BMW F30 Boot Won't Open

[utab007]

I need some help please

I have a BMW 2013 63 plate 318d se auto. Yesterday the boot stopped opening. I can hear the doors unclick but nothing from boot. At first I would have to press the key fob button a few extra times for it work to unlock boot but then it just stopped working all together. So initially some hesitation before it stopped working. I also tried to lock and unlock the car multiple times from key fob and from the switch on dashboard. It made no difference

Unfortunately, my rear seats don't go down so I can't even get to the boot from inside the car.

I know some people have mentioned an option of unlock boot button from the driver side foot area. I have also seen mention of a valet boot lock option in the glove box. But my UK model has neither

When I looked at fuses I saw a photo of an open boot with following fuse numbers 107, 130, 150. But I think these fuses are in the boot by the battery. I know you have some fuses in the front under the bonnet. I struggled to find any info on what these fuses are for exactly. Does anyone know?

I'm a bit stuck and I don't want to start taking my rear seats out, so any help with this would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[ian332isport]

Possibly not the same, but thought I'd mention it.

I was washing mine the other week and noticed the tailgate and split rear screen wouldn't open on my F31. After locking and unlocking it then opened. I tried opening it again a little later, and it was dead again.

It turns out the battery was low and the car disabled various circuits. My powered tailgate being one of them.

How's your battery? Any messages on the dash about low battery?

[utab007]

Hi,

I haven't seen any warning signs on the dashboard. But with all these lockdowns the car definitely isn't used as much as before. So might be worth taking it out for a longer drive to topup battery and see if that makes a difference

It would be good to get some info on those fuse numbers I mentioned in my original post. Does anyone know?

It's a shame I can't get into the boot to test the battery and fuses.

Thanks

Edited by utab007 on Monday 8th March 22:31

Edited by utab007 on Monday 8th March 22:38

Edited by utab007 on Monday 8th March 22:39

[utab007]

Hi,

I haven't seen any warning signs on the dashboard. But with all these lockdowns the car definitely isn't used as much as before. So might be worth taking it out for a longer drive to topup battery and see if that makes a difference

It would be good to get some info on those fuse numbers I mentioned in my original post. Does anyone know?

It's a shame I can't get into the boot to test the battery and fuses.

Thanks

Edited by utab007 on Monday 8th March 22:31

Edited by utab007 on Monday 8th March 22:38

Edited by utab007 on Monday 8th March 22:41

[Fas1975]

Isn’t there a physical key hole for the boot? Your key should have a blade inside it. Should be able to get in the boot manually?

[utab007]

Yes I already checked for a key hole around the boot area. I can't see anything, so I assume they don't have one for the F30

[Collectingbrass]

My F32 doesn't have a separate key way at the boot either.

Does the boot unlock with the central lock button next to the hazard light switch?

Another thing to try is to connect a battery pack at the jump start points under the bonnet and then try the key.

[BFleming]

The wires for bootlid mounted equipment enter the bootlid from the body through a flexible rubber conduit. They flex over time, and snap eventually. There is no key hole (consigned to history a while back), nor do you have folding seats. Even if you did, the levers to release them are (you guessed it) in the boot. The rear seat back is bolted at the bottom, but clipped in at the top. You need access to the boot to undo the clips properly.
Does everything else on the bootlid work - i.e. all the lights?
People get a bit funny about posting solutions to these problems, as you'll apparently show potential thieves how to break into a car. Even though they've been breaking into cars for years and can do it in their sleep.

US cars get emergency trunk release pulls, and switches in their gloveboxes, but ROW doesn't.

This is a F30 bootlid, stripped:


Here's the inside of it:


You might have some ideas. But you might just want to call an automotive locksmith / entrust it to a dealer.

[helix402]

If you have BMW Emergency Service they should be able to open it for you. (I used to able to when I worked for them)

[anonymous-user]

OP does yours have a valet switch in the glove box?

[anonymous-user]

helix402 said:

If you have BMW Emergency Service they should be able to open it for you. (I used to able to when I worked for them)

This if you have it.

[utab007]

Super_G said:

OP does yours have a valet switch in the glove box?

No. I already checked that but thanks

[BFleming]

utab007 said:

Super_G said:

OP does yours have a valet switch in the glove box?

No. I already checked that but thanks

USA-only feature, and it won't help you here anyhow.

[utab007]

ian332isport said:

Possibly not the same, but thought I'd mention it.

I was washing mine the other week and noticed the tailgate and split rear screen wouldn't open on my F31. After locking and unlocking it then opened. I tried opening it again a little later, and it was dead again.

It turns out the battery was low and the car disabled various circuits. My powered tailgate being one of them.

How's your battery? Any messages on the dash about low battery?

How do you know the car disabled various circuits?
Did you plug in something to show this? Does sound odd for computer to do that when battery is low? I mean for other circuits to work as normal and disable others
I did get the engine light come on sometime ago and when I got it checked it showed a faulty airflow mass sensor. But it still drove OK so not sure if I was really faulty. Anyway, I don't think that's related but thought I'd mention it

[utab007]

OK so I made some progress and need some advice

Plugged in a device and that showed a short fault and says it's either the boot lock actuator or control unit

I tried a new boot lock actuator and now I don't see the fault. However, it still won't open with remote button or the microswitch on boot.

As the fault has disappeared I'm thinking it needs some kind of reset. Possibly a control unit reset or maybe I unplug the battery for 30 mins.

I'm a bit worried about hitting the reset button incase that causes further issues, but I'm thinking it's likely to just set everything to factory which should be fine

Can someone please advise on this??

With the computer device attached I can force the boot to open with the old and new lock. If that helps...

Edited by utab007 on Tuesday 25th May 15:22

Edited by utab007 on Tuesday 25th May 15:24

[ady1995]

same problem here, have you found the solution?

[utab007]

It was a faulty REM (located in the boot near the battery area)

If you get a new one it needs to be reprogrammed, but if you make a note of the part number you can get one off ebay which is already programmed.

When mine was replaced the rear parking sensors stopped working and had to be reprogrammed.

But all good now. Hope this helps you

[Sebring440]

utab007 said:

It was a faulty REM (located in the boot near the battery area)

How did you open the boot to replace the faulty REM?

[utab007]

The mechanic told me he had to break one of the rear seat hinges to get his arm in, but it's all hidden away so you can't see any difference and seat still seems secure.

Once he got his arm in I think he used a long wire to unlock boot actuator from inside.

[utab007]

utab007 said:

It was a faulty REM (located in the boot near the battery area)

If you get a new one it needs to be reprogrammed, but if you make a note of the part number you can get one off ebay which is already programmed.

When mine was replaced the rear parking sensors stopped working and had to be reprogrammed.

But all good now. Hope this helps you

Actually, initially I replaced the boot lock actuator and this fixed the short fault. But it still failed to work until I replaced REM. I think the short from lock damaged something on the REM circuit