The door is not closing completely

KF6TRG

KF6TRG

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Hello everyone,

I'm looking for some advice on a frustrating issue with my driver's side door on my E9. The door closes almost completely flush with the quarter panel, but the latch won't hold it in place. If I apply hand pressure, the door sits perfectly flush, but as soon as I release it, the door pops out slightly.

I've already replaced the plastic tip on the door latch and have tried to adjust the striker plate in the door jamb with no luck. I'm hoping someone here might have a suggestion or two on what else I can check or adjust.

Thanks in advance for any help!
 

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Hi KF6TRG,
there are three positions on your lock:
- the open position
20250820_094220.jpg
Next, turning anti-clockwise, the first door closing position, door doesn't stay fully closed
20250820_094227.jpg
And turning further, the door locked position, the door stays closed
20250820_094234.jpg


With the door open try to turn this lock by hand and check if it stays fixed in all three positions. Once reached the closed position, pull the door handle, it should fall back to the open position.
If it works like this then you may remove the triangle guide and try to close the door. Maybe this one is worn.
Regards
Thomas
 
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Thank you, Thomas. I will check that and try to figure out why it’s not holding the door closed. Maybe it just needs some lube or maybe my weather strips are old and stiff and they’re not allowing the door to close all the way. I have tried closing it very firmly and it doesn’t seem to make a difference.
 
KF6TRG said:
Maybe it just needs some lube or maybe my weather strips are old and stiff and they’re not allowing the door to close all the way.
Click to expand...
If Thomas' first suggestion - that the latch doesn't click into the fully-closed position - then maybe lubrication of the latch mechanism inside the door will cure it.

I doubt it is due to stiff weather strips; they tend to compress with age, making door closing easier.
 
Joe,

I've re-examined the latching mechanism and have some new findings.

The latch freely moves and engages in all three positions that Thomas mentioned. However, even when it's in the "fully locked" position, I can still move it counterclockwise with very little resistance.

I also attempted to close the door firmly again, but it still won't close flush. It seems like the latch itself is the problem. I'll remove the door card and try lubricating it from the inside to see if that helps.
 
Some pics from the other side.
Open position
20250820_173318.jpg
First lock position
20250820_173330.jpg
and fully locked position.
20250820_173347.jpg
Check if the centre spring is healthy and in position
 
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I've seldom seen a door latch so clean!

If you look at the video of the latch operating, you see that there is a little further travel past the "lock" position. The door is fully closed not at the furthest point of latch rotational travel, but a little back where the tooth catches on the mechanism. Presumably this is done to accommodate compression of the door gasket - a feature, not a defect.
 
Yes, I suspected that or something like it. The mechanism seems to operate smoothly and it catches in the right places. I think maybe I just need to open up the door and lube everything really well. I don’t understand since it does click on that second Latching position, but it doesn’t hold the door all the way closed. There’s no range of adjustment on the latch from what I can see.
 
KF6TRG said:
However, even when it's in the "fully locked" position, I can still move it counterclockwise with very little resistance.
Click to expand...
I think you are saying that it will click into the third, or "fully locked" position. But once it's there, you can easily move it back to the second, or "partially locked" position. That sounds like your problem. Lubrication inside the door might help that, since it sounds like a latch isn't fully seating.
 
It clicks on the second latching position, perfect!
Does it stay in this position if you manually try to turn it backwards or is it really locked?
Do you hear that second click if you gently force the door into that position?
 
I'd try moving the triangle block on the jamb out toward the outside of the car slightly, perhaps allowing full capture of the third latch position onto the post.

Don
 
IF the door lock mechanism locks in the second position, and doesn't have play in that position, too me it means that the door components are working normally. Thus shifting my focus then on the doorjamb parts.

If you fully remove the door striker (rubber + metal plates with the 2 screws) on the door jamb, can you then reach a normal closed position?

You do not happen to have replaced the door rubbers lately? new ones tend to be quite stiffer (effectively thicker) until they 'set' apparently.
 
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KF6TRG said:
Yes, I suspected that or something like it. The mechanism seems to operate smoothly and it catches in the right places. I think maybe I just need to open up the door and lube everything really well. I don’t understand since it does click on that second Latching position, but it doesn’t hold the door all the way closed. There’s no range of adjustment on the latch from what I can see.
Click to expand...
Well there actually is adjustment on the latch (the part that @TomHom pictured above). When you loosen the 4 screws, it can slide L/R & up/down; it has a backing plate inside the B-pillar that allows for this movement.

In this pic on the left you see the bolt plates that are located inside the B-pillar and held in place with a few bent thin metal tabs,.
1755775872038.png

It's roughly the same layout as the door hinge mounting construction.
 
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