Bonnet latch Passenger Side Broken Cable

[DrWong]

From the side, I was able to nudge the actual sprung bit of metal holding the bonnet pin. Not sure you’d be able to do that from underneath.

You may be able to nudge the lever that the slipped cable connects to from underneath tho (if that makes sense)

 

[ZEDonist UK]

@DrWong your second comment on nudging the lever is what I was going to try and do. I think it’s the only non-drastic option

 

[1955Davidr]

I share your pain and actually still recovering from mine, grazed elbow only. My bonnet release refused a week or two back, after a few attempts I took it to a local body shop, they tried everything I had to no avail so it was booked in. Being an impatient sort I set to last Monday, mine was the drivers side latch that was jammed, a pull on the cable to the passenger side one had released that side. One forum article I read said work from underneath as with the undertray removed you could see it. You can see the drivers side but the passenger side is covered by that black plastic cover. Having seen what I was working with I used an 8 allen key with a long half inch square drive as a hook and managed to free it, whew. At the time I did think the passenger side would be a total pain but possible. I worked through the kidney grills, in your first picture you can see the end of the cable, if you can get an allen key with the bent bit pointing upwards just behind it, roughly where the cable slotted in you may be able to hook the lever and pull it to the drivers side to release it, it worked for me. I am away right now so cant send you a photo, ironically I greased all the catches etc the week before as it was a stiff pull, new drivers side latch and cable waiting to be fitted when I get home.

Just looked again at your pictures, in the first one it is the small gap above the cable and the one with the torch shining, you need a hook behind the metal you can see, look on the drivers side and you can see where the cable goes, on the other side of the metal is the lever you need to get at.

Best of luck

 

[DrWong]

I share your pain and actually still recovering from mine, grazed elbow only. My bonnet release refused a week or two back, after a few attempts I took it to a local body shop, they tried everything I had to no avail so it was booked in. Being an impatient sort I set to last Monday, mine was the drivers side latch that was jammed, a pull on the cable to the passenger side one had released that side. One forum article I read said work from underneath as with the undertray removed you could see it. You can see the drivers side but the passenger side is covered by that black plastic cover. Having seen what I was working with I used an 8 allen key with a long half inch square drive as a hook and managed to free it, whew. At the time I did think the passenger side would be a total pain but possible. I worked through the kidney grills, in your first picture you can see the end of the cable, if you can get an allen key with the bent bit pointing upwards just behind it, roughly where the cable slotted in you may be able to hook the lever and pull it to the drivers side to release it, it worked for me. I am away right now so cant send you a photo, ironically I greased all the catches etc the week before as it was a stiff pull, new drivers side latch and cable waiting to be fitted when I get home.

Just looked again at your pictures, in the first one it is the small gap above the cable and the one with the torch shining, you need a hook behind the metal you can see, look on the drivers side and you can see where the cable goes, on the other side of the metal is the lever you need to get at.

Best of luck

Great result mate, patient and methodical. Unlike me, yanking the kidney grille and smashing up the catch haha. In my defence, I'd tried nudging driver's catch from underneath with a mahoosive screwdriver, but it was seized solid.

I also had to buy a new kidney grille cos I'd destroyed some of the retaining tabs (and then found out the 3.0 litre has a more expensive grilled because the slats are chromed)

 

[DrWong]

@DrWong your second comment on nudging the lever is what I was going to try and do. I think it’s the only non-drastic option

Yeah sorry mate, I hadn't read your post properly.

Assuming you're going to replace the passenger catch, might be useful to get the part from BMW to check the art of the possible? From memory though, I'm pretty sure you can access the lever from underneath on both catches (i.e. driver and passenger)

 

[ZEDonist UK]

@1955Davidr this is what I was thinking.

Something along these lines

 

[ZEDonist UK]

he’s only gone and done it!!!!!

 

[ZEDonist UK]

How to unlatch passenger side bonnet latch when the cable is broken or untethered

For clarity. If you’re sat in the car this is the left hand side latch.
It is the latch which sits next to the manual, secondary bonnet release.


You will need:

Trouser belt
Bore camera (Depstech DS520)
Tent peg
Adjustable pliers
Cable ties

Feed the trouser belt through the slats of the kidney grill. Put the belt under tension and give sharp tugs until it releases.

Feed the bore camera through, as per these pictures, so you can see the latch mechanism.
Secure the camera cables in place with atleast 3 cable ties and be careful not to move it.

Feed a tent peg through the small hole. It’s very tricky and you just need to feel your way through this.
I bent the end of the tent peg to more about an 80 degree angle
The end also has a 2-3mm section slightly filed to give a flat but rough surface for a better grip.
(I didn’t file it, it was pure luck and coincidence)

Don’t try and get the peg in the hole. I just caught the back of the latch and gently pulled using my left hand.
My right hand was pushing up on the peg to make sure it stayed seated.
When I needed more grip and leverage I used the pliers to grip and pull on the tent peg all while maintaining pressure and stability with the right hand.

When the bonnet pops don’t let go of the pliers or peg!
Maintain pressure with the left hand and use your right hand to lift / jimmy the bonnet as it may snag slightly.
Once you’re happy don’t let go of the bonnet in case it latches back shut under its own weight.

Job Done.

I would say the bore camera was essential for this. They’re relatively inexpensive on amazon.
I’d recommend one with an LED light.

If anyone else does this, good luck to you.

And thank you to everyone for helping me with ideas and guidance.

All the best

 

[t-tony]

Well done Martin.

Tony.

 

[ZEDonist UK]

I can’t express my joy!
Lol

 

[1955Davidr]

It really is a great feeling when it finally gives in to our dogged perseverance !!

 

[ZEDonist UK]

For transparency. I have updated the title and posts to hopefully offer anyone in the future the best chance of finding this information.

 

[DrWong]

Mate, hats off to you, I'm so impressed by that

 

[ZEDonist UK]

New latches and cabling are largely installed. It’s proving to be one of the most frustrating jobs I’ve done on any car!

On the passenger side of the vehicle how does the cable fit into the latch?
I wasn’t able to inspect before removing the latch as the cable had popped out

As per the green line or red line?

Following the red line it’s practically impossible to do.

and then this guys YouTube video isn’t clear but perhaps suggests the cable is following the green line.

 

[ZEDonist UK]

It looks like pelican parts confirms it’s the green line as well.

 

[t-tony]

Can you not tell by looking at the O/S side latch?

Tony.

 

[GZed]

That’s an odd one with the cable popping out!

not sure if having someone push down while you pull the release kale by hand will help as suggested on this thread;

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/help-z3-bonnet-hood-wont-release.763477/

This definitely helped me once. Someone push gently down on bonnet while you pull on cable. No need for any force or to smash anything or to remove grilles. Spray a loaf of WD 40 on the two bonnet catches first, and ‘ ‘excercise’ the cable and bonnet. Well worth a try

 

[Mus Musculus]

This thread picked my interest, so I went and popped the bonnet open to check… I see no evidence of a cable release mechanism on the passenger side of the bonnet...

I guess it might be the fact that my car is a 1.9 pre-facelift, but it is still odd. It seems the passenger side only has a manual release for the latch on the N/S.