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BMW boot release problem!

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  • 26-05-2008 10:11am
    #1
    okgirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 359 ✭✭


    Anyone out there with advice about the boot lock on a BMW318 SE. It has worked fine until 2 wks ago. I went to open the car one morning and the key fob would not work. After pressing it a couple of times it unlocked the car. I thought it was a batery problem but hte fob on the spare key was the same. Since then the boot will not unlock when I use the unlock button in the car. I have to turn off the engine and use the key fob to unlock the boot now. Very akward. Any ideas? It's as if the key fob has been reprogrammed!


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    #2
    guil
    Registered Users Posts: 10,495 ✭✭✭✭guil


    its prob the solenoid gone, when ya press the button on the remote a little motor spins a plunger that opens the lock, the same happened to my 05 focus a month ago, if ya can try get one in a srappy and get somone to replace it for ya or bmw will charge a fortune, i did mine myself it's not hard


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    #3
    okgirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 359 ✭✭okgirl


    Well thanks to a very quick google search I have fixed the problem. The boot was in 'Valet mode'. New one on me but apparently it is to ensure the boot can only be opened from the remote and not from inside the car. All I had to do was to turn the key cylinder inot the vertical position and it's working fine again. RTFM! I do admit i haven't read the manual!
    Thanks:)


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    #4
    spockety
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 5,468 Mod ✭✭✭✭spockety


    Hmm.. there is a boot unlock button inside the car?

    I hope I'm not an idiot, but I've never seen one in mine.. a '02 325 SE

    Where is this button?


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    #5
    okgirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 359 ✭✭okgirl


    spockety wrote: »
    Hmm.. there is a boot unlock button inside the car?

    I hope I'm not an idiot, but I've never seen one in mine.. a '02 325 SE

    Where is this button?

    In my car it is a button beside the handbrake. It unlocks/locks all the doors.
    apparently if the key position for the boot in in a horizontal position it means it is in valet mode. I just turned it to vertical position and it internal button now operates the boot release.

    I am sure it would be the same in your car.


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    #6
    E92
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,147 ✭✭✭E92


    Most BMWs have this feature. It's for countries where they have valet parking like in the US so that the park attendant doesn't go interfering with what's in the boot of your car.

    Toyotas also have something like this with the grey key that only opens doors and starts the car but won't open the boot or the glovebox.


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    #7
    spockety
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 5,468 Mod ✭✭✭✭spockety


    okgirl wrote: »
    In my car it is a button beside the handbrake. It unlocks/locks all the doors.
    apparently if the key position for the boot in in a horizontal position it means it is in valet mode. I just turned it to vertical position and it internal button now operates the boot release.

    I am sure it would be the same in your car.

    Ah.. don't think I'd want my boot opening if I lock all the doors though!

    Sometimes when driving through a dodgy area of town I would hit the central locking button to lock all the doors .. it'd be a bit rubbish if the boot flew open at the same time.


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    #8
    okgirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 359 ✭✭okgirl


    Not sure about other modles but in my car once I go over 5km per hour the doors automatically lock, so I wouldn't ever use the internal lock/unlock button unless I was stationary and needed to open the boot.


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    #9
    Victor_M
    Registered Users Posts: 1,608 ✭✭✭Victor_M


    spockety wrote: »
    Ah.. don't think I'd want my boot opening if I lock all the doors though!

    Sometimes when driving through a dodgy area of town I would hit the central locking button to lock all the doors .. it'd be a bit rubbish if the boot flew open at the same time.

    That won't happen, the button by the hand brake is just central locking, the boot release button is down beside the bonnet release handle in the drivers footwell.


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