How to open bmw x1 trunk from inside

New Member

Drives: X1

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: United States

Can trunk pop up by itself if press the trunk button on the key?

Have been driving my x1 for 7000 miles. Suddenly realize this problem. I have keyless entry and ultimate package.
If I press and hold the trunk button on my key, I will trigger the alarm.
But how can I let the trunk open and pop up by itself, instead of push the button on the trunk? Or it does not have this feature? But what is the trunk button used for?

Major

Drives: o_0

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: Suburbia

I don't have keyless or ultimate, but the trunk button on my key fob is two fold: 1) hold for ~ 1s and release to unlock the trunk, 2) hold for several seconds to set off the alarm.

New Member

Drives: X1

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: United States

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosstones

I don't have keyless or ultimate, but the trunk button on my key fob is two fold: 1) hold for ~ 1s and release to unlock the trunk, 2) hold for several seconds to set off the alarm.

thanks!
my x1 does nothing if hold the button for ~ 1s...

Does your trunk pop up by itself, or you need to push the button on the trunk and lift it?

Private First Class

Drives: 2014 BMW X1

Join Date: Oct 2013

Location: New Jersey

I have to play with it a bit more to be sure, but I'm pretty sure the trunk button on the remote will only pop the trunk if the doors are first unlocked, so I think you first have to press the unlock button once, and then press the trunk button for about a second, and let go. It will then pop open a tiny bit, but you still have to lift it up manually.

Captain

Drives: '15 M4, '15 i3

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: RVA

You should not need to unlock the doors to pop open the tailgate.

__________________

2002 X5 3.0i/man.*
2006 330i/man./Arktis/Grau*
2001 525i/step./Schiefergr�n/Sandbeige*
2013 X1 xDrive35i Alpinwei�/Schwarz/M Sport/Dinan Stage 2
*retired

Second Lieutenant

Drives: 2018 x2

Join Date: Feb 2013

Location: Seattle, WA USA

I don't think you can get the hatch to "pop up by itself". It just has a latch/lock - unlatch/unlock feature. I know on some models modifications can be made so the struts lift the lid once it's unlocked but not seen that done with the x1.

Captain

Drives: '15 M4, '15 i3

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: RVA

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielj

I don't think you can get the hatch to "pop up by itself". It just has a latch/lock - unlatch/unlock feature. I know on some models modifications can be made so the struts lift the lid once it's unlocked but not seen that done with the x1.

Exactly. It pops open, but like on most cars, you have to raise it yourself. No electric trunk struts.

__________________

2002 X5 3.0i/man.*
2006 330i/man./Arktis/Grau*
2001 525i/step./Schiefergr�n/Sandbeige*
2013 X1 xDrive35i Alpinwei�/Schwarz/M Sport/Dinan Stage 2
*retired

Klaatu Barada Nikto

Drives: 2017 X3-35i

Join Date: Apr 2007

Location: A Bipolar Planet

You may already know that you can also release the trunk by pushing up on the little pad above the rear license plate?

Major

Drives: o_0

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: Suburbia

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmark1021

thanks!
my x1 does nothing if hold the button for ~ 1s...

Does your trunk pop up by itself, or you need to push the button on the trunk and lift it?

Ah, that's what you meant. Like danielj posted, it will only unlatch the boot lid. You still have to manually raise it (i.e. no auto-open/close).

Quote:

Originally Posted by spydrz

You should not need to unlock the doors to pop open the tailgate.

Correct. You can have the doors all locked but still unlatch the hatch and open it.

Major General

Drives: Smog machines

Join Date: Oct 2008

Location: Dallas, TX

Yeah, it rarely works on ours, plus it's easier to just grab the latch instead of pulling the key out of my pocket.

Mullini

Drives: 2017 i3 BEV

Join Date: Aug 2012

Location: Redondo Beach CA

I'm another X1 owner who has given up on the trunk release button on the remote. It seldom works, and only if I am so close to the trunk at that point I might as well just unlatch it manually anyway. One of my minor complaints about the X1.

