Saloon Keyhole Mod - resolved:)

[Stock323iSaloon]

Ok, after ordering the wrong part etc. I managed to get my head around the keyhole mod. I'm primarily doing this in case some hater decided to pop the lock. As you know, repairing the lock is easy but it's the other panel damage that it causes that will cost you loads. So hopefully this delock mod will deter them, maybe, hopefully [hmm

What you need:
For my saloon, I initially ordered a LHD/nearside (i.e. right side)/front door keyhole, but this did not fit. Anyway, after much trial/error, I found out that the RHD/offside (i.e. right side)/rear door keyhole is what I needed. Anyway, it costs 4.20+vat from the dealer so it is very cheap. Get it painted as per normal. You also need a thin flat head screwd driver and an alan key (size 6 or 7 I think). I tried to just install the plastic cover but you won't be able to screw it back on so you need to keep the key cylinder in.

How to:
Very easy DIY here: http://www.bimmian.com/elements/page.htm/instructions.ht/KHC/KHC.gif

Result:
See pic. Not sure what to say but it looks just like the rear door so it doesn't strike home as 'WOW, I've done another MOD' but hopefully this will put off would-be thieves.

Tip:
To pull out the original lock, pull the door release handle at the same time (I was puzzled for ages [hmm ). If your battery runs out on the key, enter the car via your boot! If your seats don't fold down, you're fooked. Replace the key fob battery (2 quid for five on eBay).

I'm not entirely sure what's what on coupes, but I guess you'll just have to get the LHD/nearside (i.e. right hand side) keyhole cover. Very cheap DIY, highly recommended:)

[Afif]

i need to do this asap! My mate just got his e36 stripped :(. Dude popped the lock ina carpark and took everthing! From amps to speakers almost 2 g's worth of gear.

My door handles arent bodycoloured. Im assuming this part comes black normally?

[Stock323iSaloon]

they come in black plastic or primed so if your handles are black then u may just want to spray lacquer to keep them shiny.

[Afif]

oh ok cool :) ill get one in the morning if i wake up in time! Black plastic rear RHD/offside keyhole it is then :D. Thanks man.

[BlackBimmerUK]

Nice mod :) , did you do on both sides?

[Stock323iSaloon]

Nice mod :) , did you do on both sides?
nope, just one side as I don't have a key hole on the passenger side so I only have the boot keyhole;)

[scorcher]

That's spooky - have just ordered the parts to do that on the R32 - however if my remote or battery goes flat I can climb in throught the hatchback - what would you be able to do?

[Stock323iSaloon]

That's spooky - have just ordered the parts to do that on the R32 - however if my remote or battery goes flat I can climb in throught the hatchback - what would you be able to do?
Hey Evil Dan [hiya I can fold down my rear seats so I will climb through the boot but I am not entirely sure whether this feature is available for all models. is it a standard feature on all E46? btw, have u sold your beast?

[Afif]

my rear seats dont fold!

[scorcher]

Hey Evil Dan [hiya I can fold down my rear seats so I will climb through the boot but I am not entirely sure whether this feature is available for all models. is it a standard feature on all E46? btw, have u sold your beast?

Aha - did wonder if the folding seats was an option - they don't on my E39 but do on my old man's one.

The 528 will be going on sale on Thursday - had to get the satnav, phonekit and Origin B2 removed, wheels swapped and a scratch sorted before it's valeted on Thursday - will take loads of shiny pics then bung it on eBay (and here and any other BMW forums that anyone can think of!)

[Afif]

just got this part... i ordered it earlier and fogot lol! HAd to get it again. Although the black plastic is new and not a proper match on the slightly faded handles. Anyone got any cool product to bring the handles back to their former glory? (kav :p?)

going to install it later on today just need to find my allen keys.

[Stock323iSaloon]

have u tried something like 'back to black'? just pop into Halfords or Tesco Extra - turns all black plastic shiny. U could scratch the surface with a fine sandpaper and then use back to black so that the cream get into the surface better.

[Afif]

ok will give it a try tomorrow :) i was planning on doing it while i was out but it was raining like craaaaaaaaaaaazy in east london. Fine sandpaper [hmm. That wont leave any marks will it? also how fine?

[Stock323iSaloon]

if u get 600/800/1000 sandpaper, it won't leave any scratches:)

[Afif]

thanks man. Will try and get up early and pop down to halfords :D. Losing an hour cos the clocks go forward tonite i hear [hmm :(.

