Bonnet release cable.

[black fingernail]

Had an afternoon of fun today.
SWMBO decided to check the oil, and couldn't open the bonnet, the cable was not operating anything.
I managed to pull the o/s kidney grille off without any damage (I don't think it had been fitted correctly), anyway, I could just see the cable that goes between the two locks, I jammed my hand inside and managed to give it a pull with just my fingertip, pop went the n/s lock and nothing else!
I did a search on various forums, ideas varied from smashing the o/s headlight out!!! to air sawing bits off!!!
One suggestion concurred with my next plan of attack.
I raised the front of the car up and removed the undertray, on my back, once my eyes adjusted to the gloom and the little light of my phone, you can just see half of the o/s lock, the half that carries the cable to the other side. The arm and cable are in a little recess where I managed to get a long flat screwdriver into it, by twisting, the arm can be moved towards the o/s and popped the o/s lock. PHEW.
It turned out that the inner cable is intact and seems to be stainless steel, but the outer cable is rotten at the end and no longer attached to the lock.
I cut the cable a couple of feet back and removed the outer cable, tied a loop in it so it just fits above the o/s headlight.
The bonnet can now be opened by pulling the loop of wire (using a bit of rag, it's a bit cutty).
New parts are on order, judging the condition of the cables, if I'd known, I would have changed them earlier and saved a lot of worry and hassle.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Been there, done that. A PITA, but do-able. If you're not already planning to change the catches, probably best to at least take them off and give them a damn good lubricating.

 

[black fingernail]

Yes, I'll be changing the whole kit and caboodle. I really do not need that feeling again.
The cable and latches look in very good shape from above, but in reality they are shot.
I would strongly recommend everyone examines them and sort accordingly, not the simplest job, but better than opening the lid from underneath.

 

[mwpe]

I changed mine a couple of years ago as it was getting a bit stiff to operate and the outer covering on the conduit was breaking up. I think this is one of the worst bits of BMW design.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Once again, 20 year old car and bits are no longer like new? Not too surprising, really. And at least the catches are accessible once you drop the belly pan bit off, not like some motors I've had to fix in the past.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

And while I'm here, when I did mine, around five years ago, the new catches came with no threads in the mounting bolt holes. The bolts will cut the thread as they go in. Did on mine, anyway.