Pannier Handle fails to lock

[Glencoe]

I am having a problem securing pannier onto bike. Placing pannier onto frame and closing the handle down to lock, the handle fails to close properly.
I have had the top covers surrounding the handle off and inside all looks ok.
Head tech at local dealer, checked that 'the pin sometimes pops out' but is ok. Suggested I take the whole mechanism off from inside of pannier and I may find something loose/broken. He has never ventured this far before.
Anyone had and solved this problem please?

[7vwh]

Is the plastic trim around the locking point on the bike firmly in place. This can sometime prevent the pannier locking on to the bike.

[60Aviator]

When ever I have difficulty it is the tab on the pannier. There is a slot/tab on the front bottom of the pannier that goes onto the bottom support rubber mount on the bike. The rubber needs to be in that slot then I just have to push down on the top of the pannier to seat it and then the handle closes just fine.

[Glencoe]

Yes, all ok, thanks, even off the bike the handle fails to close.

[7vwh]

Yes, all ok, thanks, even off the bike the handle fails to close.

My handles don’t close flat when the panniers are off the bike.

[scunny12]

I sometimes have the same problem when the bike is on the side stand. When it was serviced by BMW, the tech guy said he could not find a problem putting on, or taking off the panniers. I assume the bike was on main stand on their lift whist he was doing this?

[alexvtr]

Have a look at this video.
It's for a K1600, but the cases are identical.

[audibob2]

I presume the two pieces the guy removed were the end stops.

My handles do not close when they are removed , it does not bother me enough to strip them .

Aesthetically you would prefer the handles to close once they are off the bike .

I guess someone at BMW design might know the reason.

[Shuswaper]

On occasion, a handle will not fully close if my Pannier isn't fully seated properly and it just takes a bit of a jiggle and downward pressure in order for the bag to be in proper position, then the handle goes down real easy.

My question is, why does anybody want the handles to close when the bags are off the bike anyways? They are carrying handles and are meant to be up for obvious reasons...I'm pretty sure those handles aren't suppose to close when the bags are off the bike.