[Agentphish]

UPDATE: Me and the shop owner managed to fumble around enough to get the door panel partially off and were then able to pop the door open...It looks like his tint installer somehow wrapped/kinked the cable that runs between the handle and the pop mechanism around itself. After we straightened it out and placed it where it belongs it was all good. So very strange occurrence but thankfully not serious after we were able to get the panel partially off, which wasn't super easy.


Had my car tinted 2 weeks ago. I expressed my concern to the guy when I dropped it off that the tint scratches on e90's. He said he'd never had an issue in 12 years in business. I let him do his thing without the tint protector strips.

Just as I suspected, it scratched almost immediately. I called him, he said no problem bring it back we'll make it right. I got the tint protector strips, and he said he'd install them for me so I left the car. He re-tinted the driver window and installed the protector strips.

2 nights ago I picked up the car, drove home, and when I got here I opened my driver door, it took 3 pulls of the handle. I didn't think much of it, thought maybe I didn't pull quite hard enough the first or second time.

Didn't drive the car yesterday to work, but I drove it in the evening to the grocery store, 3 pulls to open the door. I drove to work this morning and again 3 pulls.
So yeah now it's apparent there's an issue.

I get home from work tonight and the door doesn't open at all now.
First pull will pop the lock up, but second pull does nothing.
Doesn't disengage whatever latch is there.
Doesn't open from the outside.
Locking/unlocking with fob or manually with key doesn't help.

Really not sure what I can do. Tint guy is a customization shop, not a mechanic so I'm not counting on him to be able to fix it, or even agree to fix it (since it's been 2 days he could just say I didn't do anything to it) and even if he could get the door open which at this point seems extremely unlikely since there's no way to get the door panel off, I don't know if I trust him at this point to do it right.

Looking for any ideas/help the e90post hive mind has. I'm really bummed and sad about this. Sorry for the long post.

[Agentphish]

I guess based on lack of response after 257 views I might be pretty F'd.

Also, to be clear, this isn't a door locking problem like some people have had and like the DIY fixes I've seen.

[krahooligan]

hope you figure this out? maybe a mechanism broke inside the door.... is taking the door panel off and investigating out of the question? It might be possible....

[MiniXP]

Just take the door panel off and take a look at what is going on.

He may have just incorrectly connected the cable back to the handle, although it's kind of weird that is consistently taking 3 pulls

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by krahooligan

hope you figure this out? maybe a mechanism broke inside the door.... is taking the door panel off and investigating out of the question? It might be possible....

I'm not sure how you could get the door panel off without opening the door, which I can't do at all Maybe I'm wrong but the way it's wedged against the dash and the amount of room between the panel and the seat I don't think would allow you to get it off.

[krahooligan]

Originally Posted by Agentphish

I'm not sure how you could get the door panel off without opening the door, which I can't do at all

to the stealership you go. orrrr go to an indy and see what they can do.

[MiniXP]

It will probably make it more difficult, but you should still be able to get it off with the door closed:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...eplacement.htm

[shawntech]

considering the state of our forum, I'd recommend:

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by ls3c6

considering the state of our forum, I'd recommend:

Lol I've thought about it. I'm a bigger guy though, doesn't really work that way

What do you mean by "state of our forum" anyhow?

[David3]

Door latch problems are common with these cars. My new to me (well my son) '07 experienced a rear door that would not open no matter what was tried. Pull the door panel off, used a screwdriver to force the latch mechanism open, replaced the latch and all is well. But, I can also say that pull on interior handled did nothing including popping up lock button.

Probably just coincidence as related to window tinting. Replace the latch, you will be good to go.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by David3

Door latch problems are common with these cars. My new to me (well my son) '07 experienced a rear door that would not open no matter what was tried. Pull the door panel off, used a screwdriver to force the latch mechanism open, replaced the latch and all is well. But, I can also say that pull on interior handled did nothing including popping up lock button.

Probably just coincidence as related to window tinting. Replace the latch, you will be good to go.

Well, they were specifically inside the door, I think something got disconnected and not reconnected 100% properly.

Heard back from the shop and I'm going in at 2:30.

[Agentphish]

Fixed thank goodness.