1997 528i (E39) Drivers Door Won't open from Outside

[reagan]

For no apparent reason I cannot open the drivers door from the outside (inside is just fine). Remote lock works fine, everything appears normal.

I removed the interior door panel, moisture barrier and removed the handle assembly from the door (which is fairly easy by BMW standards).

Now I am no mechanic (but have had a few BMW's so I have learned to be handy or poor) - but I don't see anything that looks broken or disconnected. The mechanisms all seem to move easily (although I did WD40 the whole works for good measure).

Does anyone has any suggestions or guidance? I'm more lost than usual/

Thnx!

[gavtimms]

When you say that you have removed the door handle, do you mean the inner or outer one?
The outer one is easily removed too, mine actually fell off (whilst my wife was driving funnily enough).
As I remember it, there's a small plastic/rubber grommet on the side of the door by the door latch/locky thing, that pops out giving you access to the thin metal sliding bit that holds the outer door handle on.
If it was my car, that's what I'd take off first to check, it may give you more of an idea of what's not working properly. The door opener is mechanical rather than electrical so it may be something obvious.
BTW my Bimmer is a '98 528i so probably exactly the same.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[reagan]

Yup. I also got the outside door handle off (pretty simple). I believe I found the problem. It appears there is a stranded wire that runs up from the actual latch to the door handle. It is secured in place in the way upper corner of the car door (where it is nearly impossible to access) by bolt and a washer. That wire has either pulled out or broken right where the washer/bolt is. Now that I found it...I got to figure out how to get in there to make the repair. Anyone have an idea on how to access the interior cavity of the door or is there an easier way to get at this assembly?

Thanks and Happy Driv'n!