Central locking actuator front door, remove and install

# Central locking actuator, door, remove and install.

Drivers door : Gently pry out mirror switch and disconnect. |
Passenger door : Pry out plastic cover from armrest. |
Remove screw in opening. |
Remove 2 screws in bottom of armrest. |
Slide armrest forward to disengage clip from storage compartment, remove armrest. Follow green arrows to remove and white arrows to install |
Lower window, dead electric motors can be over ridden (on earlier cars) with the Allen key from the tool kit, remove plug from door panel. |
Remove rubber plug from window motor. |
Insert Allen key crank handle and wind window down. |
Pry inner door handle surround towards rear of car to disengage it, remove it from door panel. |
Unscrew locking knob. |
Use a trim tool or gently use a flat screwdriver to pop door panel clips from door, start at the lower front corner where damage will be less noticeable if you make a mistake. |
Once clips are disengaged on bottom and sides of panel, lift panel straight up. Window seal will may come out with panel.
Peel plastic splash sheet down from top left corner of door. |
Remove 2 screws securing lock actuator below lock button. |
Unplug electrical connector, disengage actuator from rod. Door is cut open for photographic purposes. |

### Installation:

Drivers actuator has a white upper section and red "pistol grip " |
Passenger actuator is all red. (pictured above) |
For reference, trunk actuator is the same as drivers door. |
Install rod and electrical connector and mount actuator loosely in door. Rod is installed in lower hole of latch, with short end of hook facing the door skin. This photo is taken from the side of the door skin, with the door skin removed. |
The "pistol grip" faces to the rear of the car. |
Use a screwdriver to rotate the door latch to the fully closed position and press the lock button down, locking door. |
Press the actuator's nose all the way in. Slide the actuator down to take up any slack in the linkage and tighten screws. |

E30 M3 Repair Manual V2.7. Copyright ©1999-2001 Koala Motorsport & Brett Anderson