1987 BMW 325 Central Locking System Issue

I do not know what you need to bypass the system.

But, if you locked the doors -- central locking system -- then managed to get a door open, the central locking system still has control of the ignition system, and it will prevent the car from starting. It this point, the car thinks it is in the midst of being stolen, and it is protecting itself.

Please keep in mind this is an 87 we're talking about here. Central locking isn't tied into the ignition circuit at all in these older models (not sure it is in the newer models either). My car (an 89

Are you sure the car will start?

Lock the doors using the KEY, then reach in through the window and try starting it. In this condition, the car will think that it is locked, and when locked it has no reason to start.

If you lock the doors using the door lock, AFTER the doors are closed, then the car knows it is occupied and in this condition it will start.

You might be right that the early cars do not have ignition bypass, but my money is on them having it. And, current cars will have it, I have no doubt of this. However, the only way to test is to lock the doors from the outside using the key, then simulate what would happen in the event of a theft attempt -- the doors will remain locked but a window will be broken out, and the ignition will be jacked so that the car sees the ignition switch go on. You create this scenario by lowering the window before locking the door, then reaching inside (or climbing inside if you want) and using the key to start the car.

Think this is a function of an alarm/immobiliser if fitted. And of course this is usually integrated with the central locking as regards the remote.

Starts just fine when double locked from the outside. As Dave pointed out, if it is fitted with a factory alarm system (available in

How much info is needed on how to lock and unlock a car? Seriously, this whole thing is being overthought. If you do not have an alarm in the car, then the fact that the doors are still locked makes no difference. If you did have an alarm in the car, the horn/siren would have gone off by now.

Central locking is on fuse #27 (30A) along with the radio amp (premium sound), OBC (if equipped) and the interior lights.

Try lock>The owner's manual is of little help ... it has unbelievably only one

On an '87, I seriously doubt it. The standard antitheft system worked with the onboard computer only when you entered a code for it. It didn't prevent the car from being entered. It would only prevent it from starting. After 3 failed start attempts (using the key, but not entering the code), it would sound the alarm horn for 30 seconds.

So am I. These two events are either unrelated or purely fortuitous.

It's only a pain if they're related. Generally, when the locks fail, they simply fail to work electronically, so you need to operate them manually. They have nothing to do with the car starting or running. You need to do a separate diagnostic for this.

-- C.R. Krieger (Been there; done that)

I'm glad to see I'm not totally losing my mind. Just picked up another