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      09-06-2011, 03:02 PM   #1
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Exclamation Battery disconnected and now I'm locked out of trunk.

I disconnected the battery (only one terminal) to install a lightweight battery over the weekend and I accidentally closed the trunk. Our cars don't have keyholes as you all know so I went out and purchased a charger/maintainer from Sears today. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...1&blockType=G1

After about ten minutes of charging both terminals there was no evidence of power. The charger even stated it wasn't "charging the battery" which of course makes sense. I'm only trying to get enough power to pop that trunk so now I'm considering getting a jump from my wife's car. Is this a good idea?

I can't believe a BMW doesn't have a manual option for opening the damn trunk in the event of a disconnected or completely dead/unchargeable battery!

Any other advice?
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      09-06-2011, 03:17 PM   #2
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Apparently BMW feels that this situation can not occur; it doesn't mention any solutions in the Manual. And I almost recommended using the emergency release in the trunk until I remembered that you can't put the seats down from inside the car.

What is your fear in jumping the car? Is it the lightweight battery? I used my car to jump my wifes SUV and there were no issues.
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      09-06-2011, 03:18 PM   #3
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It's not recommended for personal install, which is why it's not in the manual. You would be surprised how many newer cars need programming after battery installs.

The only solution is to hook it up in the front and hope the terminals in the back aren't touching anything.
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      09-06-2011, 03:26 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan@UnitedBMW View Post
It's not recommended for personal install, which is why it's not in the manual. You would be surprised how many newer cars need programming after battery installs.

The only solution is to hook it up in the front and hope the terminals in the back aren't touching anything.
They're def. not touching and it's still the OEM battery back there. One terminal is still connected while the other one is set apart from the battery. I didn't get far with the install since my 3-yr old was so nice to interupt the job. A couple of hours later is when I closed the trunk so if I was doing this all in one complete shot, I wouldn't be writing a response to my own stupidity.

Having said that, you don't think getting a jump would cause any issues? I just need some aux power to power the trunk button.
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      09-06-2011, 03:27 PM   #5
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From the other thread I just looked at....( I saw your post there as well Tuned1 ) hooking jumper cables up isn't going to work. (At least it didn't for the other guy).

I would say your best bet is trying to figure out how to get the rear seat down. If I had my car already, I would go out and see if there is a way to pop the seat latch, hopefully someone else can do that for you as instead.
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      09-06-2011, 03:31 PM   #6
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The only problem is getting the rear down without unlocking the latch that's in the trunk area. I'm not sure of a solution other than what I wrote above... can't believe LCIs do not have a keyhole!!
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      09-06-2011, 03:34 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuned1 View Post
Having said that, you don't think getting a jump would cause any issues? I just need some aux power to power the trunk button.
I honestly do not know for sure. I'm just not aware of how you will be able to access it without doing that.
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      09-06-2011, 03:38 PM   #8
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I concur. jumping the car prob will not work becaause that module mounted on top of the batter has no ground any more.

as much as it sucks, your best bet is to lower the arm rest in the rear and "break in" to the trunk from there. you dont need much just enough to slid something stiff enough to reach the rear seat release and push it towards the rear of the car.. OR you can try to fish the glow in the dark handle and pull on it...

by no means is this gonna be easy...
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      09-06-2011, 03:38 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tkbr0wn View Post
From the other thread I just looked at....( I saw your post there as well Tuned1 ) hooking jumper cables up isn't going to work. (At least it didn't for the other guy).

I would say your best bet is trying to figure out how to get the rear seat down. If I had my car already, I would go out and see if there is a way to pop the seat latch, hopefully someone else can do that for you as instead.
That's what I'm trying to search for as well. There has to be a way to pop those seat latches. At this point I don't care if I break it.
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      09-06-2011, 03:40 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DriveHard View Post
I concur. jumping the car prob will not work becaause that module mounted on top of the batter has no ground any more.

as much as it sucks, your best bet is to lower the arm rest in the rear and "break in" to the trunk from there. you dont need much just enough to slid something stiff enough to reach the rear seat release and push it towards the rear of the car.. OR you can try to fish the glow in the dark handle and pull on it...

by no means is this gonna be easy...
We don't have rear fold down arm rests.
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      09-06-2011, 03:40 PM   #11
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If all you need is a keyhole the keyhole in the drivers door handle will unlock the trunk, but you still need the handle on the trunk to open it.
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      09-06-2011, 03:45 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuned1 View Post
We don't have rear fold down arm rests.
OOPS thats right you dont..

Pull the head rests out, and see it you can see the latch.. both latches are centerally located within the seat back.. maybe you can pull on it enough too see the latch
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      09-06-2011, 03:50 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red135 View Post
If all you need is a keyhole the keyhole in the drivers door handle will unlock the trunk, but you still need the handle on the trunk to open it.
Battery disconnected = no power locks.
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      09-06-2011, 03:53 PM   #14
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I think a long hanger with a hook on the end and about 30 minutes of patience and you'll we be able to snag the emergency handle. Anyone have a picture of the handle with the trunk down from inside with seats folded down? You should be able to slide hanger in between seats without tearing anything up.
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      09-06-2011, 03:54 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DriveHard View Post
OOPS thats right you dont..

Pull the head rests out, and see it you can see the latch.. both latches are centerally located within the seat back.. maybe you can pull on it enough too see the latch
Those seats already got a yanking they'll never forget. Will give it another shot though.
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      09-06-2011, 03:55 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tkbr0wn View Post
I think a long hanger with a hook on the end and about 30 minutes of patience and you'll we be able to snag the emergency handle. Anyone have a picture of the handle with the trunk down from inside with seats folded down? You should be able to slide hanger in between seats without tearing anything up.
This would be helpful.
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      09-06-2011, 04:17 PM   #17
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I thought you can manually unlock and open the trunk with a key, right?
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      09-06-2011, 04:33 PM   #18
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No, later models have no keyholes in the trunk.

He has to use a key for the front door, pop the hood, "jump" (by connecting jumper cables) to the battery terminal posts UNDER THE FRONT HOOD, and he will have enough power to unlock the trunk using the trunk button on the dash.
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      09-06-2011, 04:34 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by My135 View Post
I thought you can manually unlock and open the trunk with a key, right?
Not anymore, that went away sometime in 09 I think.
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      09-06-2011, 04:37 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by formula M View Post
There has to be a key to the trunk, it is the law.
Uh, ok. Better write BMW a ticket then.
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      09-06-2011, 05:22 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuned1 View Post
This would be helpful.
These are from my 135 (excuse the mess), though I'm guessing the trunk layout is the same as on the 1M.





Click for the flickr page if you need the higher-res originals. It looks like if you use a wire between the seats you ought to be able to feel around and find the indent / handles fairly easily. From there you just need to go up and hope to snag the handle. It's held in there pretty tightly so I'm guessing it's going to take a lot of tries. Good luck!

We had something similar happen with our porsche. The battery is in the front trunk, and although the trunk had a mechanical release, it also had a mechanical interlock that prevented it from being opened if there was no power. Never figured out the reasoning behind that engineering decision...
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      09-06-2011, 05:28 PM   #22
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^ Thanks. I'm going to roll up my sleaves and tackle this right after dinner.
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