1999 E46 323i - BMW Specialists HELP needed! -- - BMW Forum

puffinpuffer · 08-21-2009, 04:36 PM

Just wondering if anyone knows about door lock cylinders.

My door lock cylinder broke the other day, my key moves around freely with no resistance, goes to the left half way, goes to the right a quarter spin.

I did end up opening the door with a metal rod cause my window was open about an inch, pulled the latch with the rod, got in.

The alarm went off, had to disarm it with my barely working key fob. Now the car wont start at all, no clicks, no turning over at all.

My question is, if you break the door lock cylinder, if it does break during the lock phase or the unlock phase of the turn, is there a sensor, or will the computer say that door is still locked preventing from starting the car?...

Please let me know if you have been through this, or if you have knowledge in this area. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

darkhorse737 · 08-21-2009, 04:49 PM

The alarm went off, had to disarm it with my barely working key fob.

>>> take a chance and cahnge the batt. maybe, just maybe it will work properly and disarm the alarm; then you can take care of the lock afterwards.

is there a sensor, or will the computer say that door is still locked preventing from starting the car?...

>>> yes, there is a microswitch that is part of the lock mechanism that enables, and disables the START function.

try the key Fob Batt first is what i suggest. the key lock is best left to a person in the know...

puffinpuffer · 08-21-2009, 04:59 PM

do you think if i buy the door lock cylinder and replace it, will the microswitch seperate from the cylinder?

i called bmw, they said it cost around 117$ for the cylinder, and people online are saying it take 10mins to replace.

just hoping if i do get the cylinder, the microswitch will work with it when i replace the cylinder..

darkhorse737 · 08-21-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puffinpuffer

do you think if i buy the door lock cylinder and replace it, will the microswitch seperate from the cylinder?

i called bmw, they said it cost around 117$ for the cylinder, and people online are saying it take 10mins to replace.

just hoping if i do get the cylinder, the microswitch will work with it when i replace the cylinder..

10mins to replace... ONLY IF YOU ALLOW TRASHY WORK on your car. the cylinder replacement is 1 thing... the microswitch is another... and the alignment of the microswitch and yet the alignment of the lock rod is another too. And then putting back the panels + retest takes time also.

since the latch and lock is electro-mechanical, all these things have to be aligned correctly if u expect your lock to work correctly.

I am nt sure if your lock has the microswitch integrated on the latch-some models are, some are not. u will have to verify that.