Hi, we've a 2008 BMW 320i estate with a boot that is hard work to lift. The dogs are in and out 3+ times a day so it's becoming a royal PITA.
It opens 10% easily or via the remote, then requires a good steady pull to get it halfway, sits there and then I need 2 hands to push up - gets to about 80% open and resistant to go fully open. And then to close, it requires firm and consistent hard pulling down. Pretty difficult to do one-handed.
The hinges are very clean, I've appropriately oiled them (it's a pretty complex long hinge) and without the stuts attached, the boot moves very smoothly on the hinges, no sign of stickiness or blocking.
I've replaced the struts twice - first time with Stabilus via Autodoc entering in my reg plate and details, so assume they were correct. I've since assumed they were dud and bought from Struts Depot and they had the same ordering system, so assume correct. Both sets of struts state 470nm (I think).
The glass opening lid switch has failed so it won't open, can this affect the whole boot lid? (Googling suggest not).
We had an old 530D 2000 touring which had a lovely boot to open/close.
Otherwise what to look at?
surely it can only be the gas struts.
weird that youve replaced them though.
Nothing bent that could be binding? hinges out of alignment?
maybe loosen the hinge bolts a shade so they can move a little, then cycle the boot to see if they need to realign.
While it's a pain in the arse to do and probably needs two people, I would disconnect the struts and see if the hinges are smooth all the way through to the maximum.
As far as I can tell, boot is aligned, the gap when shut is even all the way around.
And have tried that with the struts off ... the hinge movement is smooth and consistent all the way thru
The glass opening lid switch has failed so it won't open, can this affect the whole boot lid? (Googling suggest not).
This thread on Pistonheads suggests it could well be related to the glass hinges. You may need to get that opening again to work on your actual issue.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=72&t=1773730
This is an E91? I've got a slightly older oil-burning version.
Mine is also quite stiff - the glass lid especially; have replaced the gas struts which helps, but I think there's something binding in the hinges. There's a LOT of weight in the boot lid and the coil springs in the hinge system are absolute monsters, so it could well feel "smooth", whilst also being near seized solid.
20 years and 200k+ miles, I'm not entirely surprised its a bit tired, mind...!
I've read this before somewhere. Doesn't the glass have its own set of 'hidden' gas struts?
My cayenne has a similar setup where the glass can open separate to the boot tailgate. Both have their own stabilus gas struts buried under the roof liner. All 4 needed to be renewed in my case.
Hi, thanks for suggestions.
So I've manually (via a secret lever!) opened the glass boot lid. It's pretty stiff to open, feels like the hinges are binding or if it has struts, they're failing altho can't see where they could be??
With the glass lid open, the main boot opens / shuts v v easily and smoothly, no hinge drag at all.
So I lubed the glass lid hinges whilst moving them many many times and that seems to have helped a bit, still not great. I've reattached the glass lid switch to open the lid, albeit it's not working.
However, doing this has caused:
- the trip meter to reset to zero each time the engine's turned off
- the clock to be permanently on zero (all saved radio stations are fine)
- when the car is unlocked, the main boot switch doesnt work so have to open via the fob. However after driving the car, the main boot switch works fine
- when unlocking the car, the glass boot lid automatically opens, but never opens via the hand switch
Very odd!
Broken wire in the rubber boots between roof and tailgate is the most likely cause of your electrical issues.
My E91 tailgate was stiff, it was the glass because like you’ve found if you open the glass first the main tailgate opens fine.
i was going to replace the entire hinges but i never got around to it, replaced the entire car instead.