Help - Locked Trunk with Battery Out!!!

[M'EM]

Hey Folks,

Did a real dumb fucking thing today Attempting to change my Battery I disconnected my Battery, took it out and closed the trunk. Now I am locked with no way to open the Trunk. I tried jumping it and also folded the rear seats only to find that it is completely covered in the back. There is no way for me to access the Trunk release from inside the car. My car is a 2012 E93 M3. How BMW designed something like this is beyond my understanding. What are my options? I read quite a few posts but nothing seems to work so far. I read that there is a way to simulate the wire for opening the trunk under the glove box? I even removed the screws to access this part beneath the glove box but there are some many clusters of cables there and I have no clue what needs to be done. Anyone been in my position? Should I just cut the rear piece behind the seats to access the emergency release handle? I hate the idea of cutting my car but looks like I am running out of options here. Please help...

[nycplumber]

2 options, use the keyhole hidden on the underside of the lip by the pad, or you can obtain power by hooking up a battery to the engine area where there is a specially marked + sign and negative to any grounded metal in the hood. Also note, the FOB has a hidden key that can be manipulated out of the FOB itself to use in the keyhole.

[nycplumber]

Or 3rd option. Open the ski pass in the backseat and grab the fold down or trunk release button

[M'EM]

Thanks for your posts but both are not applicable to me as Mine is 2012 and as I understand there are no key holes on the trunk post 2008 cars. Second is I don't have a Cold weather package hence no ski pass through access to the trunk. The only way I can try to reach it from there is cutting or drilling a hole behind the seat.

Anyone else please??..

I am feeling hopeless about the situation. I can have it towed to the dealership in the morning but have a feeling the dealership will charge me some ridiculous fee to open it taking advantage of my desperate situation..

[M'EM]

BTW I attempted to jump the car using the terminals under the hood but no success there. As I understand it could be due the fact that I have the Battery disconnected and removed from the trunk...can the experts chime in on this if this is true...

[fred340]

actuate your latch with a booster pack through the jbe connector.

[M'EM]

Thanks for the video, it was kind of helpful. If I could find the document that the guy in the video is referring to, that will really be helpful...anyone know where I can find it.

[M'EM]

Anyone else have any details about actuating the trunk release through the jbe connector? Any pics/diy instructions will help.

How about any other ideas to open the trunk? If I drill a small hole in the back with the seats folded will I be able to reach the trunk release.Please guys..chime in in what you got. Thanks.

[USCTROJANSFIGHTON]

PIn 12. Copper wire. 12 V source. Apply power. That should cause your lock to open... REMEMBER AT YOUR OWN RISK.

[USCTROJANSFIGHTON]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=728890

[eg6turbo]

If you have a manual push start the car!

[M'EM]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the replies. I was able to open the trunk by powering it up from the connector behind the glove box using a 12v battery. Thanks to Forum member Michael for helping out. This is the reason why I absolutely love this forum.
Anyways major PITA (at least for me) to reach to the connector but may be it was due to the reason that it was my first time but definitely doable in case someone gets caught it my situation. Next time if I have to do it, it will take me 15 to 30 mins tops though I hope I never have to.
For folks who are changing your battery a word of advise: NEVER CLOSE THE TRUNK WITH THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED. Place a block between the lid and the body to avoid closing it by accident.

[jdamore]

Good news M'EM! The sound of the actuator popping must have been amazing. Like cracking into a vault.

I have an 08 so I'll never have this issue but, there has to be a better location to access that wire..?? If the gray/green wire could be located in the bundle somewhere before entering the trunk, it could be tapped with a safety pin or something. Isn't there a bundle of wires if you pull out the back seat (cant remember if its under the seat or under the panel by the seat)??

[M'EM]

Yeah man the sound of the trunk actuator clicking was heavenly. I dint really try to locate the wire because all the cluster of wires scared me and I dint want to amp up the wrong one so just went with the set up that another forum member sent me..

[NOLA_70002]

Use the charging terminal under the hood should work too.

[meatball]

I'm at my wit's end. In the exact same situation. Battery on a charger in the garage. Trunk is shut. 2009 z4


*No keyhole to manually open

*No using front terminal since battery is disconnected

*Tried running a wire from a positive battery terminal to pin 12 (located it and stripped it back), then another attempt in which I grounded as well by stripping back the brown wire. Thought I got a little movement from it at first, but no luck overall.

*Do not have a ski pass through. It's a steel wall with no holes


Any ideas? I'm about to try hitting my head against it a few times! Otherwise, I may drill a hole through the steel wall towards the trunk to try to yank the emergency pull (which I know my Z has).

Thanks in advance for any help

[SDPLV]

Dude, this sounds like a huge pain. And maybe an oversight by BMW.

Glad I have an 08. I have been disconnecting my battery a lot over the last couple of days to work on my steering wheel.

Would have lost my ish if this happened to me. I just didn't close it cause it never crossed my mind to.

Good luck man!

[crypticc]

My '12 has a keyhole in the boot. I think. I need to check

[jhua5637]

Unfortunately, I'm facing exactly the same situation right now. How can I powering it up from the connector behind the glove box using a 12v battery. Can I have more details please! Really need help.

[pbonsalb]

Use the under hood jump start terminals.

[jhua5637]

But I've already removed the battery from the trunk. Can I still jump start a car without any battery?

[WagonR]

You're not jump starting the car, you're just using the other car's battery to power the electrical in your car so that you can unlock/pop the trunk.

It really shouldn't be different if car's battery is disconnected or fully removed.