Can’t get hood open

[Illmatic2600]

I can’t get my hood open on my 2008 135.

I heard a pop when I tried to use the latch and then it got loose and wouldn’t open the hood.

I tried taking the lever off and pulling the cable with pliers but it’s super tight. Now I’ve pulled so much that it’s loose.

Is there a way to get it through one of the front grills? If so how? I see the catch latch from the passenger side but don’t know got to manipulate what I see from the drivers side kidney... seems stuck or right but I may be pushing on the wrong thing.

Thanks in advance

[Gangplank]

Once you pull the lever in the car you go to front of the car and slide your hand under the nose and there's a lever there.

Or is that not working?

[StuP]

It sounds like the cable's parted.

[519.E82]

1) all the tugging probably pulled the cable loose (its a 2 piece and not expensive)
2) if you've never popped the hood before did you try the handle under the hood if it popped already?
3) if thats not working, re latch it, and look up a DIY to remove the front grills. You only need to remove the driver side.
4) once you have the driver side out, on the left top corner of where the grill would be you can see the latch. In the centre of it (you'll see like a slot) stick a flat head screw driver there and rotate it counter clock wise i believe and that will unlatch the hood, then you can open it using the handle on the hood.

[db135]

I had this problem a couple of times this past winter (cable seized at latch end). I was able to release the hood by inserting a long screwdriver between the grille slats, and using the screw driver to lever on the cable.

I only replaced the front half of my cable, which solved my problem. The rear half looks a bit more complicated (snaking the cable down into the cabin).

[Illmatic2600]

Originally Posted by db135

I had this problem a couple of times this past winter (cable seized at latch end). I was able to release the hood by inserting a long screwdriver between the grille slats, and using the screw driver to lever on the cable.

I only replaced the front half of my cable, which solved my problem. The rear half looks a bit more complicated (snaking the cable down into the cabin).

Oh wow.. yea I think I see the cable but it’s skeeved. You pulled on that and it unlatched?

Thanks in advance, kidneys are a pain to undo with hood stuck. I feel like I’m breaking it and would rather not

Thanks for the help

[Illmatic2600]

Originally Posted by 519.E82

1) all the tugging probably pulled the cable loose (its a 2 piece and not expensive)
2) if you've never popped the hood before did you try the handle under the hood if it popped already?
3) if thats not working, re latch it, and look up a DIY to remove the front grills. You only need to remove the driver side.
4) once you have the driver side out, on the left top corner of where the grill would be you can see the latch. In the centre of it (you'll see like a slot) stick a flat head screw driver there and rotate it counter clock wise i believe and that will unlatch the hood, then you can open it using the handle on the hood.

Definitely have opened good many times.. it’s not that I don’t know how to unlatch it. Just can’t get it to pop at all.. very stuck.

Anyone know where I can find a pic of where the screw driver is supposed to go.

There are tons of YouTube videos on old bummers but nothing that looks like mine

This info is great

[519.E82]

Originally Posted by Illmatic2600

Definitely have opened good many times.. it’s not that I don’t know how to unlatch it. Just can’t get it to pop at all.. very stuck.

Anyone know where I can find a pic of where the screw driver is supposed to go.

There are tons of YouTube videos on old bummers but nothing that looks like mine

This info is great

i'll see if i can get one for you, in the mean time soak the entire latch are with WD-40 or your preferred penetrating fluid

[Illmatic2600]

Originally Posted by 519.E82

i'll see if i can get one for you, in the mean time soak the entire latch are with WD-40 or your preferred penetrating fluid

Entire latch has been soaked in wd40. Tried using 2 needle nose to pull the wire and then pull farther with the second pair. It just ended up fraying the wire

[Illmatic2600]

Brought to a firestone place down the road from my house. They couldn’t get the latch open either. FML

Every other place can’t look at it til Friday

[Mineral///M4]

I have the same issue w/ mine. Remove the right side kidney. Reach inside & grab the wire & pull down hard. Works every time. Mine was broke since I bought the car two yrs ago. I was quoted $250 to fix. Hasn’t become a priority since it is so easy to do as I dexcribed.

b

[519.E82]

Originally Posted by Alpine1

I have the same issue w/ mine. Remove the right side kidney. Reach inside & grab the wire & pull down hard. Works every time. Mine was broke since I bought the car two yrs ago. I was quoted $250 to fix. Hasn’t become a priority since it is so easy to do as I dexcribed.

b

Look on ECS tuning you can get BMW parts there and the latch is held in with 2 screws if you need to replace that, and a front half of a cable is like $30 - $40

[Mineral///M4]

519.E82, thank you. I’ll have to look into it.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Alpine1

I have the same issue w/ mine. Remove the right side kidney. Reach inside & grab the wire & pull down hard. Works every time. Mine was broke since I bought the car two yrs ago. I was quoted $250 to fix. Hasn’t become a priority since it is so easy to do as I dexcribed.

b

Can the kidney grill be removed from the outside without eFing it up?

[zx10guy]

From my understanding, yes. I think you have to pull on it pretty hard to get it to release to the point where you think you might be breaking it. That's just what I recall from reading some posts on removing the grills.

This thread makes me so glad mine failed under warranty. The cable had stretched and after a while, pulling on the hood release did nothing but create slack. Actually getting the hood to release since buying the car new was awkward as it required more force than necessary. After getting the cable replaced, the amount of force needed to release the hood was so much less. Maybe this can be used as a sign for those that might have a cable issue.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Maybe this can be used as a sign for those that might have a cable issue.

A sign to get a CF hood with AeroCatch pins!

[Mineral///M4]

Originally Posted by KNS

Can the kidney grill be removed from the outside without eFing it up?

KNS. Yes just pull the left Kidney out. I have never once had a problem in my two yrs of ownership. Then reach inside & pull the cable down. Very easy & fast.

[KNS]

Thanks!