Door Opening Issues

March 23, 2025, 09:25:41 PM

My 1990 H-reg Driver (1.6 petrol) has had an issues with the front doors being sticky and difficult to open.

Some time ago I replaced both the handles and this seemed to improve things, but the issue has started up again, and my mechanic says it's the 35-year-old locking mechanisms, not the handles, that are the problem, and recommends replacement.

I ordered these:

"DOOR LOCK FEBI BILSTEIN 17016 A NEW OE REPLACEMENT
Price: £17.46
Item ID: 276848191418
Order number: 04-12862-49358
Seller: mas-motorstore

DOOR LOCK 17018 FEBI BILSTEIN NEW OE REPLACEMENT
Price: £16.65
Item ID: 176890164583
Order number: 04-12862-49359
Seller: ams-carparts "

Looks like the same German seller, who advised that they are not the right parts (ie front L & R), and is not able to advise what I should get.

Other sources seem to offer parts that are correct for vehicles up to and including 1989, but mine's 1990. It seems strange that it's proving challenging to obtain parts for a less old vehicle but easier for an older vehicle.

Where would you go to get these parts new?

Re: Door Opening Issues

Reply #1 – Today at 11:41:11 AM

This issue has developed further, in that it appears the aftermarket locking door handles are not particularly good. One partial solution was to drill a hole in the relevant moving part in the handle mechanism and then fit a little screw, which raises the profile of the tab. This works, in that the doors can be opened, but the problem then is that they can't be locked, as the modification obviously blocks the locking mechanism.

I am wondering if the way round this is to judiciously bend the steel plate within the door, slightly raising it, so that the tab within the handle mechanism has less travel before moving the plate.

Has anyone else had this issue and how did you get round it? It's another MOT issue, as the doors have to be able to be opened from the outside (I thought opening from the inside was sufficient for MOT purposes).