Driver's door was acting up in the winter, now permanently stuck closed

[FFWD]

My driver's door had a habit of freezing shut in the winter from sub-zero temps. After unlocking with the remote, the handle would "pop" and feel like it had unlatched the door, but the door wouldn't actually open no matter how hard I pulled (or pushed from the inside). The solution was to park underground where the temps were above freezing, and the doors operated like normal.

Well, this past winter, I had to park the car outside, and it got buried in snow during a storm. After digging it out, it basically did the same thing - I unlocked the doors with the remote, I pulled the handle, felt it click, but the door was stuck. I waited until the spring, but even to this day with +15C temps, the door is still stuck closed. When I lock and unlock the door, I feel no click from the door handle when pulling on it, and I've tried pressing on the door near the latch to see if I can get it to relatch. From inside, if I manually lock the door by pressing the lock pin, pulling the inside door handle pops it up, but pulling it a second time does nothing.

I've read some posts about having to remove the door card and destroy the latch mechanism, but wanted to see if maybe I've got a slightly different problem before going to that extreme?

[FFWD]

Also, for those who have removed the door panel while closed, does it ruin the panel?

[Estoril]

Also, for those who have removed the door panel while closed, does it ruin the panel?

I had to do it on my track M3. It was a stone-cold bear because the seats are fixed.

Have a very slim, highly-flexible person do it. Small hands help. Know where ALL of the screws are and how to get to them using the passenger door. Expect low-profile access, low speed right angle Torx driver. Put the window down. Move the seat as needed (including down or folded).

Plan on replacing the screws THEN. Don't cheap out and face a worn Torx later.

[sapote]

My driver's door had a habit of freezing shut in the winter from sub-zero temps.

If the door was unlocked before the cold days, does this problem happen?

[FFWD]

If the door was unlocked before the cold days, does this problem happen?

Never had this problem above freezing until now.

[sapote]

Never had this problem above freezing until now.

Not the answer to my question

[bigjae46]

Long shot, have you tried the key?

Might be able to reach in, disconnect the pull cable and yank on it to release the latch.

[FFWD]

Not the answer to my question

Can you reword your question? Not sure what you meant.

[FFWD]

Long shot, have you tried the key?

Might be able to reach in, disconnect the pull cable and yank on it to release the latch.

I've tried using the key to fully unlock the door, no difference.

[sapote]

Can you reword your question? Not sure what you meant.

If the door wasn’t locked but closed, do you still have the same problem?