i cant get in, each time i turn the key the little thing doesnt go up and wont unlock
It has a expesive alarm system, and i used to open it with the fob not key, but with a flat battery i cant use that, and the key doesnt work too, same for the boot.
search here and you'll find it... seen it there myself - there are a few tricks to try on the passenger doorlock, OR hotwire the battery and charge it through a light socket (for real!) see here:
On cars this age the manual lock is on the left side, rather than the driver's side (as on newer cars).
When I left the interior light on in my '93 740i in the garage, I couldn't get to this door so the procedure was: -
Open boot manually. Undo boot light. Carefully identify positive and negative terminals. Attach battery charger, choosing low current to avoid the inrush blowing the fuse. Switch on and wait for ~30mins by when it should be possible to operate the electric locks. Some things like the sun roof may require cycling to reset.
My more recent '00 735i went flat over Xmas (not sure what was left on), and the manual door (& boot) lock worked and there is no lock on the left hand side!
Sounds like his ignition lock has been replaced, so he has a key that will work the steering lock programmed to unlock the car, but the key does not match the door or boot locks! I suppose he might have a chauffeur key if these are provided on 5 series and the door lock has been changed.
If he can open the bonnet he may be able to charge the battery enough to unlock. Otherwise he will need to take the car's paperwork to a main dealer and order up a door key $$$.
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