Soft close doors pop open whilst driving

[tcpip]

BMW X5 M50d made in Feb/Mar 2014 with soft close doors. I've already had the rear locks checked and replaced as part of the child lock recall.

Driving along and pop, the drivers door opens onto the safety catch. It doesn't auto-close. Have to open and slam the door shut. It has happened a few times now (car is 5 months old) even when driving at 30mph/50kmh on a dead straight and smooth road.

It's previously been to the dealer twice for this and had the drivers door lock replaced.

I've written a stiff letter to my dealer and left the car with them. I've told them I don't want the car back until it's fixed - I love my X5 M50d, but I can't be doing with this! They've given me a nice new 7 series in the meantime, but I much prefer my X5 M50d and want it back!!

Car is currently still with the dealer. Latest news is that apparently BMW have had other reports of this issue and they think it may be a cable inside the door causing a short or electronic release - they're trying a mod on my car and may issue a recall.

Off to near Munich in Germany at the end of next week for two weeks holiday (so hope I get it back by then).... and if it does it again when I'm out there, then I know exactly where I'm taking it to!

Anyone else had a similar issue?

[MattBianco]

Happened to mine with 58 miles on it. My build is July 2014. The left rear door came ajar on the highway. It is at the dealer now, and this matter is among several they are fixing.

[LowerEast]

It's happened to mine a couple of times also. Mine was built in March 2014, and it happened maybe 3 or 4 times in the first three months I owned it. It hasn't happened since then. Assuming it doesn't recur, I'll have it checked out when I take it for it's first service.

[X5msport]

I have the same problem. Produced 11/13. My dealer have tried 6 times to fix the problem, bur it's still there. I dont't think i would let them get so many chanses now before they can get it back. I don't like the new car at all, lots of trouble. Been at my dealer 11 times, while one of them for a period of 2 week and the other was three weeks. Problem with head up, doors, seat, noise from several places in interior, software update times three.
What a terrible car !!:-(

[MattBianco]

Originally Posted by X5msport

I have the same problem. .... Problem with head up...

What Heads Up problems to do you have? Mine seems like it is a bit too far to the left, and out of focus on the right. I noticed it as I am now driving a temporary car as mine is being worked on, and the temporary car's is in focus and centered.

Thank you.

[X5msport]

The problem with head up was that the settings of heights not was memorized between my wifes and mine key.. Fixed in the last software update..

[NPickles]

Originally Posted by X5msport

The problem with head up was that the settings of heights not was memorized between my wifes and mine key.. Fixed in the last software update..

@buckeyewalt will be pleased

[Bibendum]

Had the same problem with the door popping open. Was right rear. Happened 3 or 4 times. Took it to dealer who said BMW wouldn't let them work in the car, had to be done under supervision of National. They replaced the latches on both doors according to the worksheet and I got car back in 2 days. Has been about 2 weeks and hasn't recurred. Yet.

I've got little kids in the back so I'm zero tolerance on this -- as I'm sure you all are as well.

[Buckerine]

Originally Posted by Bibendum

Had the same problem with the door popping open. Was right rear. Happened 3 or 4 times. Took it to dealer who said BMW wouldn't let them work in the car, had to be done under supervision of National. They replaced the latches on both doors according to the worksheet and I got car back in 2 days. Has been about 2 weeks and hasn't recurred. Yet.

I've got little kids in the back so I'm zero tolerance on this -- as I'm sure you all are as well.

This thread is sort of freaking me out. I have kids too. Haven't experienced the issue yet and hope we never do.

[MattBianco]

Originally Posted by Buckerine

This thread is sort of freaking me out. I have kids too. Haven't experienced the issue yet and hope we never do.

"Daddy, the door opened", said my 10 year old daughter. About 3 seconds later, the warning sound and visual alert came on. No one panicked. I told her to pull on it hoping the soft close will reengage...Nothing happened. Then I asked her to open it more and shut it.

Mine is 3 weeks old and has been at the dealer for a week of that, also because as mentioned by me in other threads, I am missing options in my special order, and so verified by the S.A. after a VIN check.

[Armen383]

Let's just be clear on this to avoid panic - as much as the subject is annoying, the door doesn't just wide open so that someone can fall out. It opens onto the safety latch as the TC noted. Happened on my M50d with both rear and front drivers door (RHD) - 1 time rear, 2 times front. VIN was checked for child safety locks recall - not in the DB (production 03/14). After these 3 aforementioned occurrences - it never happened since (and I hope never will).

Also - it can only occur if the soft-close mechanism was fully engaged before.

[MattBianco]

Originally Posted by Armen383

Let's just be clear on this to avoid panic .....

Just sharing stories for now. Yes, there is a secondary safety latch.

I don't think BMW would do anything that would tarnish their stellar reputation when it comes to safety. From the prior post that said "national" supervision is required for this repair, I would be led to believe the matter is on their radar and if this is anything other than an adjustment, it will be dealt with preemptively.

Every car executive as seen what has happened to GM.

[MysticBlue]

I didn't want soft close doors because... well, just why? Why add all the expense, weight, and complexity to solve a problem that didn't exist. I was very happy to find out that it would be a stand alone option, and not part of a package in 2015. Then I was disappointed to find out it is still part of the executive package in the 50i, so I was stuck with it. I don't want it and this is exactly why.

