i might be wrong, but i think fold-down seats were either a luxury package option or stand-alone option w/ the e46's... my car has the premium package, and my rear seats don't fold down.
This is an option on the E46's (I believe the Cold Weather Package/ could be wrong), besides even if she did have the fold down seats they need to be disengaged (pull lever) via the trunk....
It is possible to gain access to the cockpit of the car and be locked out of the trunk. Especially when using the valet key. That is the sole purpose of the valet key. If it is not the valet key the trunk could be locked manually by placing the key into the trunk and locking it. This could depend on how the trunk was locked in the past. There are many ways the trunk locks and unlocks. See if any of this info from the owners manual help:
1.
If only the driver's door was
unlocked from the outside and
you press the button, then, with the
driver's door still open, the passenger's
door, the luggage compartment lid and
the fuel filler door will unlock, too.
If the driver's door is closed, it will be
locked.
2. (as is regards to my statement about manually locking trunk with key. I added bold to show the trunk can be removed from the central (inside buttons in car) locking system).....
(
This is when you physically place the main key into the trunk lock)
Turn the master key to the right past the
resistance point and then pull it out in
the horizontal position.
This locks the luggage compartment lid
and disconnects it from the central
locking system. This feature can be
used to prevent unauthorized access to
the luggage compartment when you
hand over the door and ignition key
(refer to page 28). This is useful for valet
parking, for instance.
3. (requires the key)....
(in the event of electrical malfunction)
Turn the master key to the right as far
as it will go, the luggage compartment
lid will open slightly.
The luggage compartment lid is locked
again as soon as you close the lid.
4. (again if the trunk has not been locked via the key at some point in time in the past).....
If the luggage compartment lid has not
been locked separately, you can open it
with this button in the footwell on the
driver's side when the vehicle is
stationary.
Katrina, depending on the guy (not sure who you called i.e. lock smith, BMW rep etc...) and how this person was able to get you into your car, but I suspect it is definitely with a key. It all depends if the Central Locking System is still activated and if not whether the trunk has been manually locked from the trunk itself. BMW's are known for not being easy to break into. Without the key it may be pretty hard to gain access to the trunk even if it is your car. Best luck would be to contact BMW to see if there is any way they may be able to assist.....
You stated BMW assist helped you. Where they the ones who helped you gain access to the cockpit of the car? If so I would suspect they turned off the Central Locking System (see #4) for which the button inside the car (looking toward the steering wheel, look down under the dash right below the hood/bonnet release pull) should unlock the car unless the trunk has been locked manually. If so try the button and/or the door unlock button with the drivers side door open. Then go to the trunk if it is not already popped open and try the latch by the license plate....
I owned a 2000 328i and the owners manual is the same for both the 323i and 328i. I have a copy via PDF which talks about all this from about page 32 to 45.
Hope some of this helps and good luck.....
P.S. All Italic's are from the owners manual.....
