2001 Z3

Aris

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Jul 21, 2025
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3
Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum and would appreciate some help in getting my trunk to lock. The actuator doesn’t work and the key doesn’t lock it, does anybody know how it can be locked with the key. I turned the key to the left but it doesn’t do anything and it doesn’t turn to the right, just to the left
 

AntStark

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British Zeds
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2002 3.0 Sport
Either dead actuator or you have a wire split..probably the ‘loom of doom’ …which translates as the wires that go from the trunk (boot 😉) lid to the car body through the rubber sheath thing.
 

Smudgemanuk

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Bicester, Oxford
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2.8l TU pre-facelift z3
:welcome: to the forum from Oxfordshire


Here is a thread to help with parts buying:


Just a friendly tip:
It might be helpful for you to add what engine is in your z and location to your profile so people can give specific advice, and saving you retyping it each time. This can be done my clicking on your username near the top right corner and going to account details.

I assume with the wiring it splits where it flexes every time you open and close the boot

Chris.
 

Stevo7682

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Maybole , South Ayrshire
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Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
Loom of doom shouldn't stop lock working manually.
As if battery dead or removed lock still turns both ways.

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Right .

Picture 1,2 and 3
Lock in horizontal position boot locked
Key can be removed and fitted.

Picture 4 and 5
Lock in vertical position boot still locked key can be fitted and removed.

Picture 6
Lock turned left from vertical
Opens boot and doors lock does not turn full horizontal key cannot be removed.
Then if key returned to vertical position it can be removed and boot stays open
From this position if key put back in lock and turned right to horizontal position boot and doors will lock and key can be removed.
This should work if battery connected or not ( if no battery procedure would only open boot as no central locking)
If it will not do this then problem is a mechanical one and will be something to do with the lock , connecting rod , solenoid or the latch and not an electrical fault.

Stephen.

Edit do you have another key to try in the lock in case the key is the issue.
 

Shelly

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Z4 2.0 20i M Sport sDrive

Aris

Newbie
Joined
Jul 21, 2025
Points
3
Either dead actuator or you have a wire split..probably the ‘loom of doom’ …which translates as the wires that go from the trunk (boot 😉) lid to the car body through the rubber sheath thing.
Thanks for your reply. I haven’t checked the wiring in the” loom of doom” yet as the driver’s door and the fuel cap door don’t lock either, it would be a pure coincidence that all three actuators stopped working at the same time. Any chance that it could be the central locking system (BCM) control module is malfunctioning or do you think any broken wires in the “loom of doom” could cause the other actuators to go bad as well
 

Mint

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Hi and :welcome: to the forum from me too in Stafford, England.
 

Aris

Newbie
Joined
Jul 21, 2025
Points
3
Loom of doom shouldn't stop lock working manually.
As if battery dead or removed lock still turns both ways.

View attachment 344783View attachment 344785View attachment 344787View attachment 344789View attachment 344791View attachment 344793
Right .

Picture 1,2 and 3
Lock in horizontal position boot locked
Key can be removed and fitted.

Picture 4 and 5
Lock in vertical position boot still locked key can be fitted and removed.

Picture 6
Lock turned left from vertical
Opens boot and doors lock does not turn full horizontal key cannot be removed.
Then if key returned to vertical position it can be removed and boot stays open
From this position if key put back in lock and turned right to horizontal position boot and doors will lock and key can be removed.
This should work if battery connected or not ( if no battery procedure would only open boot as no central locking)
If it will not do this then problem is a mechanical one and will be something to do with the lock , connecting rod , solenoid or the latch and not an electrical fault.

Stephen.

Edit do you have another key to try in the lock in case the key is the issue.
I do have another key, but the result is the same. Are you saying that in order to mechanically lock the trunk, the key has to be turned to the right?. Mine absolutely doesn’t, it only turns to the left. I just want to be able to lock it without the central locking system.
Thanks a bunch for your help
 

Aris

Newbie
Joined
Jul 21, 2025
Points
3
This lock
I do have another key, but the result is the same. Are you saying that in order to mechanically lock the trunk, the key has to be turned to the right?. Mine absolutely doesn’t, it only turns to the left. I just want to be able to lock it without the central locking system.
Thanks a bunch for your help
This lock only turns to the left from the vertical position
 

Duncodin

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I don't have the standard lock anymore so I can't test it. But does the Z3 have a workshop/valet key that can drive the car but can't open the trunk. The idea being when you give your car to the valet to park he can't root about through any valuables locked in your trunk.

So, I assume, if the only key you had was the valet key then it wouldn't work in the trunk.

But, as stevo said, any wiring fault will not stop the trunk being locked with a proper key. It's mechanical.
 

Aris

Newbie
Joined
Jul 21, 2025
Points
3
I don't have the standard lock anymore so I can't test it. But does the Z3 have a workshop/valet key that can drive the car but can't open the trunk. The idea being when you give your car to the valet to park he can't root about through any valuables locked in your trunk.

So, I assume, if the only key you had was the valet key then it wouldn't work in the trunk.

But, as stevo said, any wiring fault will not stop the trunk being locked with a proper key. It's mechanical.
I have two keys and both are identical
 

Aris

Newbie
Joined
Jul 21, 2025
Points
3
I don't have the standard lock anymore so I can't test it. But does the Z3 have a workshop/valet key that can drive the car but can't open the trunk. The idea being when you give your car to the valet to park he can't root about through any valuables locked in your trunk.

So, I assume, if the only key you had was the valet key then it wouldn't work in the trunk.

But, as stevo said, any wiring fault will not stop the trunk being locked with a proper key. It's mechanical.
Should you always be able to turn the lock from the vertical position to the right ( horizontally )to lock it mechanically.
 

Aris

Newbie
Joined
Jul 21, 2025
Points
3
Thank you again for help
I have key number 1(master key) and it doesn’t turn the lock to the right horizontally. The lock must be bad, don’t know if a locksmith would be able to fix it or the local BMW dealership would
 
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