Opening trunk with dead battery

Kakalika · 01-23-2013, 09:07 AM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

OK lets picture this scenario. Flood damaged F10 535i with no key fob or key sitting at a junkyard. The doors are open, so access to the inside is no problem. Battery is totally flat or dead. Trunk will not open using the switch by the hood release. Thinking of connecting a battery to the jump start terminals in the engine compartment in order to power the switch to pop the trunk, but worried about damage to some wet modules or electrics. Any ideas on how to get the trunk open? I dont see any place to put a key.

vdubturbo · 01-23-2013, 11:23 AM

Crowbar. Car's totaled already, right?

Frank_NJ · 01-23-2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdubturbo

Crowbar. Car's totaled already, right?

Exactly right as the car is done!!!!

Shell · 01-23-2013, 12:40 PM

Fold down rear seats by opening ski hatch and, using a stick or similar, pushing on one of the seat releases in the trunk through the hatch. Once the seats are released, fold them down and either reach into or crawl into the trunk and pull the emergency release cord mounted in the trunk lid. It worked for me. Of course, I'm assuming US spec cars have the emergency release.

Kakalika · 01-23-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shell

Fold down rear seats by opening ski hatch and, using a stick or similar, pushing on one of the seat releases in the trunk through the hatch. Once the seats are released, fold them down and either reach into or crawl into the trunk and pull the emergency release cord mounted in the trunk lid. It worked for me. Of course, I'm assuming US spec cars have the emergency release.

Unfortunately this car does not have the fold down seat option. I think a crowbar is the only option.

Die Wolfe · 01-23-2013, 01:43 PM

I'm sorry about the car and I hope no one was hurt when it was flooded...

But this sounds like it's gonna be kinda fun! I've used a sledge hammer on several trunks and it works wonders!

Kakalika · 01-23-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Die Wolfe

I'm sorry about the car and I hope no one was hurt when it was flooded...

But this sounds like it's gonna be kinda fun! I've used a sledge hammer on several trunks and it works wonders!

LOL

I know, but I was just hoping there was another way

Die Wolfe · 01-23-2013, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kakalika

Quote:

Originally Posted by Die Wolfe

I'm sorry about the car and I hope no one was hurt when it was flooded...

But this sounds like it's gonna be kinda fun! I've used a sledge hammer on several trunks and it works wonders!

LOL

I know, but I was just hoping there was another way

I know what you mean, but I guess this just proves that violence is always the best course of action...haha

alextremo · 01-23-2013, 04:09 PM

are you sure there's not a hole for the key next to the trunk release button above the license plate? I've never used it but I think I remember it being there.

Kakalika · 01-23-2013, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alextremo

are you sure there's not a hole for the key next to the trunk release button above the license plate? I've never used it but I think I remember it being there.

Not that I have seen. There isn't one on my X5 either.

RambleJ · 01-23-2013, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alextremo

are you sure there's not a hole for the key next to the trunk release button above the license plate? I've never used it but I think I remember it being there.

I was going to ask that too. Now I have to go out to my car and double check

Gilgorm · 01-23-2013, 05:13 PM

There is no key hole anywhere on my F10.

alextremo · 01-23-2013, 06:32 PM

Interesting, I must have been thinking of my old e90.

I bet you can take the back seat out pretty easily if you we're really motivated to get in the trunk.

mryakanisachoad · 01-23-2013, 07:59 PM

You can hook jumpers up to the terminals.

Long story boring: I once got locked in a BMW with the key FOB. That sucked.

alextremo · 01-23-2013, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mryakanisachoad

You can hook jumpers up to the terminals.

Long story boring: I once got locked in a BMW with the key FOB. That sucked.

This thread made me read the manual, where I found this:

Locking from the outside

Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if there are people in it, as the vehicle cannot be unlocked from inside without special knowledge.◀

So you can confirm?

ImSW1 · 01-23-2013, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alextremo

Interesting, I must have been thinking of my old e90.

I bet you can take the back seat out pretty easily if you we're really motivated to get in the trunk.

Correct! Pull rear seat bottom up and remove. Use torx to remove 2 bolts holding rear seat back in. Remove rear seat back and climb into trunk or use emergency release.

Sean

Kakalika · 01-23-2013, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImSW1

Correct! Pull rear seat bottom up and remove. Use torx to remove 2 bolts holding rear seat back in. Remove rear seat back and climb into trunk or use emergency release.

Sean

Hmmm, I guess that will work if there is no solid metal plate between the trunk and rear seat back.

mryakanisachoad · 01-23-2013, 10:15 PM

Yes, true story.

War Story Alert:

Car had just turned 5 years old and the battery was starting to go.

It was a cold night and I went outside to move the car into garage from the driveway. The alarm wouldn't open the doors so without really thinking it through I removed the key from the FOB and opened the drivers door with key. I guess there was just enough charge left in the battery but that was it.

I closed the door, tried to start the car all I got was click click click. Ok, no big deal, I know if I pull twice on the interior door handle, right? Wrong lol.

No cell phone and locked in. Thankfully it was a cold night because if it was a hot and sunny day I would have had a full-blown panic attack. At some point my wife must have figured I was up no good and she came outside to investigate. She immediately went into the panic attack I should have been having lol. She went and got my neighbor and we were able to run jumper cables from the 135 to the car I was stuck in.

If it had been daytime and hot, I would have kicked out the rear window.
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OzDriver · 01-23-2013, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mryakanisachoad

Yes, true story.

Car had just turned 5 years old and the battery was starting to go.

