Any DIY's for sticking exterior door handles?

[mybabyM3]

After the cold my passenger side is sticking in the open position and has to be pushed back into closed or down position after each use. Anyone have or had this problem?

 

[93 325i]

My drivers side does that occasionally..and my rear drivers side is real tight when i go to open..someone said to use lithium grease

 

[mybabyM3]

I had your problem to the point I thought I was going to break the handles getting in and out of the car. I tried lithium grease on the strikers and it stopped it completely. They open like new doors again. My problem now is after my car doors froze shut and I had to pull really hard to open the door the passenger side exterior handle is staying up when I open the door. Feels like it is catching on something. Maybe it has to do with the cold. I am hoping when the weather warms up if I don't find a fix it will get better.

 

[jonnyk]

theres a spring on the handle it hasnt snapped or jumped it has it?

 

[mybabyM3]

I'm not sure, if you barely touch the handle it will go back down. If you shut the door it goes back down. I guess that could be from the pressure of shutting the door. Right now I am leaning towards the spring theory.

 

[93 325i]

You say grease the striker? Can you describe quickly how I can do this? Do I have to remove the inside door panels?

 

[mybabyM3]

The striker is attatched to the door jam at the back side of the door opening. It has a cylinder about a quarter inch around. Put some lithium grease from Wal-Mart on a Q-tip and cover the striker bar. That's it now enjoy doors that shut like new again.

 

[93 325i]

Oh, thats simple thanks!

 

[mybabyM3]

Well, it has really warmed up here for the last couple of days and my door handles are working alot better. Man I sure dodged a bullet on that one!

 

[jonnyk]

thats cool we are just about to get some bad weather by the looks of it so waiting to see if my car starts playing about because of the weather at least yours is sorted

 

[mybabyM3]

That's one thing that has impressed me about these cars. They start and run great in the extreme cold weather. The only problem is getting in your car after a cold icy freeze. I wish I could remember where I saw this product that you put on your weather stripping that will stop your door from freezing to it. I am going to the stealer dealer tomarrow to get some overpriced Anti-freeze and a few other things so I can chage out my thermostat on Saturday. I think I will ask them if they sell any type of product like I described above.