Bonnet release

[Jollyjoiner]

Hello everyone.

E89 bonnet catch not releasing ? Pulling on the lever it releases the offside catch but not the nearside one.
On a previous post someone had an AA guy pushing on the bonnet and got theirs to release. I've just been doing this a 15 mins with the Mrs to no avail, offside opens and I can just get my fingers under the bonnet to try and lift it but no matter what I do the nearside one will not let bloody go
I can hear the cable or something moving on that side but no (click it's open) sound like on the offside.
Having had a squint through the grill I don't seem to be able to see anything, anyone had the same problems and got a solution? All I wanted to do was put some screen wash in it

 

[Doddsy]

I’ve only ever had E85/6 but is it worth you popping the two kidney grills off and feeling around for any release cables

 

[Jollyjoiner]

I’ve only ever had E85/6 but is it worth you popping the two kidney grills off and feeling around for any release cables

Yeah that's going to be my next thing to try when I get time

 

[B21]

The bonnet release hooks move forward when the lever is pulled

Do you need a coat hangar type thing to fish under the bonnet to try and pull forward the hook

I guess with preload on the bonnet

There is no access from the grills

 

[enuff_zed]

The bonnet release hooks move forward when the lever is pulled

Do you need a coat hangar type thing to fish under the bonnet to try and pull forward the hook

I guess with preload on the bonnet

There is no access from the grills

Peter, I'm not doubting your greater E89 knowledge, but looking at your photos it looks like that's only the secondary lock that moves forwards, activated by the central thumb lever once the bonnet is popped.
How do you get the lock mechanism to let go of the metal hoop beside the secondary latch?

 

[B21]

The bonnet release hooks move forward when the lever is pulled

Do you need a coat hangar type thing to fish under the bonnet to try and pull forward the hook

I guess with preload on the bonnet

There is no access from the grills

Peter, I'm not doubting your greater E89 knowledge, but looking at your photos it looks like that's only the secondary lock that moves forwards, activated by the central thumb lever once the bonnet is popped.
How do you get the lock mechanism to let go of the metal hoop beside the secondary latch?

ah..I sped read it..power outage here so just saw it on my phone...so the primary release as two individual cables running as a pair to the release handle in the cabin..if the cable has snapped at the catch end not sure how you do anything about it without much stripping out..


51 23 211Removing and installing/replacing pull cable for hood/bonnet locks at front

Necessary preliminary tasks:
Remove cross-member upper section
Remove hood/bonnet locks


Lever coupler (2) out of front panel, open and lever out Bowden cable.

Release Bowden cable (1) from holder (3).

Remove Bowden cable (1).

 

[Jollyjoiner]

Yeah as said it seems to be the nearside primary release hook that's not relinquishing grip on the hook/loop.
I think my next attempt is going to be to remove the release lever inside the car and see if I can manual pull the cables to see if that will move the nearside lock.

 

[B21]

Yeah as said it seems to be the nearside primary release hook that's not relinquishing grip on the hook/loop.
I think my next attempt is going to be to remove the release lever inside the car and see if I can manual pull the cables to see if that will move the nearside lock.

Yup make sense..

 

[Pondy]

I think my next attempt is going to be to remove the release lever inside the car and see if I can manual pull the cables to see if that will move the nearside lock.

Don't think that will work TBH. If the mechanism is anything like other BMWs I've taken apart, there will be one cable from the internal release handle to one of the latches. Then a tandem cable from that latch to the other one. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Jollyjoiner]

I think my next attempt is going to be to remove the release lever inside the car and see if I can manual pull the cables to see if that will move the nearside lock.

Don't think that will work TBH. If the mechanism is anything like other BMWs I've taken apart, there will be one cable from the internal release handle to one of the latches. Then a tandem cable from that latch to the other one. I hope I'm wrong.

Yeah this is going to be my fear but it's something to try, maybe I can get a little bit more of a pull on the cable than the leaver allows and it pops that latch open :idunno:

 

[B21]

I think my next attempt is going to be to remove the release lever inside the car and see if I can manual pull the cables to see if that will move the nearside lock.

Don't think that will work TBH. If the mechanism is anything like other BMWs I've taken apart, there will be one cable from the internal release handle to one of the latches. Then a tandem cable from that latch to the other one. I hope I'm wrong.