Private

Drives: BMW X1 18d Sport

Join Date: Nov 2013

Location: Darlington UK

Useful feature if you just want to put something in the boot - sorry, trunk!- without unlocking the car. Just make sure you have the key before you close the tailgate again.......

New Member

Drives: BMW X1 xDrive 28i M

Join Date: May 2013

Location: Salt Lake City

Press the button for approx 2 seconds, when you hold it down longer it will set off the alarm. It's just a learning curve. I'm not a fan of how the button works, nor how the tailgate is so slow to respond when you go straight to the button on the vehicle. My wives CRV works much better. Other than the lack of better thought out storage, I love the X1!

Captain

Drives: '11 328i E93 N51

Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: Las Vegas

This can be coded, but there are complications if you have alarm and comfort access.

Second Lieutenant

Drives: 2014 x1

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: New jersey

There is definitely a learning curve. after 9 months I am bale to hold the button just long enough to pop the lock without setting off the alarm. I fond that if you hold the button for about 1 second release and then hold the button again it always unlocks. The most important factor is to listen for the lock click when it unlocks and them immediately release the button on the key fob.

Hope it helps.

New Member

Drives: X1

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: United States

Thanks everyone!

Flight Lieutenant ≛

Drives: Le Mans blue X1 35i

Join Date: Sep 2012

Location: CT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royleblue

Useful feature if you just want to put something in the boot - sorry, trunk!- without unlocking the car. Just make sure you have the key before you close the tailgate again.......

That's not useful, because you have to lift the trunk anyhow. You might as well just touch the opener on the trunk with the same hand you are to lift it with.

Given that it's one more way a hacker might possibly gain access to the interior of the car without physically breaking in, I'd say it's worse than nothing.

If it had longer range, so you could pop open the trunk from the doorway so someone else could get something in or out of it, it would have been useful. But the range is so short that you might as well use the button on the car and save yourself from digging for the key.

Private

Drives: BMW X1 18d Sport

Join Date: Nov 2013

Location: Darlington UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grovsnus

That's not useful, because you have to lift the trunk anyhow. You might as well just touch the opener on the trunk with the same hand you are to lift it with.

Given that it's one more way a hacker might possibly gain access to the interior of the car without physically breaking in, I'd say it's worse than nothing.

If it had longer range, so you could pop open the trunk from the doorway so someone else could get something in or out of it, it would have been useful. But the range is so short that you might as well use the button on the car and save yourself from digging for the key.

My original post was before I picked up the car, and I expected it to be the same as the VW where you can open the boot from the key fob without unlocking the whole car. I think the arrangement on the BMW is so that you cannot lock your keys in, like I nearly did once. I unlocked the boot, put the keys in my coat pocket and then put my coat in the car. Just realised in time before I closed the tailgate.

Private First Class

Drives: BMW X1 sDrive28i M Sport

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: Georgia

Has anybody tried to replace the struts/dampers on the rear liftgate with higher rated units so that it does raise automatically as soon as it's unlocked ("popped" open)? Or would that risk banging at the top of the liftgate's travel? I know, sounds crazy, but I just wonder if a $20-$40 part substitution would achieve a similar result.

Private First Class

Drives: 2014 x1 bmw

Join Date: Feb 2014

Location: az

[QUOTE=Grovsnus;16171239]That's not useful, because you have to lift the trunk anyhow. You might as well just touch the opener on the trunk with the same hand you are to lift it with.

From inside the vehicle, usually I open the tailgate by using the button by the driver's footwell. I seems the tailgate on the initial unlock lifts a bit higher than using the key-fob.

Unllicensed

Drives: 2013 X1 35i

Join Date: Jun 2014

Location: Pasco, WA. USA

I was wondering when someone would mention the inside front release button. I make deliveries in mine, and have lots of loading/unloading, and "comfort access", so I've gotten used to the various quirks. I sure wish you could option a power liftgate, though.