Removing door cards to replace central locking actuator

[Knightrider]

Having just got my MC I've realised that the passenger side lock does not work with the central locking. I'm assuming that the actuator has gone unless anyone has any other ideas?

I can get a replacement for £20 on Ebay. How easy is it to remove the door card to replace this - would a novice with a toolkit manage, or am I best taking it to the stealers?

[siwilson]

Quite easy to remove, but not so easy to replace. Also, the plasic clips are easy to pull off the door card if you don't use a trim tool.

Guide here (http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/interior/z3_lets_remove_door_panel.html)

Si.

[Knightrider]

Great - thanks. I got a quote from the stealer today - £175 not including parts. :cryin: At that price, I think I'll give it a go myself. As it's the passenger door, I don't have to worry about the mirror switch.

Off to ebay to buy a trim tool and actuator. Will a standard generic trim tool do, or do I need the "special" BMW one?

[siwilson]

Great - thanks. I got a quote from the stealer today - £175 not including parts. :cryin: At that price, I think I'll give it a go myself. As it's the passenger door, I don't have to worry about the mirror switch.

Off to ebay to buy a trim tool and actuator. Will a standard generic trim tool do, or do I need the "special" BMW one?

I have one of these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-DOOR-BODY-REPAIR-TRIM-CLIP-UPHOLSTERY-REMOVAL-TOOLS_W0QQitemZ110429240506QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_H and_Tools_Equipment?hash=item19b6187cba&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) and one of these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-SNAP-ON-A179-GM-TRIM-PAD-REMOVER-TOOL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em63Q2el1177 QQhashZitem2c5041ff88QQitemZ190325063560QQptZMotor sQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools). I used both to temove the trim.

Si.

[Knightrider]

Have just ordered a draper tool similar to the first one from ebay, along with the part and some spare plastic clips. Will give it a go at the weekend.

So if you see a post entitiled "Help - can't get my door panel back on!" on Sunday morning, feel free to give tips! :lol:

[Knightrider]

Turns out removing/replacing the door card wasn't the hard bit. With the correct tools and tips above, I had the card off in 15 minutes, and replaced in 15 minutes.

The problem is getting to the actuator. It is in the very far part of the door, by the lock/catch mechanism actually hidden in the body of the door itself. Even with the side airbag removed and the window up, I can't work out how to get to it and get it out to replace it.

Looks like I might have to make that trip to the stealer after all... :frown2:

[Knightrider]

Success!

I hit a lot of problems along the way, but with the info above, correct parts and this excellent post (http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17528) from the zroadster.net forums I succeeded.

The main problem was a stripped torx screw head holding the lock mechanism to the door panel. In the end I had to drill it out a bit and remove it carefully with a screw extractor.

A few pointers for anyone else trying this:

Removing the door card is actually very straightforward, and takes about 10 minutes. There are 2 torx screws one behind the plate at the top of the inner door handle (behind the mirror controls on the driver's side), and one behind the airbag cover at the back of the door. Then just flip off the plastic surround from the chrome door release, and use a trim removal tool to carefully prise apart the panel clips shown in the post above. I bought some spare panel clips for a couple of quid off ebay in case I broke any.

Next disconnect the battery to ensure the airbag is discabled - unplug the negative terminal. It is important to do this with the door shut, in order to make sure that the window is fully up. Then remove the airbag and the foam door lining.

Undo the three torx screws holding the locking mechanism to the door panel. Also remove the door release handle with it's single torx screw.

The most difficult part is getting the actual actuator out. The post on zroadster.net suggests that you can do this without removing the window glass. It is possible, but a real fiddle and not for the faint-hearted. Essentially, undo the two bolts as described and rotate the guide anticlockwise to free it. You must have the window fully up to be able to get this out!

Once out, replace the actuator as described. This is pretty straightforward.

Replace everything in reverse order. The most difficult part of this is getting the rear window guide back into place. In the end, I resorted to gentle persuasion with a hammer - it's a real pig to get back in. Everything else is pretty straightforward.

Well, that's over £200 saved (excluding all the new tools I had to buy to extract that damn torx screw :mad5:) and a sense of satisfaction at having done it myself.

Off to Ebay now to try and source a new screw to replace the one I drilled out!

[ian]

And you know the job has been done properly!

[speed8]

Yeah, I did the same job myself before I sold the car as it was playing up on the drivers door. Took me about 4 hours all in but I did have my left arm entirely in plaster from hand to shoulder. It was a bit awkward getting into the fiddly bits and I almost gave up but eventually I got it.

[oo 1005]

Hey,

is this the same tool you used to remove the trim... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-19193-DOOR-TRIM-PANEL-REMOVAL-TOOL-/130362504724?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1e5a35f614 ?

Cheers

[Knightrider]

is this the same tool you used to remove the trim... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-19193-DOOR-TRIM-PANEL-REMOVAL-TOOL-/130362504724?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1e5a35f614 ?


Yep - that's the one...

[oo 1005]

Cool, thanks!

Now just to find an actuator...

Cheers