the lock has jammed ("cannot be opened")
 

This is not good, the rear door lock has jammed ("cannot be opened") and I can not in any way unlock it. The door is closed and it is jammed in every way. I can not operate it from inside the door it is really jammed.

Any suggestions on what to do?

/Anders

I would remove the door panel and get to it that way. You should be able to get it unlocked with the panel off. It will be tricky but you can do it the panel is not tucked behind anything with the door closed so all you have to worry about is not breaking off the clips, hence the tricky part.

Ouch, removing the door panel with the door closed is gonna suck. I wish I had some advice. I've never tried to slim-jim a E36 BMW but if you knew a lock smith that could slim-jim the door that might be a good idea.

Slim-jim, meaning actuating the door clasp directly.

Thank yo guys for your prompt replies but...

I have already removed the doorpanel and I cant operate the door clasp directly either, it is completely jammed.

Oh and it is very tricky to get your hand in there.

/Anders

Disconnect all the rods and try again it should work unless you got omething caught in the clasp. Also use some WD-40 it might help

Yepp, I think that's the final solution, WD40 or equivalent that is.

I'll be back with the result, ...hopefully a good one!

/Anders

Just back from the car, I sprayed the door lock mechanism yesterday and it has not helped. I think it is something inside the actuator that has jammed. Can I pry that off with doorlock still attatched to the door?

/Anders

The bolts for the clasp are on the outside of the door. Tomorrow after I get out of class I'll pull of my door panel and see what I can figure out. The only thing I can think of right now is to pull on the loclong mechanism while using the interior door handle. That and beating it with a hammer but that would just be out of frustration. I'll see what I can come up with.

Ok one thing, does your car have the central locking system? If so try reaching in and actuating its arm up. That should allow you to pull on the locking lever and unlocking the door. Which leads to another question does the lock mechanism move, but just doesn't unlock the door. If so then it is your central locking system actuator, and if it is then I would disconnect it untill you can get a replacement and just unlock and lock that door by hand. If you don't have the central locking system then I don't know what to tell you because the lever in the clasp for the lock is covered by a shroud presumably to keep people from being able to use a slim jim. From what I just tried if you have the central locking system it should be impossible to break into the car short of breaking the lock and turning the broken cylinder. Let me know if this info helps.

Oh and if none of that above works you'll most likely have to remove the window, then the rear window guide which is two 10mm bolts on low and on the interior face and the other is slightly hidden up by the glass that doesn't move it is also on the interior face just tucked up under the upper edge. Once you remove that you will probably have to destroy the clasp by using something to pry away the shroud. I would go to a salvage yard and look at one to see what you are up against before you start that way you know exactly how to proceed.

Nothing works, unfortunately.

My remaining options are to use a plasma cutter and make a big hole in the door, but I wont do that yet but it's very near...

The other option is to remove the window and try to reach the central locking unit and pry that off and then operate it manually.

I will leave my car Sunday and take a well earned vacation (after this). I will be back after 10 days and tell you how it worked out, plasma cutter or the window ;).

Thank you all for the suggestions and please feel free to make som another suggestions wile I'm away.

Best regards
Anders

I'd try the window first it is very likely that your central locking system solenoid is the culprit

That's the most likely reason.

/Anders

...and hurray for the Porsch, no central locking there, not even electric windows :).