BMW 7 Series Trunk Malfunction: Hall Sensor Mystery

Hey there! I actually had a similar issue with my 2002 BMW 5 Series diesel. The tailgate problem turned out to be more than just a sensor issue in my case. When I took it to the garage, they found that the wiring harness had worn out and was causing intermittent connection failures. The cables inside the rubber boot between the body and tailgate had frayed over time. It was a serious fix since they had to remove the entire tailgate lining and replace the whole wiring harness assembly. The control module was also affected because of the faulty connections. Based on your description, it sounds very similar to what I experienced. I'd recommend getting it checked at a certified BMW specialist rather than a general mechanic. The diagnostic equipment they use can pinpoint exactly which component is failing. In my case, trying to just replace the sensor wouldn't have solved the root cause. Hope this helps with your decision.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That's really helpful info about the wiring harness, definitely gives me something specific to look into. Would you mind letting me know roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also curious if you've had any other electrical gremlins pop up since getting it fixed? Really trying to figure out if I should expect more issues down the road with mine.

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up, I actually got my car sorted last week and it turned out to be much simpler (and cheaper!) than my previous repair experience that I mentioned. They found it was just a loose cable connection to the hall sensor, nothing major like the wiring harness issue I had with my old 5 Series. The repair only cost me 95 € and the tailgate is working perfectly now, no more error messages or wonky opening/closing. Such a relief it wasn't anything more serious! The mechanic said these connections can work themselves loose over time, especially with all the movement from opening and closing the trunk. Since you asked about other electrical issues, nope, haven't had any other problems pop up since getting either car fixed. With these BMWs, I've learned that sometimes what seems like a major electrical gremlin can turn out to be something pretty straightforward. Always worth getting it checked out by someone who knows these cars well. Hope this gives you some peace of mind about your repair!

What a relief to hear about your recent experience! I actually just got back from the mechanic today, and you won't believe it, mine was also a simple fix! The technician found a corroded connection that was causing all the drama. Took them about an hour to clean it up and secure everything properly. The bill came to just under 100 bucks, which was way less than I was dreading. The mechanic I found actually specializes in European cars, and they really took the time to explain everything. Showed me exactly where the problem was and even gave me some tips about preventing future issues. The tailgate's working like a charm now, no more error messages or struggling with opening and closing. Guess sometimes we worry about worst-case scenarios when it's just a minor problem! Really glad I didn't put off getting it checked. Thanks again for all your help and sharing your experience, it really gave me the push I needed to get this sorted!