Door latch problem

[ramboz]

I have a '01 315i and live in the Phildadelphia area and when the cold weather set in I found that sporadically first thing in the morning when I get in the car the drivers door will not latch. I usually start the car and and turn on the defroster and heated seats and after about a minute I try to close the door and it latches fine. Yesterday I got in the car and the same thing happened but after a while the door still wouldn't latch, I manually pushed down the lock button and shut the door and it partially closed but was still loose BUT it also wouldn't open. Then after about two minutes the door shut fully. Only problem then was when I got to work the door would not open at all. (I had to climb over the console.) I tried to get in from outside but although the handle pulled out the latch didn't disengage. When I went out for lunch the door worked just fine! Has anyone else experienced this problem? Today I sprayed some silicone on the latch mechanism to see if that helps.

 

[vlad]

Are you sure that it's a 315i? I didn't even know that BMW made one until I searched the net, and then, I couldn't find a pic of one.

Anyway, I'd take it to your local dealer to have them look at the door alignment, it could be off just enough to cause a problem like this.

 

[sketch]

maybe he meant 325i and hit the one instead

 

[Krafty04]

His "what I drive" says 325I. I agree that the mechanism on the door jamb is off just enough so that when cold (metal shrinks) it's off just enough. I think its a torx to adjust the plate down a hair... (door might be sagging 1/8" after 3 years) or some other silly excuse. If you don't have a torx bit big enough, tap it with a hammer (I am not liable for my damages).

Good luck.
JK