No cell phone and locked in. Thankfully it was cold that nifht because if it was a hot and sunny day I would have had a full-blown panic attack. At some point my wife must have figured I was up no good and she came outside to investigate. She immediately went into the panic attack I should have been having lol. She went and got my neighbor and we were able to run jumper cables from the 135 to the car I was stuck in.

If it had been daytime and hot, I would have kicked out the rear window.

So, there's a lesson to be learned here. Don't get into a recent model BMW if you think the battery is nearly flat - and whatever you do, don't get into the trunk

mryakanisachoad · 01-23-2013, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzDriver

So, there's a lesson to be learned here. Don't get into a recent model BMW if you think the battery is nearly flat - and whatever you do, don't get into the trunk

lol yes, never climb into the trunk (especially if asked to do so by someone named sal or guido).
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ImSW1 · 01-24-2013, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kakalika

Hmmm, I guess that will work if there is no solid metal plate between the trunk and rear seat back.

The metal plate is part of the seatback. I've had the rear seats out of my F10 a dozen times. Once the seat back is out its a clear path into the trunk. Not the best picture, but you can see the rear seat out and a clear path into the passenger compartment.

Sean

Kakalika · 01-24-2013, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImSW1

The metal plate is part of the seatback. I've had the rear seats out of my F10 a dozen times. Once the seat back is out its a clear path into the trunk. Not the best picture, but you can see the rear seat out and a clear path into the passenger compartment.

Sean

And you don't have the rear fold down seats??

01-23-2013, 09:07 AM	#1
Kakalika New Member Drives: 2011 X5 35d Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 17 iTrader: (0)	Opening trunk with dead battery Featured on BIMMERPOST.com OK lets picture this scenario. Flood damaged F10 535i with no key fob or key sitting at a junkyard. The doors are open, so access to the inside is no problem. Battery is totally flat or dead. Trunk will not open using the switch by the hood release. Thinking of connecting a battery to the jump start terminals in the engine compartment in order to power the switch to pop the trunk, but worried about damage to some wet modules or electrics. Any ideas on how to get the trunk open? I dont see any place to put a key. __________________ RUN FLAT TIRES? NEIN DANKE!
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01-23-2013, 11:23 AM	#2
vdubturbo Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 535i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 263 iTrader: (0)	Crowbar. Car's totaled already, right? __________________

01-23-2013, 05:13 PM	#12
Gilgorm Private Drives: 2012 535i Xdrive Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 81 iTrader: (0)	There is no key hole anywhere on my F10. __________________ 2012 BMW 535i X-drive; Space Grey/Black Dakota, Fineline; Executive (Auto trunk, NAV, HiFi Prof, Lumbar, Rear Cam, SIRIUS, Voice), Technology (Blind Spot, Hi-Beam Assist, Lane Departure, Surround View), APPS, Rear heated seats, Tint. Retired: 78 300D, 81 300SD, 87 190E, 88 Porsche 924, 89 260E, 93 300E, 97 Volvo 850, 98 E320, 03 BMW 325iT, 02 C230 Sport Coupe, 08 BMW 535i

01-23-2013, 10:15 PM	#18
mryakanisachoad Lieutenant Drives: '13 550xi + '09 M5 + '10 135i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 527 iTrader: (0)	Yes, true story. War Story Alert: Car had just turned 5 years old and the battery was starting to go. It was a cold night and I went outside to move the car into garage from the driveway. The alarm wouldn't open the doors so without really thinking it through I removed the key from the FOB and opened the drivers door with key. I guess there was just enough charge left in the battery but that was it. I closed the door, tried to start the car all I got was click click click. Ok, no big deal, I know if I pull twice on the interior door handle, right? Wrong lol. No cell phone and locked in. Thankfully it was a cold night because if it was a hot and sunny day I would have had a full-blown panic attack. At some point my wife must have figured I was up no good and she came outside to investigate. She immediately went into the panic attack I should have been having lol. She went and got my neighbor and we were able to run jumper cables from the 135 to the car I was stuck in. If it had been daytime and hot, I would have kicked out the rear window. . . . . Last edited by mryakanisachoad; 01-23-2013 at 11:38 PM.

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01-23-2013, 12:40 PM	#4
Shell New Member Drives: F10 528i M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 11 iTrader: (0)	Fold down rear seats by opening ski hatch and, using a stick or similar, pushing on one of the seat releases in the trunk through the hatch. Once the seats are released, fold them down and either reach into or crawl into the trunk and pull the emergency release cord mounted in the trunk lid. It worked for me. Of course, I'm assuming US spec cars have the emergency release.

01-23-2013, 01:43 PM	#6
Die Wolfe Second Lieutenant Drives: '12 535i Msport/'13 X5///M Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 222 iTrader: (0)	I'm sorry about the car and I hope no one was hurt when it was flooded... But this sounds like it's gonna be kinda fun! I've used a sledge hammer on several trunks and it works wonders!

01-23-2013, 04:09 PM	#9
alextremo Captain Drives: F10 550i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: USA Posts: 869 iTrader: (3)	are you sure there's not a hole for the key next to the trunk release button above the license plate? I've never used it but I think I remember it being there.

01-23-2013, 06:32 PM	#13
alextremo Captain Drives: F10 550i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: USA Posts: 869 iTrader: (3)	Interesting, I must have been thinking of my old e90. I bet you can take the back seat out pretty easily if you we're really motivated to get in the trunk.

01-23-2013, 07:59 PM	#14
mryakanisachoad Lieutenant Drives: '13 550xi + '09 M5 + '10 135i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 527 iTrader: (0)	You can hook jumpers up to the terminals. Long story boring: I once got locked in a BMW with the key FOB. That sucked.