My dad's R50 has recently developed a problem where the passenger door will not open from the inside. The outside handle can still open the door and the door still unlocks and locks via the key or toggle bank. I took off both door cards to see if I could find anything loose, but the only difference I can make out is that the passenger door's latch on the lock mechanism at the end of the cable does not move when you pull the inside handle. On the working door, the driver's side, the latch moves.

I've tried searching for answers, but I can't find anything with helpful pictures. Do I just need to take it in to the dealer, or could it be possible to fix on my own?

The handle feels like it has less resistance than the working one and I hear a popping sound from the inside of the door when I push the handle back to the resting position. I should also mention that pulling the inside handle does not unlock the door either.

 

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And don't take it to a dealer if you can't sort the problem yourself. Find a reliable BMW/MINI independent shop. They'll find a solution. Dealerships just throw new parts at a problem hoping that fixes it.

 

I mentioned I already searched. I couldn't find anything valuable.

Noted.

 

 

I don't think the cable is stretched. There is no movement at all in the latch mechanism and I hear a popping sound when the cable draws back sometimes. I think something is disconnected or broken. I'll try it though.

 

Yeah that doesn't work. Even if I disconnect the cable from the pull and try to manually pull it, there's nothing. It moves fairly freely in either direction. On the other side if I disconnect it, I can't pull it freely since I have to overcome the latch and I can't do it without the pull.

 

[QUOTE=sevin;4279671]I mentioned I already searched. I couldn't find anything valuable.

You're welcome.

 

The cable end that connects to the door lock mechanism has a small eyelet on the end of it that hooks onto a small pull inside the door lock mechanism, and a blue clip that should also lock into the body of the door lock mechanism.

Many times people come in for this problem it is due to the blue clip popping out of the door lock mechanism. If that is your problem you can clip it back in and apply some 5 minute epoxy to it to keep it from popping back out. There is an updated mechanism that has a little clip that folds over the cable once it's in place but that's the expensive fix.

If you need a better explanation feel free to give us a call at the shop, it's a bit easier to convey verbally than via text. 586-792-6464

 

I did find some information that included the blue clip, but I can't see it when I stick my head in the door. That seems like the most reasonable culprit. Would I need to unbolt the lock mechanism from the door jamb and take it out to re-attach the blue clip or can I do it from feel? The torx nuts holding the lock mechanism are torqued like hell and I can't get them out with my dad's non-impact tools.

 

Nope, no need to take the mechanism out.

You may need to use a mirror to see the area of concern, but it'll be evident that the blue clip isn't clipped into a recess, you will need to have the door panel off obviously but after that just have the window up and reach in and you should be able to push the blue clip back in and have a working door again.

 

Hmm, if it was that easy I'd guess I'd have already pushed it back in with all the poking around I did. I'll check again when I have the car. Thank you!