W211 tailgate won't open

[plastic]

Hi all,

My S211 tailgate won't open. When pulling on the lever it makes a 'whirring' noise, but doesn't release the catch. Then releasing the lever it makes the same whirring noise.
Boot is locked shut! This isn't the 7 seater model so has no inside release as far as I am aware, nor is there any keyhold near the number plate lights.

Any idea how to acutally open it now? I'm guessing there's some motor inside that's given up the ghost.

Thanks

 

[m80]

Ours has a lever that opens the tailgate from the inside.
Dropping the short rear seat on the o/s would allow me to reach below the load cover to that.

The wirring sound on ours is the auto load cover, approx 3 seconds up / down.
The lock solenoid is shorter and v different.

 

[plastic]

Yes just been looking in the handbook and it says only that the 7 seater has the inside release. This is the 5 seater with nothing inside it.

This is definitely the lock solenoid motor attempting to operate when pulling on the release handle, but nothing happens. The load cover motor has been working fine, and I'm sure it would operate, if the boot could be opened!

 

[m80]

Ours is the 5 seat also, and we have the lever.
It looks to be the same motor as yours, same age as well.

 

[plastic]

Oh right, is this lever supposed to be on the inside of the boot? the opposite side of the number plate?

 

[m80]

Inside, dead centre, about 3 / 4 inches up from the estate floor.
Finger into hole and flip to n/s.

There is no whirring, so pretty sure this is a mechanical release.

 

[plastic]

Absolutely right, under a little black plastic cover. Big help! Now need to find out what's actually wrong here.

 

[plastic]

Guess this is the offending part, which I guess is also the soft close too? The red cable is attached to the lever on the inside of the boot which is actually the release, but it seems the motorised part no longer wants to work. £40 seems to be the average price on the bay... Thanks @m80 for your help! I had no idea that lever was in there!