Upper tail gate wont shut - help required please

Hi All,

Im hoping for some urgent pointers on this is poss.
Ive searched the forum and found 4 pages but none that relate to this.

Having just returned from walking the dog in the pouring rain I went to shut her in the boot and the top section of the tailgate will simply not shut. Ive pressed the release button (see if it magically reset) both inside the car, on the key and on the boot and the solenoid if working as its tries to release fine but it wont stay shut (meaning dog returns home sat in the front).
Ive just taken the trim off removed (as best I can) the catch and sprayed some wd40 incase its moisture but its still the same. Ive reassembled it now and if I manually try to shut the catch using a screwdriver while the tail gate is open its doesnt catch in what would be the closed position.
I would really appriciate any pointers please, as Id like to try and get it shut properly tonight due to the driving rain.
Does it sound like a replacement catch is required?
Many thanks
Dan

Ive just been outside in another desperate attempt to get it for the night, if I push the upper part of the tailgate (hard all my weight and Im 15st +) at the catch point and press the tailgate buttom at the same time it stays shut so.....what does this point to please as my first thought was maybe the upper catch but Im not sure now??
Many thanks
Dan

HI Dan

I had the same problem with the upper tailgate not locking. Turned out that it was the spring inside the locking mechanism had snapped that operates the catch. If you do some googling for BMW tailgate locking mechanism spring snapped you will discover its a very common issue with the locking mechanisms. I repaired mine by dismantling it and using a new spring i got from a kit from Maplin's. Took about 30 mins to do now back to working perfectly.

Hope this helps

Matt

Hi Matt, thanks for that. I'll take a look online and see what I can find. Just seems off though that if I apply weight and press the unlock button it actually stays shut.
Cheers
Dan

Matt,
Just a quick thank you. Took the car to work tonight so I could see what I was doing. Sure enough, spring had snapped. 30mins of my time and job done.
Massive thanks,
Cheers
Dan