BMW X5 2001 -DRIVER OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN DOOR.

Broken exterior handles

handles may be in good condition but the lever on the latch itself may have came loose. your mostlikley looking at dismantelling the apolsery with the door closed to rectify it.

the inside door handle is probably broken. the cable may have popped out but usually its because the clips on the inside door handle break off. luckily you can just replace the handle and not have to get a whole new door panel

You have to be very handy as you will have to open up the inside panel of your door and there is a metal plate for the winder that may have to be removed with a star wrench set.

If you are not very tech savvy, you may just want to take it to a local shop to do it for you. It could save you money at the end.

G

ok open the door and look at the latch now while you are looking at it pull the handle as if you were going to open the door the latch should move if it doesnt it is stuck all you have to do is take a screw driver or something and manually move the latch and free it up hope this helps and next time youre doors freeze shut try a warm water in a bucket pour on all edge of door and it should open a lot easier good luck

DIY repair is possible. you must remove door panel inside and have window up to access the handle linkage from inside. The handle that you pull up on from outside, and the housing that surrounds it are usually a one-piece make. This work is tight and frustrating, take your time, look at how it fits together before you take it apart. Take pictures, make a drawing. I did this job on my celica and it was tough, but I took my time and got it done right. I can't tell you how much a shop would charge to fix it. smaller hands would have made things easier. . .lol. Good luck

I have exactly the same problem with a 2002 X5. The passenger door handle has no resistance on it from either inside or outside and as such I cannot open the door. I am now wondering how to get the trim off to see what is bust inside. Anyone got any ideas??

sound like a broken outside door handle carrier. suggest to take off the door trim to have proper ivestigation.

The repair will require removal of the door panel and adjustment/replacement of the rod that connects the outside handle to the lock mechanism, or replacement of the handle itself.

you are correct they are flimsey and get fatigued with age easy to replace harder to find