Tailgate won't unlock

I have a 1992 525i Touring (sorry, don't know the 'E' number).

When I unlock the doors the tailgate remains locked. The window part of
the tailgate opens OK but I can't expect the dog to jump in through
that!

It's happened before and then worked again after a couple of days so
I'm guessing it's a sticky solenoid or something.

Can anyone give a me a clue as to where to start looking?

Thanks

Andy

Andy wrote:
> I have a 1992 525i Touring (sorry, don't know the 'E' number).

You have an E34. In fact, you have the same year and make I do.

Wikipedia has an excellent chart of the E numbers at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E34

> When I unlock the doors the tailgate remains locked. The window part of
> the tailgate opens OK but I can't expect the dog to jump in through
> that!

Are you saying your dog is as old as the car?

> It's happened before and then worked again after a couple of days so
> I'm guessing it's a sticky solenoid or something.

It is an electronic problem, as explained to me by a repair shop last
week. I've asked for an estimate to repair the problem.

The experience I've had is similar to yours. There is no problem
whatsoever with getting the window to release--pressing the button gets
an immediate response. (Unfortunately, my window will not stay in the
up position, so it's not much good to me except for putting small items
into the cargo area.)

Until I talked to my mechanic, I always thought that I had to unlock
the rear gate, but he showed me that holding the door button for
several seconds will get the tailgate to open. It takes, on average,
about 5 seconds for the door to open, but indeed, it does.

The quick solution is open the tailgate manually--put the key in and it
unlocks instantly. (Look on the bright side and call this 60s retro.)

> Can anyone give a me a clue as to where to start looking?

I'm sorry I don't know how to fix it myself.

--
Michael Poplawski
Victoria, BC Canada

>
> Are you saying your dog is as old as the car?
>
No, but he's a 12 year old Lab and there are limits to what can be
expected!

Thanks for the advice Michael.

The tailgate lock is stiff as old harry, having never been used, but a
squirt of WD40 got it working and once the tailgate was open it now
works with the central locking again. Methinks it needs some
lubrication somewhere.

Andy