BMW Repair: BMW, dead car battery, power doors

Question
HI,
I am asking a question on behalf of my mom...she has a 1996 BMW 318 covertible and is unable to unlock the doors to get into the car. She took the car to the dealer and they want to charge her 2000$ to open the doors via the back windows (and to replace the windows or something like that). She also called a towing company and they were unable to open the doors with their tool. Can this be the key battery (if it has one) or a fuse inside the car? What can we do, if we can't opent the doors? Please help!!  

Answer
Angi,

Sorry, but I have to ask the obvious........Is the top down on the convertible?  I'll assume it is not.

You should be able to open the car with either the remote key or manually with the key.  There is a chance that the remote battery is dead, and if working would allow it to work remotely.  Doesn't answer the question of why the manual key doesn't work.

A dead car battery would also keep the remote locks from working.

Does the trunk unlock?  If power locks, you may be able to open the power doors by opening the power lock on the trunk.

It is very unusual that a lock company can't open the car with one of their tools that they slide down the outside of the window.  Perhaps the mechanism is bad on the drivers door, but they should be able to enter this way through the passenger door.

Unless you got a very good answer on why from the tow truck, I would try a locksmith.  Also, I would find out more from the dealer on why they can't.

Good luck!