Problems Opening Tailgate from Remote

[crankieshaft]

Hi all - newbie here with a F15 X5 40dM in the UK.

Just collected it on Friday past. Always love that moment when you look at the odometer and it reads 00007 miles. Going to be hard sticking to the contracted mileage on this one though I fear!

Anyway, all good so far but for one really frustrating thing.

When I try to open the tailgate using the remote, following the instructions in the manual that state 'press the button for 1 second' the tailgate just 'pops' open but doesn't lift. Pressing the button again closes it. On occasions, repeating the button press will fully open the tailgate, although it can take several attempts.

If I press the physical button on the tailgate, it just pops it open, and I have to press it again to fully open it. Same story with the button on the drivers door; one press to pop it open then have to press and hold it to swing it fully open.

Having used other BMWs with power tailgates, I'm pretty sure it should all work with 'one press' of either remote button, tailgate button or door button.

Can anyone help here?

Thanks experts

[CatalinP]

I believe yours only moves as long as you keep the button on the remote or door pressed.

Opening height can be adjusted from iDrive.

[crankieshaft]

Thanks Catalin. Even keeping the button pressed results in it just clicking open. It takes several attempts before it wakes up and swings the tailgate open as it should. Have tried just about every combination of button pressing with the same results.

I reckon my neighbours think I'm mad!

[F15 X5 Silversurfer]

I have a 2015 F15 3.0 D M Sport. If I hold the key fob button down until the hatch unlatches then it continues to open fully. The switch on the door panel only needs to be pushed once for it to open fully.
As CatilanP has already commented I would check the opening height setting in the iDrive.
Hope this helps

[crankieshaft]

Checked iDrive and it shows as being able to open to full height. Messed about with it but still getting the same symptoms. When it does finally open, it does go right to the top.

[CeeTeeX5]

There’s an issue with some tailgates sticking. Mine does it occasionally. Not enough to make me take it in to get fixed yet. Yours seems pretty severe. Take it to the dealer.

It’s only opening about 6 inches then stopping ya?

[menelaos]

It gets stuck on mine too occasionally. Just push it up manually. Nothing consistent.

[crankieshaft]

Not even six inches CeeTee...literally just pops open. I spoke to the dealer today and I've to drop it in for someone to have a look at.

[Dogzyboy]

There’s definitely a ‘knack’ to opening the x5 boot (an issue I’ve never had with my previous Audi’s) anyway, I’ve coded mine (with bimmercode) to open with a single button press for a split second. It seems to work much better than the holding the button to open does.

[CeeTeeX5]

Originally Posted by crankieshaft

Not even six inches CeeTee...literally just pops open. I spoke to the dealer today and I've to drop it in for someone to have a look at.

I think you're right actually. It's just been awhile since it's happened. I'm not sure if it's my imagination but it seems to open with more force when I use the button above the license plate.

[xweb10]

Originally Posted by crankieshaft

Not even six inches CeeTee...literally just pops open. I spoke to the dealer today and I've to drop it in for someone to have a look at.

Happens to me all the time. 2015 never did it. The 2018 is always problematic.

[crankieshaft]

Thanks for the replies folks. I'll update after it's been at the dealers - my i3 is in there at the moment for a replacement head unit so I might just swap 'em over.

At least you get a good coffee at my dealership :P

[crankieshaft]

Been pondering and suddenly realised the consistency of how the various buttons operate. It seems it needs the initial action to pop the tailgate, and a subsequent press to actually raise it.

Press once on the tailgate button to unlock and release it from the catch, then another press to open it fully. Same with the door button, and I've just done same with the remote. A '1 sec' press, then another '1 sec' press and it opens fully.

Could it be that it's now a two stage process to auto open the tailgates then? Seems a bit daft to me if it's coded that way.

[P1]

Would love that issue; my rear hatch opens by itself too frequently.

[wordsworth03]

I think the rubber seal that touches the lower hatch sticks to the paint. When it initially tries to open, the force required to “unstick” the rubber seal from the paint is enough resistance that it causes the hatch to abort opening, kind of like if it were to hit a low ceiling.

[nate670]

Originally Posted by crankieshaft

Thanks for the replies folks. I'll update after it's been at the dealers - my i3 is in there at the moment for a replacement head unit so I might just swap 'em over.

At least you get a good coffee at my dealership :P

Update? This just started happening to me. It would pop open, pressing it again would just close it.

It happens intermittently, did the dealer figure it out?

[ibz.s.b]

Originally Posted by nate670

Update? This just started happening to me. It would pop open, pressing it again would just close it.

It happens intermittently, did the dealer figure it out?

Hey! I picked up a brand new 18 plate X5 X40d 2 weeks ago and I have the same issue! Basically one holding press of the tailgate button on my remote fob unlatches the tailgate then nothing happens, another press of the tailgate button on the fob just closes it again. But if I wait like 5 seconds and then hold the tailgate button on my remote again it fully swings open to its highest height without a glitch.

It’s driving me nuts as I can’t figure it out but the point made above about it sticking and aborting the opening sounds plausible because it works flawlessly the second time as if whatever causes it to stick the first attempt has become less sticky?!

[cvillanFL]

Having the same issues with my 2017 X5 40e. Anyone figure this out?

[CeeTeeX5]

Haven’t had any issues since the temps have warmed up a bit around here.

Maybe try wiping down all the contact points with some quick detailer to see if that helps.

[ibz.s.b]

So the car finally went into BMW today regarding the tailgate issue and turns out to be faulty struts, BMW said they take about a week or two to come in so I have to come back and book my car again

Once they're fitted I'll come back with an update to see if it solved it.

I've been told that the tailgate should open fully every time and is not designed to 'pop' first then open at the touch of the button a second time.

[nate670]

Originally Posted by ibz.s.b

So the car finally went into BMW today regarding the tailgate issue and turns out to be faulty struts, BMW said they take about a week or two to come in so I have to come back and book my car again

Once they're fitted I'll come back with an update to see if it solved it.

I've been told that the tailgate should open fully every time and is not designed to 'pop' first then open at the touch of the button a second time.

Thanks for the update! Guess I'll schedule a service then to fix my struts