What if you’ve lost the key or the battery in your key fob is dead? How do you still unlock the trunk of your BMW? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you access your trunk:
Table of Contents
1. Trunk Release Button Inside the Car is Your First Step
The internal trunk release button is located on most BMW models on the lower dash or on the driver’s side door.
To access the trunk from inside the car, follow these steps:
Use the mechanical key that’s hidden inside your key fob to manually unlock the driver’s side door. All you need to do is to press the small release tab on the key fob and pull out the physical key.
Unlock and open the trunk once inside; press the trunk release button. This method may not work if you’ve dead your car battery or some other options.
2. The Second Step is to Use The Mechanical Keyhole on the Trunk
If you have an older BMW model, then this mechanical keyhole may exist on the trunk itself.
To check, look for a hidden keyhole under the emblem, if BMW, under it, or under the license plate.
Place the physical key in this keyhole and turn it to get the trunk unlocked. You may not have this option on newer models either, as some of the newer BMWs have decided to dispense with exterior keyholes for aesthetic and security reasons.
3. Rear Seats (Interior Access) Fold Down
If your BMW has a pass-through to the trunk from the rear seats, you can access it this way:
The vehicle will be unlocked electronically from outside in case of a break down, but the door must be unlocked manually with the physical key.
Find the release levers inside the cabin or in the trunk area (located through the rear seat).
Manually unlock the trunk from the inside, crawl through the rear seat into the trunk.
4. Emergency Trunk Release (Inside the Trunk)
Again, you won’t be able to break a window in an emergency and scramble to pop the trunk, as all modern BMWs contain an emergency trunk release lever inside the trunk to deter a desperate person from getting trapped inside.
If the rear seats are folded down and you can access the trunk space, you should find either a glow in the dark or brightly marked lever that allows you to pull it from inside to open the trunk.
5. Use the Car to Jumpstart Something Else
Your BMW battery is dead and if there is no battery power, the electronic release functions will not work. In this case, try jump-starting the car:
Manually unlocking the car without the physical key reveals a pop-open hood.
Under your hood or in the trunk of your car, depending on your model, locate the battery terminals.
If you can find jumper cables or you have a portable jump-starter, then connect to another vehicle.
When you start the car, you can unlock the trunk electronically by pressing of the trunk release button, or with the key fob.
6. Call a BMW Dealership or a Locksmith
If you can’t find any of the above methods to work on your BMW or if your BMW is very well secured with some state of the art anti-theft systems, then you’d better give a call to your BMW dealership or an automotive locksmith expert.
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can be used by your closest dealership to make you a new key, while some locksmiths carry specialized tools to unlock BMW trunks.
If you don’t have your key, you can regain access to the trunk of your BMW by using one of these methods. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have suggestions of interesting topics that our in-house writers should publish on Automotive1.
