Retrofit Soft Close Doors?

[JupiterBMW]

Anyone have any info or experience they could share? This is one option I didn't get in our X, but I'd love to retrofit... Looking on RealOEM, I believe the latch assemblies I need are...

51217315019 Driver
51217315022 Passenger
51227315023 Left Rear
51227315024 Right Rear

Aside from that, I'm sure there's some coding, but I'm unsure if the vehicle is prewired or ready to accept the latch assemblies.

Any help is appreciated...

[tlovidiu]

I am really interested in this too

[blue dragon]

Its been done http://goo.gl/vADPIW
Same procedure.

[JupiterBMW]

Thanks, I've already read that procedure, as well as another one here on Bimmerpost (also an E9x). I'm mostly curious if anyone has done this on the E7x chassis and if all of the vehicles are prewired. I'd like to make it as close to OEM as possible, adding the option to the VO and then coding all the necessary lines to activate it.

My two biggest question are whether the doors are built for a direct, OEM bolt in and if the doors are prewired...

Can anyone answer those questions? Has anyone had the door cards off? Maybe a couple pics?

[smyles]

Just a guess, but even if, say, my X5 is prewired doesn't mean your's is. BMW changes it over the model run, plus different trims/markets/etc may cause variance.

Also, if you do get the retrofit done, watch your and especially your kids' (if any) fingers.

[JupiterBMW]

Yeah of course. I found that in my E46, most everything was prewired across the board, and to be honest, it makes a lot of sense when it comes to production costs.

I have read a couple of stories about finger pinches too, but thanks for the heads up. We do have 2 small kids, too small to get in and out by themselves though, so we would have a few years before we have to worry about that... It is a concern though. Perhaps just on the front two doors... Still have to even look into the doors of my X when I can (I'm out of the country for work for 2 months, so just doing some research and getting ideas). Also have to find out cost when I'm home.

[iDido]

Can sombady provide part number for the wire harness or the soft door connector's part number and fuse numbers?

[JupiterBMW]

The closer mechanism part numbers are above.

[iDido]

Originally Posted by JupiterBMW

The closer mechanism part numbers are above.

To the parts above you will need an original wire harness or you have to use at list original connectors and run wires to the fuse box and connect wires there.
I am asking about this part numbers.

[xpl0sive]

this is sort of related. my car was in an accident on passenger rear before i bought it. It has the soft close door option. all other doors work fine. the passenger rear door, the soft close does not work like it's supposed to. when the door isn't shut completely, it will not pull the door in. but when you shut the door all the way, the mechanism pulls it in further and then back out like it's supposed to. it seems that it just wasn't adjusted properly. does anyone know how to adjust the latch so it works correctly?

[SchaumerMol]

Try moving the striker bar a bit, that's the silver part the door latches to.
I think it is a Torx T40.

Google for the adjustment procedure (it is, it is very easy and not time consuming, but mark the current position, so you can go back to where it is right now.

A little movement goes a long way...

Here some info:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...nute-less.html

[JupiterBMW]

Can anyone tell me, when did the soft-close doors even become available on the E70s??

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by JupiterBMW

Can anyone tell me, when did the soft-close doors even become available on the E70s??

Based on what I've read it depends on the country and/or model.

In the U.S. (perhaps all of North America?):
-1st available as an option in 2010 on the X5M only
-For non-M's, available in 2013 only
--$600 option on the 50i & 35d
--Part of the Convenience Package on the 35i
*I feel like I've seen it, maybe, on a few 2012's while I was searching for mine. If so, I'm guessing it was a later addition/option, like the paddles were on late 2012's. Not positive on this.

Non U.S. - looks like it was available from the beginning of E70 production in many countries.

[JupiterBMW]

Awesome thanks man, that makes me happy, I'm hoping I'm at least prewired for the option. Would probably make the retrofit a lot easier.

[jiggz]

I'm not really seeing the benefit/desire of this option. Who here has soft close doors, and do you like them/feel like they're worth it? So you don't close your door with enough muscle and this option basally sucks the door closed….how often does that happen? If you close the door properly…

[JupiterBMW]

For me it's not about not using enough muscle, it's just a matter of gently pulling the door closed enough for the first click and the letting the mechanism take over. It's easier on the car as we know the E70 interior makes a lot of noise. I'm trying to not have any more squeaks and creaks than I need to. Besides, I just think it's cool. �

[xpl0sive]

my 2008 has soft close doors so that was the first year they were avaliable. I love the option, you don't have to slam the door at all, most of the time i just give it a gentle tug and it closes on it's own.

by the way, i tried adjusting the striker bar and that didn't help. i think it's the actual lock mechanism that needs to be adjusted somehow

[blue dragon]

It was available in Canada

[iDido]

@ xpl0sive

Can you please check at "http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do" what is part number for your wire harness or the 2 pin plug. Front door only is OK. Thank you.
My 2012 X5 it's not prewired for soft door closing and I'm interested doing this retrofit.

[jspdr]

Originally Posted by JupiterBMW

For me it's not about not using enough muscle, it's just a matter of gently pulling the door closed enough for the first click and the letting the mechanism take over. It's easier on the car as we know the E70 interior makes a lot of noise. I'm trying to not have any more squeaks and creaks than I need to. Besides, I just think it's cool. �

I had it on my 535 m sport. Yes, its cool to show someone how it works, or talk about it, but it is a worthless option for me.

[JupiterBMW]

Great feedback, thanks... So we've got a 2008 with the option, but a 2012 X5 that is apparently not prewired. It would be nice to get everything sorted so that it'd be easier for others to do the retrofit in the future.

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by JupiterBMW

Great feedback, thanks... So we've got a 2008 with the option, but a 2012 X5 that is apparently not prewired. It would be nice to get everything sorted so that it'd be easier for others to do the retrofit in the future.

Jon, it seems U.S. and Canadian vehicles are different. We've got Canadian members saying their 2008 has it, and I've read in other threads/other forums the same thing from European owners. However, I have yet to read/see/hear from an owner in the U.S. that says they have this option unless they have a 2013 non M, or 2010 X5M (and again, optional equipment in both cases).

If someone can prove me wrong I'm totally cool with it - just haven't seen, read, or heard anything in that regard. I just ran a 2010 X5M VIN the other day and saw it had soft close doors, so I know it was available in 2010 on the X5M in the U.S. And it's was actually a pretty common option on the 2013 50i VINs I was running a few months back before I bought my current X5.