1997 Z3 primary hood latch issue

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davidrbroder62

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I just bought a 1997 BMW Z3. The hood won't open unless second person is in the car pulling on the release lever. How do I fix this?
 
probably the spring is tired and not popping free, or its gunked up. When I got mine the bloke I bought it off, loved his fisholine, so I have no rust anywhere, but that comes with its own issues, seepage , and sticktion on latches etc.
 
ExMX5owner said:
probably the spring is tired and not popping free, or its gunked up. When I got mine the bloke I bought it off, loved his fisholine, so I have no rust anywhere, but that comes with its own issues, seepage , and sticktion on latches etc.
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Does the hood or bonnet lift when you pull the lever ? . If it doesn't the spring is not doing its job because of one or two factors, 1st being its stuffed, second being the hood and pin are misaligned, but not likely.. you say that it opens if someone is up front when you pull the lever..so clearly the cable is OK.. The spring is to lift the hood the first inch or two, and then the gas struts take over with a little human help...
 
ExMX5owner said:
Does the hood or bonnet lift when you pull the lever ? . If it doesn't the spring is not doing its job because of one or two factors, 1st being its stuffed, second being the hood and pin are misaligned, but not likely.. you say that it opens if someone is up front when you pull the lever..so clearly the cable is OK.. The spring is to lift the hood the first inch or two, and then the gas struts take over with a little human help...
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I understand all that. How do I fix it?
 
Try giving a the latch and the latch release a good dose of CRC or WD40 and a work out. could just be sticky as mine was..
 
Many of us are in the UK. Here we refer to the lid on the engine bay as 'bonnet'. So I'll call it that. I hope that's ok. Just less confusion.

Look underneath the bonnet and you see a pin and spring like this

Screenshot_20240616-101051_Gallery.jpg

There should be two. One either side of the bonnet. Only one of them has the lever and hook shown in my picture.

Is the spring broken or missing?

Push up from below on the spring. Does it feel strong?

When you close the bonnet can you feel the springs pushing back till it clicks?

When you pull the release lever is the car it's those springs that are supposed to lift the bonnet just and inch so that you can walk round the front and lift it without needing that second person.

Reasons for failure are weak or broken springs or side to side adjustmemt. You should be able to see or feel a problem with the springs.

Side-to-side adjustment isn't so easy to see. Get the second person in the car pulling the lever and you lift up. Does it come up smooth or does it feel like it's stuck and needs a good pull?
 
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Totally degrease the latches and springs, if this works apply a small amount of white lithium grease not heavy lubricant. If not then the pins/ springs may be misaligned. If you undo the two bolts on the base of the springs plate there is a bit of adjustment available.
 
I would change both cables, mine had the same issue until one day it refused to open, whole world of pain once the main cable jams, two new cables, plenty of swear words and two days of hard gymnastics I managed to replace the cables and now opens smoothly as if new. There is thread on here showing how it’s done, even my local body shop couldn’t release the bonnet.
 
davidrbroder62 said:
I doused it with WD 40 but the result is still the same.
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If the lever is stiff to operate even when the bonnet is open, DO NOT close it until you have fitted 2 new cables and stripped and lubricated the 2 catches, (or fitted 2 new ones - they're not expensive). You don't want to be in the position where you can't open the bonnet.

Tony.
 
1955Davidr said:
I would change both cables, mine had the same issue until one day it refused to open, whole world of pain once the main cable jams, two new cables, plenty of swear words and two days of hard gymnastics I managed to replace the cables and now opens smoothly as if new. There is thread on here showing how it’s done, even my local body shop couldn’t release the bonnet.
Click to expand...
 
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