2003 Z4 bonnet stuck

E

ERX

Member
Hi all. So the other day I went to open my bonnet and pulled the release catch and nothing happened. I tried opening it with somebody pressing on the bonnet but still nothing. The next thing I did was try to open the bonnet with the front grille off. I removed the cable from the plastic groove that holds it in place and tried to pull that down to get the bonnet open. After much pulling, I couldn't get it open and ended up slipping the metal cable out of the groove it rests in, so now it's come loose.

I was wondering if anyone knows an easy way of getting the bonnet to open at this point, and also how I can get the cable back in its correct position as it doesn't want to seem to go back in. I don't have any pictures at the moment but can take some if necessary.

Thanks!
 
I have been quite busy and also away on holiday and haven't managed to get this open yet. Would appreciate any help if anyone knows how to get it open
 
I would try spraying a lubricate like WD40 etc on the latch let it soak in. The try the latch again. Once open then you can reattach the cable.
 
rdm05z4 said:
I would try spraying a lubricate like WD40 etc on the latch let it soak in. The try the latch again. Once open then you can reattach the cable.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your suggestion. I did spray the latch with WD40 before but wasn't able to get it open. Now the cable has come loose from the latch itself I'm not really sure where to poke or prod to get the bonnet open
 
I would say have a poke around behind the kidney grills, but if you can get in like that, then it's not really very secure!

I'd say just take it over to an indy, if the cable is loose and if you can't get the bonnet to unlatch from the leaver, it's probably worth taking it somewhere now... rather than after you've got an real issue under the bonnet!

If it was just the unlocking, then I'd say WD40 and trying to wiggle the unlatching mechanism as it's probably just a bit rusty and needs breaking free.
 
kis said:
I would say have a poke around behind the kidney grills, but if you can get in like that, then it's not really very secure!

I'd say just take it over to an indy, if the cable is loose and if you can't get the bonnet to unlatch from the leaver, it's probably worth taking it somewhere now... rather than after you've got an real issue under the bonnet!

If it was just the unlocking, then I'd say WD40 and trying to wiggle the unlatching mechanism as it's probably just a bit rusty and needs breaking free.
Click to expand...

There is a way you can open it through the grille, which I was trying to do, but I seemed to have made things worse as the cable is now detached from the latch itself (as in at the bonnet not in the interior where the release catch handle is). Going to give it another go today and take it to a garage if I can't figure it out.
 
ERX said:
kis said:
I would say have a poke around behind the kidney grills, but if you can get in like that, then it's not really very secure!

I'd say just take it over to an indy, if the cable is loose and if you can't get the bonnet to unlatch from the leaver, it's probably worth taking it somewhere now... rather than after you've got an real issue under the bonnet!

If it was just the unlocking, then I'd say WD40 and trying to wiggle the unlatching mechanism as it's probably just a bit rusty and needs breaking free.
Click to expand...

There is a way you can open it through the grille, which I was trying to do, but I seemed to have made things worse as the cable is now detached from the latch itself (as in at the bonnet not in the interior where the release catch handle is). Going to give it another go today and take it to a garage if I can't figure it out.
Click to expand...

No way you can thread a tywrap through it? Or a wire coathanger?
 
enuff_zed said:
No way you can thread a tywrap through it? Or a wire coathanger?
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Initially I was pulling down on the actual cable itself from inside the grille area but couldn't get the latch to release. Then the cable came out of the hole which it slots into and I can't seem to get it back in. I'll see what I can do later, I was hoping someone would know what part of the latch I need to push to get it open. It doesn't help that you can't actually see the mechanism as it faces the radiator rather than outwards towards the grille
 
Ok, been out to look at weifey's.
Sorry, can't get any clear photos that help, but as far as I can see you need to be getting hold of the bottom of the latch and pulling it across towards the driver's side, not down, but horizontally, actually pushing on the metal bottom of the moveable catch.
Not very clear, I know, but the best I can describe without taking the panels off the car and trying to get a camera in there.
If you can do that while someone pushes down on the bonnet to relieve the pressure on the catch it 'may' just work.
 
enuff_zed said:
Ok, been out to look at weifey's.
Sorry, can't get any clear photos that help, but as far as I can see you need to be getting hold of the bottom of the latch and pulling it across towards the driver's side, not down, but horizontally, actually pushing on the metal bottom of the moveable catch.
Not very clear, I know, but the best I can describe without taking the panels off the car and trying to get a camera in there.
If you can do that while someone pushes down on the bonnet to relieve the pressure on the catch it 'may' just work.
Click to expand...

Thanks for having a look for me. I'll update once I've given it a go
 
Had another go at it, couldn't get it open again. I called a local BMW specialist and he wasn't able to provide me with a quote, just said it could take hours so basically I could end up paying hundreds if I take it in which is definitely something I don't want to do
 
Its about an 1 hour & half away from you, but I'd recommend Ross at RBM Hampshire.

Maybe drop him an email and he will give you an idea of costs.

I don't reckon it would take long to open it, but you are probably looking at a new bonnet pull cable.

Did yours feel like you had to pull the bonnet release quite hard to get it open (when it was working)?
 
MKZ4000 said:
Its about an 1 hour & half away from you, but I'd recommend Ross at RBM Hampshire.

Maybe drop him an email and he will give you an idea of costs.

I don't reckon it would take long to open it, but you are probably looking at a new bonnet pull cable.

Did yours feel like you had to pull the bonnet release quite hard to get it open (when it was working)?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation. My only issue is the cars started making some kind of ticking noise so I'm trying not to take it out anywhere until I've got that figured out.

The release did feel quite tensioned when I used to pull it but I didn't realise it may have been the start of it going wrong. If I realised back then I would have given it a good spray of WD40 and I probably wouldn't have this issue now. I'm sure it would be easy to open for someone who has more knowledge than me
 
Got this sorted now. For anyone who ends up stuck in the same predicament in the future, it's actually quite easy. I used two cable ties in the place of the release cable. I tied the smaller one into the hole the cable usually goes into, then I tied a bigger one through the hoop of the small tie in order to make myself a hand sized handle to pull on. I just gave it a quick and very firm tug downwards and slightly diagonal towards the centre of the car and the bonnet just popped open
 
enuff_zed said:
enuff_zed said:
No way you can thread a tywrap through it? Or a wire coathanger?
Click to expand...

Ah, so I was on the right track then?
Click to expand...

Yes you were. I tried similar stuff before but I couldn't do it for some reason, but it seems the extra cable tie I used gave me a much better grip and position to actually get a good pull on the mechanism. When I was trying it with just the small one I was pulling it with all my strength and nothing was happening
 
ERX said:
enuff_zed said:
enuff_zed said:
No way you can thread a tywrap through it? Or a wire coathanger?
Click to expand...

Ah, so I was on the right track then?
Click to expand...

Yes you were. I tried similar stuff before but I couldn't do it for some reason, but it seems the extra cable tie I used gave me a much better grip and position to actually get a good pull on the mechanism. When I was trying it with just the small one I was pulling it with all my strength and nothing was happening
Click to expand...

Great you got it open.
Suppose now you need to fit a new cable then?
 
enuff_zed said:
Great you got it open.
Suppose now you need to fit a new cable then?
Click to expand...

Tomorrow I'll take out the latch, give it a good clean up and then reconnect the cable and see if it works. If not then I'll figure out what to do next. The cable was moving a bit before when pulling the bonnet release latch but it just didn't seem to pull it enough to open
 
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