X5 2008 E70 powered boot getting stuck
Discussion
Hi I have a strange problem that I am looking for advice on. The powered boot system works. However, when it closes, it won't reopen. It will try, but it won't un latch.
We have replaced the latch lock, it's not that.
We have replaced the soft close mechanism, it's not that.
Could it be the one of the auto lift tailgate spindles ?
Perhaps one of them is sub optimal and is closing it at an angle ?
To open I have to pull the interior emergency boot release cable. The power system then successfully raises it. It will then close it without problem. However, when you try and open it, it will just rock to Open and then fail back in a semi open state where it's still locked and you can't pull it open without going inside and pulling the release cable again.
The tailgate spindles are about 400 quid each New I'm being told. So perhaps aftermarket or secondhand. But before I venture down this path, has anyone seen this issue before?
We have replaced the latch lock, it's not that.
We have replaced the soft close mechanism, it's not that.
Could it be the one of the auto lift tailgate spindles ?
Perhaps one of them is sub optimal and is closing it at an angle ?
To open I have to pull the interior emergency boot release cable. The power system then successfully raises it. It will then close it without problem. However, when you try and open it, it will just rock to Open and then fail back in a semi open state where it's still locked and you can't pull it open without going inside and pulling the release cable again.
The tailgate spindles are about 400 quid each New I'm being told. So perhaps aftermarket or secondhand. But before I venture down this path, has anyone seen this issue before?
OK update, which may help others diagnose this. Try forcing it closed then opening it again… here is the full details.
1.The powered boot closes, and when released inside it opens. Also noted, when it closes, it closes very hard
2. I replaced the latch lock (BMW X5 E70 07-13 UPPER TAILGATE LOCK LATCH CATCH 7234379), and that worked for about 12 open and closes, then it failed. Then a week later, it magically started working again, then failed again.
3. When I tried to open it from any of the many buttons or 3rd party diagnostics device (I used iCarsoft, the boot / tailgate just moves a bit back and forth.
4. I found out that this is movement was actually the “BMW X5 Series E70 Lower Tailgate Soft Close Aid Lock Actuator Rear Lid 4443052“ and that works fine. When the boot / tailgate latch closes, is closes on the striker, that hook that you can adjust to make the boot close. When it closes, this then pulls the boot / tailgate in closer so it closes well and seals. When you try to open the boot / tailgate its this actuator that is rocking, expecting the latch to release and open.
5. I tried removing the battery power for 1 hour, and I found that the boot opened and closed correctly once. Then had the same problem. I then found that if you remove the power and then re add it would always work correctly for one open and close, then failed again. This meant to me its some kind of sensor or calibration issue. Unlike newer models this car does not have any software calibration. There is no menu for it in BMW INPA or iCarsoft so far as I could see.
6. I replaced the “Boot Strut Gas Spindle Drives Pair (Rear Left & Right Sides) For BMW X5, 51247332695, 51247332696” (which is where I think the problem was… read on) but this did not resolve the problem. Also noted after you replace this check for warnings or errors as I did not remove the battery when I did this and it meant the car flagged a fault with the Electric Tailgate Gas Boot Spindle Drives. Which I cleared and it did not solve the problem.
7. Remembering the anomaly with removing power and re adding, I then thought maybe the “BMW X5 E70 X6 E71 Module Control Unit Trunk Lid Rear Tailgate Lift 7207576” may be faulty. . The Diagnostic software allows you to “reset” it, but that did not work. So I replaced that, no change same problem. No coding required it’s a direct swap. Again making sure the battery is removed else you ill need to clear the faults and reset the module to get it back online.
8. I then found this YouTube video “2010 BMW X5 Power liftgate wont close- Diagnosis and calibration” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyGMsnfNFq0. My next theory was that there may be a faulty/broken wire or a faulty sensor somewhere. However, it does not explain to remove power from car, and it works ok once as it would close (because I left the boot open as the battery is the boot), open again, close then back to square one, not opening again unless I pull the latch release cable.
