Help 08 135i, dear battery!

moniquemarie · 01-11-2021, 06:02 AM

Hi guys,
Looking for some advice about getting back into my 08 135i. Currently have a dead battery and can't get in the bonnet or the boot. Tried pulling down the seats but the clip appears to be on the inside of the boot and not accessible. Boot doesn't want to open with the key either.
As another downside I can't seem to be able to get into the bonnet either!
Any tips or resources would be a huge help.
I have a jumper unit, just need to get at the terminals.

Lester · 01-11-2021, 06:25 AM

If you have a 2008, you should have a manual key for the boot (trunk). That should work. Else there is a way to release the bonnet (hood) by using a screwdriver to pry the release by the grill. Check for posts here on 'hood release cable'.

Gray_Panther · 01-11-2021, 06:55 AM

Why not pull the hood release under the steering wheel if you are able to open the doors?
Sorry this happened!

zx10guy · 01-11-2021, 08:00 AM

Sounds as if the hood or bonnet has a stretched release cable. This happened to me during my warranty period and the dealer replaced the cable. I've read other posts about this very problem. The best way I've seen is to pull out one of the kidney grills to gain access to the hood release.

As to your trunk/boot, it's odd your key doesn't work. If gaining access to the engine compartment and using the jump terminals to supply power doesn't work, I've seen others pull the rear speaker and using a long reach bar/tool to pull the emergency release.

parnet17 · 01-11-2021, 06:57 PM

Didn't the 08 have a trunk release button in the Glove box?

Lester · 01-11-2021, 07:10 PM

The Valet switch is in the glove box. This locks out the electrical trunk release. The trunk release is just above the OCB port.

The 2008 model does have the trunk key slot, for the manual key, just to the right above the license plate lights. This should allow using the key to open the trunk without using anything electrical. Old school, analog.

Dru128m · 01-11-2021, 07:29 PM

Pull out the left kidney grill. You'll see the hood release cable near the latch, give it a pull, hood should pop right open. I never replaced my cable so this is how I always open it.

01-11-2021, 06:02 AM	#1
moniquemarie Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 08 135i, E30 325i, e30 Baur Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Help 08 135i, dear battery! Hi guys, Looking for some advice about getting back into my 08 135i. Currently have a dead battery and can't get in the bonnet or the boot. Tried pulling down the seats but the clip appears to be on the inside of the boot and not accessible. Boot doesn't want to open with the key either. As another downside I can't seem to be able to get into the bonnet either! Any tips or resources would be a huge help. I have a jumper unit, just need to get at the terminals.
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01-11-2021, 06:25 AM	#2
Lester Brigadier General 295 Rep 3,350 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2007 iTrader: (0)	If you have a 2008, you should have a manual key for the boot (trunk). That should work. Else there is a way to release the bonnet (hood) by using a screwdriver to pry the release by the grill. Check for posts here on 'hood release cable'.
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01-11-2021, 06:55 AM	#3
Gray_Panther Brigadier General 1555 Rep 3,234 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	Why not pull the hood release under the steering wheel if you are able to open the doors? Sorry this happened! __________________ 2012 BMW 128i 6MT Deep Sea Blue Metallic
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01-11-2021, 06:57 PM	#5
parnet17 Enlisted Member 34 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2013bmw135is Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Summerville, SC iTrader: (0)	Didn't the 08 have a trunk release button in the Glove box?
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01-11-2021, 07:10 PM	#6
Lester Brigadier General 295 Rep 3,350 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2007 iTrader: (0)	The Valet switch is in the glove box. This locks out the electrical trunk release. The trunk release is just above the OCB port. The 2008 model does have the trunk key slot, for the manual key, just to the right above the license plate lights. This should allow using the key to open the trunk without using anything electrical. Old school, analog.
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01-11-2021, 07:29 PM	#7
Dru128m Private 70 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 08 128i E82 & 09 328i E93 Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Chesterton, IN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 128I [0.00] 2009 BMW 328I E93 [0.00]	Pull out the left kidney grill. You'll see the hood release cable near the latch, give it a pull, hood should pop right open. I never replaced my cable so this is how I always open it.
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