E36 318i Driver Door Lock Won't Unlock

[lprater1]

I replaced my driver door handle after the metal lever arm disintegrated in two spots after years of use.
I pulled out the lock tumblers from both handles (the new and the old) and switched the lock pins in the new tumbler out with my old pins so I could use my old key. The handle works great and it locks...However it won't unlock.

Why?

At first I thought the little electric switch that clips onto the top of the door handle was turned backward because: After the door is locked, if I pull the handle and release it I hear an electric sound like the door lock actuator is being engaged again (this doesn't change the state of the door lock). However, when I checked the wire for that switch it is nestled in the little notch that is cut in the metal of the door handle for that wire, therefore I think it's oriented correctly.

My next hypothesis is that my lock tumbler is upside down. I checked the back of the lock tumbler and the little "L1" etched on the back of it is upside down. Could this be why my handle will lock but will not unlock?

I definitely don't want to go through the process of disconnecting the window sliders, uninstalling the new handle, etc. So my plan is to take a small C-vise, connect a neodymium magnet to the clamp head and attach a pin/nail to the magnet that I can squeeze the tumbler pin out with.

Any thoughts? Am I on the wrong track? Could it be something else? Any experience with this sort of thing?

*PS: My new door handle came with a wire that has a white plug at the end of it coming out of the bottom of the door lock. My old handle didn't have this. I found a capped plug for this wire inside my door so I went ahead and plugged it in. I figured it was just a feature that my car didn't come equipped with. Anybody know what this wire is for? Alarm system maybe?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

- - - Updated - - -

*EDIT: I drove to and from lunch just now and I think I figured out which feature from the "PS" above I now have that I didn't have before. Now when I get in the car after having my windows cracked, my windows go up automatically. So that's sort of nifty I guess.

I'd still like any feedback from my lock tumbler question above though. Thanks!

Resources: Bimmerforums.com BMW Online Forum dedicated to owners suspension brakes handling power turbo by CRYPTiC
Last edited by Hagbard; Today at 08:49 AM.

[lprater1]

Is there any way to figure out the order of the door lock tumbler pins? Mine fell out onto the ground and they're randomly numbered so I can't figure out what order they're supposed to go in? Please help!