9. I was literally giving up for the day when I went to close the boot, but the button did not work. I tried from the fob and also iCarSoft as you can trigger the close from there too. I then forced it down. Since then, all is magically fixed. And it’s been a week and I have used the boot lots.
I re watched that YouTube video and the guy said that there are sensors inside the Boot Strut Gas Spindle Drives Pair. May be magnetic, but my current theory is that the Spindle Drives where reading the wrong position, and I think force-closing the boot in recalibrated them.
Perhaps when fitting new struts you have to force the boot down and then electronically open and perhaps I did not need to replace the Spindle Drives and just needed to do that?
If it fails again, I will try a force close again, else it looking at the wiring. Hope this helps someone.
p.s. I used aftermarket parts for the spindle drives £120 and the Module Control Unit £60. Otherwise, OEM new parts would have cost in excess of £1000!
1.The powered boot closes, and when released inside it opens. Also noted, when it closes, it closes very hard
2. I replaced the latch lock (BMW X5 E70 07-13 UPPER TAILGATE LOCK LATCH CATCH 7234379), and that worked for about 12 open and closes, then it failed. Then a week later, it magically started working again, then failed again.
3. When I tried to open it from any of the many buttons or 3rd party diagnostics device (I used iCarsoft, the boot / tailgate just moves a bit back and forth.
4. I found out that this is movement was actually the “BMW X5 Series E70 Lower Tailgate Soft Close Aid Lock Actuator Rear Lid 4443052“ and that works fine. When the boot / tailgate latch closes, is closes on the striker, that hook that you can adjust to make the boot close. When it closes, this then pulls the boot / tailgate in closer so it closes well and seals. When you try to open the boot / tailgate its this actuator that is rocking, expecting the latch to release and open.
5. I tried removing the battery power for 1 hour, and I found that the boot opened and closed correctly once. Then had the same problem. I then found that if you remove the power and then re add it would always work correctly for one open and close, then failed again. This meant to me its some kind of sensor or calibration issue. Unlike newer models this car does not have any software calibration. There is no menu for it in BMW INPA or iCarsoft so far as I could see.
6. I replaced the “Boot Strut Gas Spindle Drives Pair (Rear Left & Right Sides) For BMW X5, 51247332695, 51247332696” (which is where I think the problem was… read on) but this did not resolve the problem. Also noted after you replace this check for warnings or errors as I did not remove the battery when I did this and it meant the car flagged a fault with the Electric Tailgate Gas Boot Spindle Drives. Which I cleared and it did not solve the problem.
7. Remembering the anomaly with removing power and re adding, I then thought maybe the “BMW X5 E70 X6 E71 Module Control Unit Trunk Lid Rear Tailgate Lift 7207576” may be faulty. . The Diagnostic software allows you to “reset” it, but that did not work. So I replaced that, no change same problem. No coding required it’s a direct swap. Again making sure the battery is removed else you ill need to clear the faults and reset the module to get it back online.
8. I then found this YouTube video “2010 BMW X5 Power liftgate wont close- Diagnosis and calibration” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyGMsnfNFq0. My next theory was that there may be a faulty/broken wire or a faulty sensor somewhere. However, it does not explain to remove power from car, and it works ok once as it would close (because I left the boot open as the battery is the boot), open again, close then back to square one, not opening again unless I pull the latch release cable.
9. I was literally giving up for the day when I went to close the boot, but the button did not work. I tried from the fob and also iCarSoft as you can trigger the close from there too. I then forced it down. Since then, all is magically fixed. And it’s been a week and I have used the boot lots.
I re watched that YouTube video and the guy said that there are sensors inside the Boot Strut Gas Spindle Drives Pair. May be magnetic, but my current theory is that the Spindle Drives where reading the wrong position, and I think force-closing the boot in recalibrated them.
Perhaps when fitting new struts you have to force the boot down and then electronically open and perhaps I did not need to replace the Spindle Drives and just needed to do that?
If it fails again, I will try a force close again, else it looking at the wiring. Hope this helps someone.
p.s. I used aftermarket parts for the spindle drives £120 and the Module Control Unit £60. Otherwise, OEM new parts would have cost in excess of £1000!
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