Yeah this is going to be my fear but it's something to try, maybe I can get a little bit more of a pull on the cable than the leaver allows and it pops that latch open :idunno:

Two individual cables run from each catch ... you can see the two cables running past the coolant header tank on their way to the cabin lever

 

[Jollyjoiner]

Don't think that will work TBH. If the mechanism is anything like other BMWs I've taken apart, there will be one cable from the internal release handle to one of the latches. Then a tandem cable from that latch to the other one. I hope I'm wrong.

Yeah this is going to be my fear but it's something to try, maybe I can get a little bit more of a pull on the cable than the leaver allows and it pops that latch open :idunno:

Two individual cables run from each catch ... you can see the two cables running past the coolant header tank on their way to the cabin lever

Yeah seen it on one of your photos thanks, the go to a long black box then it's one cable to the lever in the car

 

[Jollyjoiner]

Yeah as said it seems to be the nearside primary release hook that's not relinquishing grip on the hook/loop.
I think my next attempt is going to be to remove the release lever inside the car and see if I can manual pull the cables to see if that will move the nearside lock.

Yup make sense..

Well that didn't work. My next thoughts are to take nearside front wheel off and remove the inner wheel arch liner. My thoughts are that with the air box being in a different position on the 35i it leaves an empty space behind the headlight, with the inner wing having a large hole/cutout in it that when the liner is removed it may give access to the back of the bonnet catch.
Any chance you could take a look at yours and see if this would be possible ? photos may help too :wink:

 

[B21]

Yeah as said it seems to be the nearside primary release hook that's not relinquishing grip on the hook/loop.
I think my next attempt is going to be to remove the release lever inside the car and see if I can manual pull the cables to see if that will move the nearside lock.

Yup make sense..

Well that didn't work. My next thoughts are to take nearside front wheel off and remove the inner wheel arch liner. My thoughts are that with the air box being in a different position on the 35i it leaves an empty space behind the headlight, with the inner wing having a large hole/cutout in it that when the liner is removed it may give access to the back of the bonnet catch.
Any chance you could take a look at yours and see if this would be possible ? photos may help too :wink:

Yes could work…there’s a piece of engine bay that’s open and only protected by the liner..you can just about see it under my Mr.5 inlet mod..ignore cables etc work in progress…

From there you can ..I think just about fiddle around with something like an industrial grade coat hangar to get to the latch..

Here are some pics to help you..

 

[Jollyjoiner]

Yup make sense..

Well that didn't work. My next thoughts are to take nearside front wheel off and remove the inner wheel arch liner. My thoughts are that with the air box being in a different position on the 35i it leaves an empty space behind the headlight, with the inner wing having a large hole/cutout in it that when the liner is removed it may give access to the back of the bonnet catch.
Any chance you could take a look at yours and see if this would be possible ? photos may help too :wink:

Yes could work…there’s a piece of engine bay that’s open and only protected by the liner..you can just about see it under my Mr.5 inlet mod..ignore cables etc work in progress…

From there you can ..I think just about fiddle around with something like an industrial grade coat hangar to get to the latch..

Here are some pics to help you..

Brill, thanks for that Pete

 

[Busterboo]

Mine opened after half a dozen pulls & pushes et cetera. Cursed myself for being so careless as to let it happen in the first place. Did remember, though, to WD40 every part of the system I could see.

 

[Jollyjoiner]

Mine opened after half a dozen pulls & pushes et cetera. Cursed myself for being so careless as to let it happen in the first place. Did remember, though, to WD40 every part of the system I could see.

Sadly after many many many tugs and pulls and pushes while the release handle is being pulled it's doing nothing hence looking for other ways, fingers crossed I can get to part of the catch through the wheel arch.

 

[Jollyjoiner]

Hey Presto the bonnet tis open


After managing to remove the front section of the inner wheel arch I could see the under side of the nearside latch and the release cable via the large hole that's luckily in the inner wing. Reaching in in I gave the cable a tug and ping it opened.
Upon looking at the mech I could see the outer sleave of the cable was not in its holding place on the mech, somehow it was loose in the bracket and would just drop out.





I had to make a decision on how to keep it in place for the time being so it is now held there by a couple of tie wraps



A bit more spray grease on all moving parts as an extra measure and all working fine again now.
All this work and head scratching, all I wanted to do was fill the washer fluid bottle

Thanks to all that gave me info and possible solutions.

 

[markplant]

Glad you got it sorted

 

[pvr]

First time ever I have heard of this issue but good that you got there.