It is my understanding that the superlock performs as follows. If I’m wrong can someone please tell me.
It can only be engaged electronically i.e. by use of the fob.
Once engaged the door lift button, the internal and external door opening mechanisms are disabled (it probably initiates the alarm associated with any internal movement detection too but for the purposes of this discussion I’m not considering anything to do with the alarm systems).

There are two electrical motors. One to operate a spur gear and its quadrant. When locking the door the movement of the quadrant is limited by a pawl. The second is the motor associated with the superlock.
The job of the superlock motor (as far as I can see) is solely to apply a torque sufficient to swing the pawl clear of the quadrant in such a way that the standard motor can continue to rotate the quadrant to the final or maximum travel position. In that position the door button is disabled.
From what I can see thus far return movement of the quadrant does not require the pawl to be moved.by its associated motor.

If the above is accepted it would seem to suggest that any inability of the motors to open the door is more down to a different electrical problem or a failed mechanical component within the mechanism jamming it all up. In that situation I agree that a key will not open the passenger door or the driver’s door either.
If I’m right I can now understand if “machine gun” is taking place that the means to overcome the situation is to open boot/bonnet and disconnect the battery before using the key to unlock the door. In a state of panic that might not be the first thing on one’s mind. It certainly wasn’t on mine.

Why does “machine gun” occur? That is a different question and one I’m not likely to discover but it could be something to do with one of the limiting micro switches.
If the mechanism is broken with a part jamming the spur gear and quadrant , or any other part, no key will open the door but it is not a fault of the superlock specifically in my view.
As indicated I hope to have a brief description of what I have managed to discover by dismantling the one I have. But that will not be for some days .
In the interim if any one can add anything to this discussion I would welcome it.

Regarding micro switches. My first impressions are that as the door is locked either by the key or its fob a cam sweeps past one micro switches and changes its status from on to off and back on again (possibly the other way around) and my thoughts on this are that any interruptions in signal as the switch changes status could confuse the ECU and start telling it to perform the other action and set up a repeating cycle unlock/lock etc. But that is speculation.
 

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