BMW boot solenoid problem

Sounds like a flat battery or corroded connection or dodgy relay somewhere.

Try it with the engine running and revved up a bit.

Bad connections wont fix that way..nor will dirty contacts.

If there is a relay you can swap out that might work.

My jag used to also have a place for a key hidden in it somewhere..check handbook.

You might try uk.rec.cars.maintenance. There are good knowledgeable folk there. Failing that, and I hesitate to write this, ............... angle grinder.

Sounds like a flat battery or corroded connection or dodgy relay somewhere.

Try it with the engine running and revved up a bit.

Thanks. I tried that. No luck.

Bad connections wont fix that way..nor will dirty contacts.

If there is a relay you can swap out that might work.

I suspect the relay is in the boot, along with some of the fuses.

However... I suspected the key I have IS the master key and the lock is corroded. I took a trip to get some WD40 and pressed the internal boot release - it opened :) I've now been told that the rear central locking did not work - it does now. Dodgy wire/relay somewhere.

My jag used to also have a place for a key hidden in it somewhere..check handbook.

You might try uk.rec.cars.maintenance. There are good knowledgeable folk there. Failing that, and I hesitate to write this, ............... angle grinder.

God I hate Windows Live Mail. How do you get it to put ">" on replies. Anyway, angle grinder is not needed as boot lock sprang into life. Just need to find the reason for its stubbornness.

Well, there does not appear to be any switch in the glove box, and the glove box lock does not affect the operation of the boot release. But thanks for the clue anyway.

You can't. Try Thunderbird if you want mail & news in one program.

Tim

Or 'downgrade' from WLM V15 (2011) to WLM v14 (2009), if you google for instructions and install packages they are available ...

Try uk.rec.cars.maintenance.

or MrCheerful may be along in a minute

The motor on my E39 failed too - not surprising when I took the broken one apart to see why. Cheap plastic worm drive and gears. The worm shaft had snapped. Looked like it cost all of a couple of quid to make. But of course cost rather more as a spare...

Have you checked the handbook for a manual release?

Or do a Google for that fault on your particular model?

So what does a "Valet lock switch" do if you have one?

Baz

On modern Jags

"Valet Mode allows the vehicle to be locked by a parking attendant, without giving access to the luggage compartment and glove compartment.

The setting is accessed via the Vehicle menu on the Touch-screen."

I cant remember how it worked on my older version.

I looked it up and remembered. secret switch and you gave the valet a different key without radio control or something.

I only ever valet parked it once - at Heathrow. Gave em the total keys and emptied the boot!

One of the more useless features of that car.

My older BMW has a valet key which only opens the doors and ignition. So I'd expect a valet lock to inhibit the boot opening in some way?

I do have a further boot open button on the driver's side footwell - I dunno if that still works if you only have the valet key? Whatever, I'd expect there to be some way to secure the boot from a valet parking service - who will likely know all the ways to get into things.

The motor on my E39 failed too - not surprising when I took the broken one apart to see why. Cheap plastic worm drive and gears. The worm shaft had snapped. Looked like it cost all of a couple of quid to make. But of course cost rather more as a spare...

Have you checked the handbook for a manual release?

Or do a Google for that fault on your particular model?

Seems quite a few reasons, one of them being the wiring loom that goes to the boot lid. It's working ok at the moment, but I'll have a look at the wires this weekend. I recall having to mend one a while back as one number plate light was out. Pictures on the web show that many wires can break or short causing various problems. Or it could be something else, maybe the general module. If the key worked in the boot lock, that'd be nice. Cheers all.