2008 335i dead battery, can't open the trunk...

DasE90 · 06-29-2016, 07:54 AM

Hello everyone,

I bought my 2008 BMW 335i 3 months ago. However, I deployed a month after I bought it and my wife has been occasionally driving it for me. The other day she informed me that my battery was dead and she couldn't open the trunk to get to it. Well it's still dead and I'm resorting to you guys for some help before I have her call a tow truck to have it taken to a dealership to have them charge me $99 just to open it. I've done a little research on this and my Valet slot is set to unlocked, using the actual key didn't work when she turned it, and my seats in no way fold down to reach the manual release. Do any of you guys/gals have any experience with this and how to get the trunk open? If so please reply to this thread so I can relay the info to my wife to see if it works. Thank you all very much in advance for any help you are able to provide.

robthewrench · 06-29-2016, 08:01 AM

Some have had success with using the under hood jump start terminals.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=604608

335NJ · 06-29-2016, 09:09 AM

So your key went in but turn? Spray some Tri-Flow or WD into the lock cylinder, run the key in and out. Then try turning it, it'll take some effort to turn but don't break the key off

Wilt · 06-29-2016, 10:04 AM

Twist the key harder, or jump the car via the underhood terminals, and you should be able to open trunk electrically.

TitanLH8 · 06-29-2016, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilt

Twist the key harder, or jump the car via the underhood terminals, and you should be able to open trunk electrically.

+1 You have to twist the key pretty hard....much harder than on the side doors to unlock the trunk

ctuna · 06-29-2016, 10:33 AM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=986670

When you disconnect the power distribution block and pull wires from it
power is not distributed to the rest of the car . So there is no power going
to the locks.

If the battery is still there it has to be charged above the threshold voltage where the electronics are functional if its shorted that is not possible.
You might try charging over night before going the other routes.

mweisdorfer · 06-29-2016, 11:51 AM

Go in thru the rear seats and pull the safety handle

Fundguy1 · 06-29-2016, 11:54 AM

Did you try jumping it? Might not start but may be enough to work the electronic latch. As for the key, you really do need to turn it pretty hard.

DasE90 · 06-30-2016, 09:15 AM

Thanks everyone for all your advice! I had my wife try using the key again, turning it much harder this time and it did open. She said it felt like she was gonna break her fingers trying to get it to turn but she got it. So now she'll be able to get the battery out. Thanks again everyone!

Fundguy1 · 06-30-2016, 09:44 AM

Good deal.

thestimp · 06-30-2016, 01:10 PM

I remember when I was replacing my battery and the guy who was cutting my lawn closed the trunk "to not get grass in it" well the keys were in teh trunk, no battery or terminals connected..

I managed to open the trunk by going thru the rear seats - thru the SPEAKER access port, digging in and finding the seat release wire. It is possible in case anyone else is wondering.

06-29-2016, 07:54 AM	#1
DasE90 New Member 3 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i Sport Premium Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	Hello everyone, I bought my 2008 BMW 335i 3 months ago. However, I deployed a month after I bought it and my wife has been occasionally driving it for me. The other day she informed me that my battery was dead and she couldn't open the trunk to get to it. Well it's still dead and I'm resorting to you guys for some help before I have her call a tow truck to have it taken to a dealership to have them charge me $99 just to open it. I've done a little research on this and my Valet slot is set to unlocked, using the actual key didn't work when she turned it, and my seats in no way fold down to reach the manual release. Do any of you guys/gals have any experience with this and how to get the trunk open? If so please reply to this thread so I can relay the info to my wife to see if it works. Thank you all very much in advance for any help you are able to provide.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-29-2016, 08:01 AM	#2
robthewrench Captain 266 Rep 952 Posts Drives: 11 E90 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Columbus OH iTrader: (0)	Some have had success with using the under hood jump start terminals. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=604608 __________________ bone stock
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-29-2016, 09:09 AM	#3
335NJ Colonel 533 Rep 2,872 Posts Drives: 2008 335i 6MT E90 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: NJ/Philadelphia Suburbs iTrader: (1)	So your key went in but turn? Spray some Tri-Flow or WD into the lock cylinder, run the key in and out. Then try turning it, it'll take some effort to turn but don't break the key off
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-29-2016, 10:04 AM	#4
Wilt Major 228 Rep 1,045 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SF Bay area iTrader: (0)	Twist the key harder, or jump the car via the underhood terminals, and you should be able to open trunk electrically.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-29-2016, 10:33 AM	#6
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	FYI http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=986670 When you disconnect the power distribution block and pull wires from it power is not distributed to the rest of the car . So there is no power going to the locks. If the battery is still there it has to be charged above the threshold voltage where the electronics are functional if its shorted that is not possible. You might try charging over night before going the other routes. Last edited by ctuna; 06-29-2016 at 10:40 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-29-2016, 11:51 AM	#7
mweisdorfer Major General 1903 Rep 6,968 Posts Drives: 2007 Black/Black 335i e90 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Holly, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW E90 335i [0.00] 2008 bmw x5 [0.00]	Go in thru the rear seats and pull the safety handle
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-29-2016, 11:54 AM	#8
Fundguy1 Major General 2032 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	Did you try jumping it? Might not start but may be enough to work the electronic latch. As for the key, you really do need to turn it pretty hard.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-30-2016, 09:15 AM	#9
DasE90 New Member 3 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i Sport Premium Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone for all your advice! I had my wife try using the key again, turning it much harder this time and it did open. She said it felt like she was gonna break her fingers trying to get it to turn but she got it. So now she'll be able to get the battery out. Thanks again everyone!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-30-2016, 09:44 AM	#10
Fundguy1 Major General 2032 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	Good deal.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-30-2016, 01:10 PM	#11
thestimp Lieutenant Colonel 977 Rep 1,704 Posts Drives: 22 X3MC MBB - C-17 Globemaster Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 X3mC [10.00] 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	I remember when I was replacing my battery and the guy who was cutting my lawn closed the trunk "to not get grass in it" well the keys were in teh trunk, no battery or terminals connected.. I managed to open the trunk by going thru the rear seats - thru the SPEAKER access port, digging in and finding the seat release wire. It is possible in case anyone else is wondering.
	Appreciate 0 Quote