So I’ve just purchased my first l322 last week, I knew it had a few little issues that I’ve been able to sort out but one has me stumped.

My key has been through the wars and doesn’t lock via the buttons and nor does it lock manually, I’ve a chap coming to revamp my key tomorrow so will be able to lock it via the buttons, but want to be able to do it manually as well.

So I stripped the drivers door down and all the mechanisms with regards to the lock work well, I’ve found that the key barrel has a shaft out the back with a cross type tip that locates in to the interior lock mechanism, well with the barrel out in my hand and I turn the key I can see things turn in the barrel but the shaft doesn’t turn.

So this must have snapped internally, my question to you wise ones is as follows,

Can this be stripped down to find the broken bit and then rebuilt? Or if I start stripping it down will I lose the shape for the key? (If that made sense?)

Any words of wisdom or warnings would be very much appreciated!

Many thanks in advance!
James

Hate this age thing thought I had answered this so will try again. If you have a look on the bay of e for door lock repair kits for bmw e46 or x5 e53 all the bits you need are in them just make sure it says left and right hand drive repair kit, it wont show the long shaft bit but you dont need it, have a look on youtube for bmw lock repair there are some videos on how to do it, did mine a few weeks ago when found out key not doing any thing, not that expensive for the kit.

Hay kds thanks for that will take a look!