Another thing added to the list of fixes!
My driver side door only locks and unlocks manually with the key (and it takes a bit of jiggeling) All other doors lock and unlock remotely with the key and through the button on the dash.

I'm just guessing here, but would this be the lock actuator? If so these are crazy expensive, I'm seeing them go for around $500! At that price it might be worth it to buy a second discovery as a donor car since there are other parts I'm eying, unfortunately, I don't have the space!

I've seen lock assemblies (are these the same, diffrent wording?) go for as low as $75, but these are for other doors (right rear, left rear etc.) Would it be possible to buy to take these apart and take out components i need to fix the one on my car?

Looking for any advise (any pics of what I need would be great, so I know exactly what I'm looking for!)!

Thanks!

Update:
I've been doing some research and I heard that it could be an electrical fault instead of a mechanical one. Is there any way I can test this? Could an electrical fault be an easier / cheeper fix?

 

"A little bit of jiggling" does not sound good. There is a plastic pin in that actuator. It's a common failure. I would source a replacement for the pin from cars4x4. They make a solid replacement. Never worry about it breaking again. As for the lock actuator itself you can source a used one from Will Tillery (willtillery@roverguy.com). He gives a 2yr warranty. I just replaced a rear one from him. Unit was like new!

www.roverguy.com

 

That pin from cars4x4 looks like it might be the issue. Is there any tests I can do other than taking it apart completely to confirm thats the issue? When I use the fob or dash board buttons, I do hear a click coming from the door so I'm guessing the actuator is working, and its not an electrical issue.

When the door is closed, I can push the lock down and the door will lock. It mostly doesn't work with the key from the outside, but sometimes it does. When the door is locked from the inside, I can unlock it with the inner handle. Does this give any confirming information?

Edit:
Or if it helps, using the key I am able to unlock and lock the rest of the car, both remotely and with the keyhole. Its only the driver door that is effected.

 

power door lock actuator

 

Sounds like a dead actuator. I've had to replace several of these over the years. They just wear out eventually. Definitely do the Carrs4x4 pin upgrade while you're replacing the actuator.

 

You can perform surgery on the actuator and replace the worn out motor, several threads and videos on this. I think I recently saw the motors for sale on Aliexpress, perhaps somewhere else. There is some anecdotal evidence the Mini Cooper actuators are the same, but I have not personally verified this.