Currently, I have not one but THREE strategies: The goal is to get the trunk OPEN. Vandals damaged the trunk lock on my car, making it impossible to use my original key to get in. 1) going to try to drill out the lock and replace it. Ordering a replacement lock cylinder next weekend. If that fails to OPEN the trunk, I am going to try and unbolt the two bolts holding the lock mechanism by getting a really long metric socket extension, then using a ratchet and the extra long extension plus the socket itself (going to stuff axle grease into the socket to try to capture the bolt). Hopefully the whole module will come out. IF that is successful, I am going to use a broom handle with a screw-in hook to see if I can push against the catch and open the trunk. I may punch out the ski-pass thru plate to make access to those two bolts easier. 2) IF Step ONE fails, alternate strategy is to see if I can cut out the trunk roundel AND metal backing to see if I can use that hole to more easily access the trunk latch. I can use a replacement roundel taped to a piece of cardboard with duct tape to conceal the hole and seal it afterwards. 3) Last but not least, if ALL Of the above fails, I'm going to order a replacement trunklid from Ebay and have my current trunk lid cut up, then replace the trunklid that way. Also on the menu is removing my throttle bodies to try to refurbish them, rebuild them, then see if I can restore them to life. If this is successful, my EML Light SHOULD finally go out after turning the key to ON. Also going to charge the battery and replace the gasoline again. Wish me luck! Pictures to come!
Does it open by pushing in the lock button? Maybe a good thwack with a 4lb dead-blow mallet would defeat the lock.... never had to try that though... http://www.harborfreight.com/4-lb-neon-orange-dead-blow-hammer-41800.html
Ugh! Thinking about ways to tackle that without requiring replacing anything more than the lock cylinder setup - This has good pics to zoom-in on of the lock mechanism... http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E32-TRUNK-LID-LOCK-CATCH-KEY-BOLTS-GASKET-735i-735iL-740i-740iL-750i-750iL-/141324490223?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make:BMW&hash=item20e79895ef&vxp=mtr since the lock is bolted to the body, accessing the bolts from the inside might be a problem if they're covered by trunk trim/covers. If the trim is out of the way, it's an option. From the pic here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E32-740i-735i-750IL-TRUNK-LOCK-LATCH-1987-88-89-1990-1991-92-93-94-1957996-/321022876254?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make:BMW&hash=item4abe745a5e&vxp=mtr It looks like the lock cylinder bolts run through the two metal-reinforced holes on the left of the lock catch in the pic, so if you did ultimately gain access to the catch, somehow you have to release it. The pic of the catch appears to be oriented such that it's showing the side which is towards the inside of the trunk. Looking at realoem.com & this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-1993-B...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a61c50bc0&vxp=mtr As best I can tell from the pics, it _looks_ like the wire on the actuator mounts in the white plastic bushing on the lock cyl. mechanism, and the actuator pulls or pushes on the wire, and that rotates the metal blade part of the lock cylinder mechanism, which pushes against the finger that is extending down from the top-right part of the opening in the catch. It would appear that pushing against the finger, not sure whether up or down, releases the catch. Drilling the lock cylinder mechanism out _should_ work, and sounds like the easiest thing to do - it may take quite a bit of effort to get it completely drilled out for the necessary access to the catch; you need to gain access to the finger in the catch, and getting that to move up or down, should release the catch to open the trunk. Another option would be accessing and cutting the hardened steel threaded sleeves of the lock cylinder mechanism the bolts go into - tricky to try and drill those out because the visible part of the lock cylinder surround is curved and angled, and not flat, plus the hardened steel and being quite long - that would take a _lot_ of patience-stretching drilling, and probably several new & sharp drill bits. Maybe get at those with a dremel and dremel tool cutting wheels - if you cut through the sleeves and bolt ends with a dremel cutting wheel, looks like that lock cyl. mechanism would fall right off. If you're going to drill out the center of the lock cylinder part, maybe dremel off that end that's all munged up to get something flat and easier to start drilling into. From your pic, the lock cyl. is toast, I seriously doubt my first suggestion to whack it in would do anything... at all! Good luck!
