have managed it before on my 10/88 535i which is the same production as yours. Nick