[Afif]

i seemed to have the wrong part :(. It was to small to take up the gap properly. I ordered the rear door drivers side one btw. Is there a difference in ones you can get?

[Stock323iSaloon]

Afif, as per my replies ealier I got the UK RHD driver's side rear door one to fit the driver's side front. as far as i know, there are 2 part number (one primed, one black plastic) so I just got the black plastic one (6 quid all in). mines is a pre-facewlift, maybe your dealer ordered the facelift one??? basically, I just removed the exiting lock and replaced it with the unit (outer plastic cover + metal housing) bought from the dealer (straight swap)

[Afif]

hmm yea blackplastic one 6.05 it came to. Couldnt have ordered facelift since i went thru the system with him and he chose correct year and model. Facelift doesnt even come in 2000. Thats exactly what i ordered. Drivers side REAR door. [hmm. It was smaller than the keyhole one though :(. Was like a half centimere gap between it and the door handle.

[Stock323iSaloon]

u haven't removed the rubber seal right (I reused mine)? u can also swap the outer cover as well (bit tight but def possible). if it's doesn't fit, then i can only assume that the wrong one was ordered. what's the part number of the one u got? i can check mine and tell u if it's the same one.

[Afif]

yea reused the rubber seal. Ill get the part number tomorrow. Hopefully the bag it came in is still in the boot.

[Stock323iSaloon]

i found a part number off a wee bag that *i think* the keyhole cover came in. the part number is 51218216120. Maybe someone can run this against the EPC and check that it is a keyhole cover. If it is, then it is the one correctly fitted to my car. I seriously doubt that BMW used different handles/covers for a 4pot. also in case u threw away the plastic bag that had the part number on it, u can see the part number under the round plastic cover (just pry out the metal casing off the plastic cover (release 2 prongy thing).

[Raj]

I have just ordered the LHD nearside cover for my coupe. Just wondered though do you have to order the metal housing as well or is this included? The guy told me it came to £6.05 but that seems cheap for the cover and metal housing (dunny lock) bit. I think this price may just be for the plastic cover [hmm .

[westside]

mmm i was thinkong of doing this to my old e46 might do it on the vert i pressum i'll have to order a right hand side blanking plate will bmw uk supply this for me

[Stock323iSaloon]

I have just ordered the LHD nearside cover for my coupe. Just wondered though do you have to order the metal housing as well or is this included? The guy told me it came to £6.05 but that seems cheap for the cover and metal housing (dunny lock) bit. I think this price may just be for the plastic cover [hmm .

yup, 6 squid will get you the plastic cover and the metal backing (comes as one unit). it's cheap as chips if u just get them from the dealer. super value for money mod for sure:)

[Raj]

Pure wicked....

That is seriously cheap. I was honestly thinking that the price was only going to be for the plastic cover.

I remember when I de-locked the golf, it cost me more than that for the parts.

Should pick up the part on Thursday.

Cheers.

[Afif]

ok found the bag part number 51218216120 so it is the same!! [hmm. I Swear it didnt fit right. Ask Whizzkid he was there [hmm. Ill try again later on and take pictures.

[westside]

Pure wicked....

That is seriously cheap. I was honestly thinking that the price was only going to be for the plastic cover.

I remember when I de-locked the golf, it cost me more than that for the parts.

Should pick up the part on Thursday.

Cheers.


Raj can i have the part number please

[Raj]

Hi Kav,

I will post he part number tomorrow once I have checked it deffo fits. The parts guy said once it comes in tomorrow I can first check it fits properly before getting it sprayed. As long as all goes well, I will post/pm then to save us all wasting time.

[Two_Stripes]

I've gotta get on and do this to my e36, think it's easier on the e36.

[westside]

I've gotta get on and do this to my e36, think it's easier on the e36.

its probbaly gonna be harder dude your have to take the door card out and try to get to the clips which hold the black plastic cover in

[Afif]

ok i noticed it wasnt raining so popped outside even though im ill to try again and take pics! Any ideas?

[Stock323iSaloon]

The handles are different to mine (mine's longer). I suggest u read off the part number off the existing lock and back trace that off EPC and use the rear lock cover from the same car/diagram. just pry off the plastic cover from the metal lock cylinder. your dealer should swap it for free (my dealer swapped it 3 times).

[Afif]

thats well odd [bang. Ill take a trip to dealer later on or tomorrow.

[Stock323iSaloon]

Even better, just take off the rear lock from your car and see if it fits driver's side. it should fit perfectly. why didn't i think of this earlier....

[Afif]

[bang. Makes sense. Ill do it in a bit [ok.