[Armen383]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

I don't want it and this is exactly why.

With that logic you should avoid any new tech and stick to the old 70s cars. Seriously - the more tech you add to the car, the bigger the chances that something will go wrong. And it will. Things go wrong on space stations which are a one-unit-built-ever thing and we want no faults on massive production...

Is this annoying? YES, very much. Can we do anything about it? NO, apart from complaining to dealers/manufacturers. But if thing A is fixed today, it doesn't mean thing B won't be broken tomorrow. Brand doesn't matter, it's just the way it is these days...

P.S. Any yes, I do sometimes miss the quality and feel of old cars where there was very little tech... just metal and raw power

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by Armen383

With that logic you should avoid any new tech and stick to the old 70s cars. Seriously - the more tech you add to the car, the bigger the chances that something will go wrong. And it will. Things go wrong on space stations which are a one-unit-built-ever thing and we want no faults on massive production...

Is this annoying? YES, very much. Can we do anything about it? NO, apart from complaining to dealers/manufacturers. But if thing A is fixed today, it doesn't mean thing B won't be broken tomorrow. Brand doesn't matter, it's just the way it is these days...

P.S. Any yes, I do sometimes miss the quality and feel of old cars where there was very little tech... just metal and raw power

No, you misunderstood what I'm whining about. (And yes, I'm whining about a first world problem, I know). I'm all for new tech... if there is a purpose. If it solves a problem. If it makes something perform better. If it makes something more efficient. And I have always understood there is risk with more tech. I ordered my M3 with the DCT transmission before anyone had even driven that transmission. I am willing to take a risk.. if there is good reason to do so. My annoyance with this issue is BMW's packaging of options, essentially forcing something on me that serves no conceivable purpose to me, yet increases the risk that I will have a problem.

[igorsvrub]

Had same problem twice: front passenger door & driver door.
At the moment car has a bit more than 500 miles(happened when it had 200 miles on both doors same day and had to open/close to make door closed, just pull a bit did not helped-soft close function didn't close door), if it will happen again will go to dealer.
But it happened like TC said :" It opens onto the safety latch", so at the moment indeed no drama.
My car was produced in US, June 2014.
But agree with other guys more high tech you have in the car-more problems you will get!
And indeed it does not matter which brand you have(tell you as Engineer in drilling industry)

[kip1]

Any additional electronics or equipment in the car can malfunction, this problem described above sound horrible, however. I am glad I didnt take these, I also left out the traffic jam assistant on purpose, because it is totally unnecessary technology in my opinion that distracts the driver from looking at the road and also adds unnecessary electronics to the steering wheel (which will probably fail at some point). My Porsche had like 13 factory recalls and a lot of parts failing, but they change every part in to a new part number, meaning that they know about the problem, but only change it when it fails, hoping it wont fail under waranty. The 2011 Panamera was chosen as the most reliable car of all!!!??? SO I bet the 2011 has all the parts that were changes in mine from the beginning. After 2 years of going and all the typical faults corrected, the car has now been totally bullitproof and i love it. SO when you take first model years, they always have problems, but luckily with software updates, recalls and visits to the workshop, the car will gradually be more reliable. Opening doors, however is an unbelievable problem and I suspect they will try to fix it asap...

[tcpip]

Hi All,

I've got my X5 M50d back today :-)

I really hope they have fixed it this time. The dealer was pretty confident. They have been working closely with BMW corporate and have applied a BMW modification to all four doors. They showed me a the pile of paperwork they have had from BMW on this, so I believe BMW corporate are taking things very seriously.

In my car it was only ever the drivers door (thank goodness). It did it a number of times in the first 3,000 miles, then, after they changed the lock, it went for at least a couple of months, 5,000 miles before it did it again. One thing I did notice the last time that it did it, was that we'd had heavy rain, whereas for the previous few months we'd had a dry spell - is this a co-incidence?

I'm off to near Munich (from near Cambridge, UK) next week, so plenty of time in the car and miles to test it; oh, and some German Autobahns to give it some exercise

[Bibendum]

Nothing to do with rain. Hasn't rained in months where I live.

[buckeyewalt]

Originally Posted by NPickles

@buckeyewalt will be pleased

Ahh, I am pleased. Dealer called and told me about the software update but said that I need to leave it with him about 4-6 hours depending on the update. To be honest, I want to get it done but I told them to check and see what else that they are updating. The reason, two cars before this, I had an E63 and the dealer did an update and it took away drivability (off throttle hesitation) and I really could feel some HP loss. I don't want it happening to this vehicle, that's why I chose to wait a few months until they find out what all of the updates are.

[Bibendum]

Anyone have this happen to them again AFTER taking the car in and getting it "fixed"?

I think it may have just happened to me...

[hyde]

Originally Posted by Bibendum

Anyone have this happen to them again AFTER taking the car in and getting it "fixed"?

I think it may have just happened to me...

Are you thinking you may not have closed the door fully, If you have SCD package, it is not possible for it to just remain latched but not fully closed. I seriously hope this was fixed because I really want to get SCD and it's kind of nice that nobody who took delivery recently (in last couple of months) came back to post about this issue, sounds like it was fixed at least on new builds.