[Bmw330]

Just come to open my boot and realised the boot solenoid doesn’t appear to activate from the remote or boot switch, so assume solenoid has failed, how do you get in? , there is no key hole (or glovebox valet as per US spec), you can’t even get to the pull cord as I can’t drop the rear seats as the seat latches are in the boot!


Am I missing something here? Poor failsafe design by Bmw!

[lloydie]

If it's a pre-LCI there is a key slot hidden from view, just along from the number plate lights.

[Bmw330]

No key hole unfortunately it’s a 2011 model.....

There must be a way to get into the boot to pull the cord? How do bmw do it?

I’m assuming the seat bottom will need to be pulled out snd seat back will need to be unscrewed, so I can climb in to get the boot cord?

[Bmw330]

After pulling off the bottom seat panel there are no screws visible for the seat backs, so am now stumped how I can get into the boot!

I need a ski hatch!

Any bmw technicians on here who can offer any advice/help before I get stung for ££££’s at a dealer...

[N5GKP]

I see this issue a lot on E90's at work, I can only guess that the same has happened to yours. Where the boot opens there's the rubber tubing that the wiring harness runs through, usually from years of opening / closing the boot the wires tend to break, it'll most likely be the earth wire - easy job to repair! Getting to it however, not so easy.
Unfortunately your only method of access is a case of removing the rear seat back.
Again, E90's its a case of seat bench out then there are Torx bolts holding the rear seat back in place, once removed seat back needs flexing and you have to reach up to under the parcel shelf area and undo the 13mm bolts holding it in place (there are 4 bolts). After this, it's a case of forcing the boot lock open from inside or cutting it.

Hope this is of some help?

[Bmw330]

Thanks for the info, Ill take another look tonight to locate the fixings, must admit I couldn’t see them last night but they must be there!.

I also have an e91 and bmw wisely left the seat fold down latches accessable from inside the car by placing them just to the side of the rear headrests, easy then, fold seat and grab the boot release handle.

Unfortunately (and rather stupid) with the E92’s they moved these handles to inside the boot so they can only be accessed with the boot open, not great if you can’t get into the boot! Then removed any key access also!

It is possible to remove the armrest plastic but it’s sheet metal behind, a nice plastic panel here would have been perfect!

Is their a fuse specific for the boot solenoid or is it part of the central locking fuse?, The fuse diagram isn’t really that clear!

[lloydie]

Do you have an emergency boot release cord in the boot? If you remove the handle on the outside, you can reach up to the Bowden cable to pull it.

[Bmw330]

Managed to get the seats down, one fixing at each end of seat plus one in the middle, managed to flex the seats far enough from the bottom to get my arm in to release the seats down.

Realised the release cord is for the fuel filler not the boot so couldn’t open it. Managed to pull the boot cover down to allow access to the solenoid electrical connections so I could plug in the replacement solenoid, boot light came on when I plugged it in but solenoid didn’t function, tried a new boot switch too, nothing!, all fuses for central locking appear to be ok (all other central locking working), looks like it could be that broken earth wire, a job for next weekend now. .....

[N5GKP]

Other option, if you can get to the connector on the boot lock currently stuck in the car, apply 12v to it on one pin with an earth on the other pin and it should actuate it? Saves the mess and hassle of trying to break it open.

With the tailgate trim removed there *may* be a Bowden cable attached to the lock mechanism to allow you to manually open it? I've seen that on some models!

Best of luck

[Bmw330]

I’ll try to manually power it when I get a chance, (was rather tight), the current actuator has no release cable on it unfortunately, as that would have been perfect!.

Funnily the replacement one does (it was a scrappy part), if only bmw would have thought a little more when trying to cost cut .....

[N5GKP]

If you've got a replacement actuator then destroying the one on the car isn't such an issue, it's just a pain!
Personally I would try to source a plug that goes in it with a set of wires on it to allow voltage and earth to be applied to it easier but again there's the hassle of doing that!

If by chance you're local to Preston, Lancashire I'd be happy to come have a look for ya.

But yeah, one of the many pains of my life working in a BMW dealership!

[Bmw330]

Thanks for the offer mate, I’m a bit far away!

After running diagnostic scan a few times, it’s finally showing up 6 error codes relating to a relay fault, all the fuses appear to be ok, but can’t seem to find the tailgate/ central locking relay. I’m assuming as all the door locks function there is a separate tailgate relay somewhere?


00A739 - PL2 central drive tailgate
00A738 -Power Interupted
00A6D5 - ZV Lock relay, central lock
00A6D7 - Central relay selective locking
00A6D6 - ZV lock relay, central save
00A6D4 - Central relay release /ZV unlock

[N5GKP]

If you can pop the last 7 digits of your chassis number on here I'll be able to pull up a wiring diagram to see what relay (if any) are applicable to it

[Bmw330]

Just got back on here, got it fixed, turned out it was the JBE module that had some issue, so it got replaced. All working again now. Thanks for your help!

[N5GKP]

Ah interesting! Glad it got sorted.