[ksfrogman]

Someone recently posted he was having problems unlocking his doors with his key fob, and we suspected the problem might be electrical. Here's an interesting service bulletin I came across.


SUBJECT
Doors will not Unlock Using the Key Fob or Central Locking Button

MODEL
E90 (3 Series)

SITUATION
One or more of the doors may not unlock when using the remote key outside the vehicle or the central locking button inside the car. It is still possible however, to unlock the door by using the key in the driver's door lock cylinder or by pulling the door handle on the inside of the car.

CAUSE
Blown fuse in the Junction Box Electronics (JBE), caused by an excessive amperage draw by one of the door lock actuators or the gas flap actuator.

CORRECTION
Replace the fuse and the actuator that is drawing excessive amperage.

PROCEDURE
If fuse 56 in the JBE is blown:

1. Replace this 15A fuse.
2. Obtain the 50A clamp connected to a DIS Plus or GT1. This will be needed to measure the amperage draw at each lock actuator as well as the gas flap actuator.
3. Remove the 4 door panels per repair instruction RA 51 41 000 (front) and RA 51 42 000 (rear).
4. Remove enough of the wire harness tape to be able to separate the wires leading to the connector at the door latch in order to get the amp clamp over individual wires.
5. At each door latch, position the 50A clamp (1) over the blue wire (MER) (2) which goes to pin 7 on the door latch connector and measure the amperage draw by selecting the Measuring System button on the DIS Plus/GT1. These draws should be recorded while locking and unlocking the doors using the central locking switch.
   NOTE:
   It is helpful to select the min/max button on the Measuring System screen to accurately see the maximum amperage draw.

6. NOTE: Each latch will show a higher amperage draw while unlocking. The gas flap actuator however, will have approximately the same amperage draw while locking and unlocking.
7. Observe the recorded values. The draw at each latch should be within approximately 1 amp of each other.
8. If one latch is drawing significantly more amperage than the others, this latch should be replaced. In some cases it may be necessary to operate the locks many times before one shows an excessive amperage spike.
9. If all 4 latches draw approximately the same current, the gas flap actuator should be measured in a similar way.
10. Remove the right side trim in the luggage compartment per repair instruction RA 51 47 161.
11. Remove some of the wire harness tape as necessary to separate the 2 wires leading to the actuator.
12. Fit the 50A clamp (1) around either one of the wires and measure the amperage draw using the Measuring System screen in the DIS Plus/GT1 while locking and unlocking using the central locking button.
13. If the draw of this actuator is greater than 2A it should be replaced.
14. Re-install any removed components and test by operating the door locks using both the central locking switch and the key fob.

If fuse 57 in the JBE is blown:

1. Replace this fuse.
2. Replace the left front door latch.

PARTS INFORMATION
Part Number
Description
Quantity
51 21 7 059 967
Door latch – left front
As required
51 21 7 059 974
Door latch – right front
As required
51 22 7 060 295
Door latch – left rear
As required
51 22 7 060 296
Door latch – right rear
As required
67 11 6 987 632
Filler flap actuator
As required

WARRANTY INFORMATION
Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Please refer to the latest KSD for all applicable labor operations and allowances.
If the appropriate labor operation is not contained in KSD, then a work time labor operation should be used.



Defect Code
61 30 01 15 00

[FrankoQ]

Good to know. Thanks

[ltdorn]

Where can we look up all the service bulletines for our cars?

E90 330I

[iczz]

it happened to me 2 weeks ago.....same problem....
all locks failed....include fuel cap.
I even couldn't pull the door handle inside of car to open the door tho.

[ScheerSpeed]

Originally Posted by iczz

it happened to me 2 weeks ago.....same problem....
all locks failed....include fuel cap.
I even couldn't pull the door handle inside of car to open the door tho.

so how did u get in?

[neuzpeed]

key man... the metal key in the key fob?

[iczz]

Originally Posted by ScheerSpeed

so how did u get in?

I took out the key from key fob....and unlock the door from outside (of course through the window)

[SGxi]

What if this happens only now and then?

[LateralG]

thanks for putting together the post

[clutch09]

How do you open the fuel door?

I'm suffering from the same problem.

[ctgazer]

Originally Posted by kanishkl

How do you open the fuel door?

I'm suffering from the same problem.

feul door seems to lock on me from time to time, usually after a car wash. this is only because the latch inside the feul door is depressed. simply just pull on the edge of the feul door and it should open. then use your finger, and push in on the latch. it should pop it back into its original position.

[rrandyy]

Originally Posted by ctgazer

feul door seems to lock on me from time to time, usually after a car wash. this is only because the latch inside the feul door is depressed. simply just pull on the edge of the feul door and it should open. then use your finger, and push in on the latch. it should pop it back into its original position.

Are you use your doors (and fuel door) arent just being locked because of the water from the car wash (if you have CA)?

[clutch09]

My fuel door still won't open. Is there a way to open it from the trunk?

[e_ticket]

Does anybody have the TSB number for this bulletin? Thank you in advance.

[AndreTheGeek]

Originally Posted by kanishkl

My fuel door still won't open. Is there a way to open it from the trunk?

Remove the cover for the battery, and you should find the manual release for it there.

[iczz]

Originally Posted by kanishkl

How do you open the fuel door?

I'm suffering from the same problem.

just drive to dealer asap.....

[rock8899]

I have this same issue, is this a TSB? and will the dealer replace this for free being outside of warranty? as this is a safety issue. Pulling on the three other door handles will not work or open the doors from the inside and the drivers will only work if the FOB is in the ignition.

[Wrngway]

I think he wanted to get into the trunk and there was some question as to whether there was a key cylinder on the trunk lock on the coupe.

Some folks may not be aware that there's a key in the fob that can be pulled out and used to unlock the doors.