Common Causes of Door Lock Failure in a BMW

When you purchase a BMW, you expect it to work flawlessly, and most of the time, it does. However, like any machine, it will occasionally run into problems that need to be fixed. One of these possible issues is with the door locking mechanism.

Imagine getting out of the grocery store one day with your cart laden with all the food and supplies you purchased, only to discover that the doors to your BMW won’t unlock. It could be worse when attempting to get out of your vehicle after a lazy Sunday afternoon drive and finding yourself locked inside. When the door lock fails, these are the sorts of things that can happen.

The Breakdown

A trusted and experienced BMW mechanic will be able to fix the problem, but it can be helpful for your peace of mind to understand the possible causes of this malfunction so that you will know what to look for.

• Key fob malfunction: Back in the early days of automobiles, cars used regular keys to lock and unlock. With the advancement of technology, however, car manufacturers have found safer and more secure ways to ensure your vehicle stays closed and locked. Key fobs are the more secure option. Normal locks can be picked, but key fobs are specially coded to work for your unique vehicle, making it much harder to break in. However, that also means that if they stop working for some reason, that security can work against you. You may find yourself either unable to unlock the door or unable to lock it. There are options, such as replacing the battery in the fob to see if it works, but that is assuming you have a spare battery on you. Many times, you will have to call for roadside assistance to get your door open.
• Electrical problems: Like a lot of things in modern vehicles, your BMW’s door locking mechanism is powered by electrical energy. This means that if you’re having other electrical problems in your vehicle, it could cause the doors to malfunction as well. If you notice, for example, that only one door is having trouble locking or unlocking, that could be a sign of some kind of electrical malfunction, such as a blown fuse or a faulty connection. Be sure to pay attention to other signs of electrical problems, such as your dashboard lights being dim or the cabin interior lights malfunctioning. The sooner you detect a problem, the sooner you can bring it in for diagnostic testing and repair, possibly sparing you from being locked out of your BMW.
• A bad door lock actuator: The door lock actuator is essentially the middle man between your key fob and the lock, interpreting the buttons you press on the fob to tell the lock what to do. It uses gears to make the lock either engage or disengage as needed and sensors to determine which of those actions is necessary under the given circumstances. Essentially, if this piece of equipment stops working for whatever reason, then the lock on your BMW’s door will remain in whatever position it was in indefinitely before the actuator broke. In some cases, the problem could be random, where sometimes the actuator will work and sometimes it won’t, but it could also just cease to function entirely. In either case, it’s a good idea to bring your vehicle in for repair as soon as you start having trouble.

How to Get Help With Your BMW’s Faulty Door Lock

While it may not be the most dangerous of malfunctions, a faulty door lock is definitely annoying and should be fixed as soon as possible. However, it’s not advisable to attempt to fix it yourself unless you are skilled with car repair and have a lot of experience working with BMWs specifically. BMWs are very unique and require specialized knowledge and equipment to be repaired properly. Also, working on electrical systems can be dangerous.

Rely on our trusted mechanics at Euro Plus Automotive. We are conveniently located for customers in and around Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, California. We specialize in the maintenance and repair of luxury European car brands such as BMW, so you can trust that we have the expertise necessary to fix your door locking problems quickly. Contact us today to set up an appointment!