Are your BMW’s door handles sticky? You’re not alone. This was an ongoing issue for BMW for 20 years. In this article, I will show you how to replace your gross sticky door handles with new ones.
The problem
The inside of many BMW door handles are rubber to give them a more premium feel. But over time, a combination of heat and the oils on your skin cause the rubber to deteriorate. Some products like sunscreen and bug spray contain chemicals that can act like solvents on rubber surfaces.
So you get out of your car on a hot day, grab the door handle, and your hand looks like you just wiped with cheap single ply toilet paper. Not exactly what you want from your premium German vehicle. There’s not really a “fix” for it, you just have to replace the handles with new ones.
If you were to replace them with new OEM handles, it would only be a matter of time before the new ones have the same issue. The ones I’m installing today are from Kies Motorsports. It’s the same handle design, but it’s all ABS plastic without the thick rubber layer.
tools you will need
parts
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Replacing the handles
Step 1: Remove the trim cover.
There is a notch under the door handle to fit an interior pry tool. Start in the middle, then work your way up the top. The trim hooks in at the top and slides in at the bottom.
Step 2: Remove two T20 screws.
Remove the two long black T20 screws from the door handle. These screws atattch the door panel to the metal of the door.
Step 3: Remove the window switch.
With the trim removed, there is an access hole in the handle where you can insert a screwdriver. Press the tab in with the screwdriver while simultaneously pulling up on the switch. Lift the switch out of the door and disconnect the locking harness. (In my YouTube DIY, I released the tab from the back side which was MUCH more difficult. My subscribers were quick to point out the access hole in the front. Thanks guys!)
Step 4: Remove the door panel.
Using a larger pry tool, pry off the door panel. Start at the bottom, then work your way up the sides, finishing at the top. If you’ve never removed your door panel before, the fasteners are super tight. Be mindful of the door lock indicator when lifting the panel away. Note that there are still several wiring harnesses plugged in to the panel. I set it on a 5 gallon bucket as to not put tension on the wires.
Step 5: Unhook the door release cable.
Pull down on the white part of the cable to release the tension, then unhook the cable from the top.
Step 6: Unplug the wiring harnesses.
Unplug the wires for the ambient door lighting and the puddle light. Pull the harness from the window switch from the previous step through the door. With everything disconnected, you can set the door panel on the ground. I put a blanket down to protect the leather on the finished side.
Step 7: Drill out plastic door handle rivets.
Location of the four plastic rivets.
The original door handles are held on with plastic rivets. We need to drill through them to remove them. Then the new door handles from Kies Motorsports are held on with T20 screws (provided in the door handle kit).
I used a drill with a 3/8” bit. There’s a trick to getting these off. You don’t want to drill all the way through to the other side. Instead, you’ll want to put some weight on the drill so the drill bit “bites” the plastic rivet, then with one quick burst of the drill, sheer the rivet clean off. Once all four rivets are removed, you can take the old handle off the door.
Step 8: Install the new handle.
Install the new handle on the front side of the door, then use the T20 screws from the kit to secure it from the back. Keep in mind that you are only screwing them in to plastic, so do them by hand and don’t over-tighten them.
Step 9: Reassemble the door.
With your new handle installed, put it all back together in reverse order. Reconnect the wiring harnesses for the window switch, ambient lighting and puddle light. Re-connect the door lever cable. Before putting the door panel on, put your car in “accessory mode” and make sure all of the electronics work. Re-install the door panel starting at the top and working your way down. Re-install the two long black T20 screws into the handle and replace the trim cover.
watch the diy video
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