Broken bonnet cable

[Cheddars]

Hi guys,

Managed to snap the bonnet cable . It felt quite stiff, so I pulled a tad harder before hearing a snapping sound.

Does anyone have any idea on opening it up somehow? I've tried searching and found a couple of solutions but best thought I should ask, lol.

 

[t-tony]

I put something on you progress thread Matt.

Tony.

 

[Synclare]

You may find the catch 'boxes' have seized which will put undue load on the cable causing it to break/ Around a tenner each from BMW.

 

[buze]

Just has that as well, sucks, particularly because the parts are cheap, but with the bonnet closed, it's not terribly useful!

BTW, I tried pulling on the 'middle' cable' from underneath, and you can disengage one, but not the other, latch...

 

[Cheddars]

Struggling to get in, the o/s seems to unlatch but not the other so middle cable has snapped.

How much force can the front grills take? They feel they will break quite easily.

 

[mrscalex]

Thread a belt (from your trousers) round the back across as many grille slats as possible. Give it a sharp tug with the belt taught. It will pop out and worse case you may have 1 or 2 broken lugs which won't be missed as there are plenty of others. The grille is well built and should withstand it no problem.

 

[Ianmc]

My indy accessed it from below when mine broke. Believe they removed under trays/trims to access release mechanism.

 

[Lee]

My indy accessed it from below when mine broke. Believe they removed under trays/trims to access release mechanism.

Like Ian mentioned, with the tray removed you can reach up to each mechanism they have a manual release.

 

[raymond]

Might help if you get someone to pull down on the bonnet while trying to pull on the cables to take the tension off the locks

 

[Cheddars]

Muchly appreciated guys, will try going underneath it, tried every other trick and it's a no go so far.

 

[NeRo]

I recently had the same problem - see https://zroadster.org/threads/bonnet-wont-open-on-z3.18508/

Mine had snapped and broke the anchor next to the lever inside the car
After removing the kicker panel, we were able to grab the cable with pliers and pull it to release the bonnet

I got all the cables and catches and replaced them - wasn't too expensive
Worst thing was having to remove the headlights to gain sufficient access

 

[raymond]

As a last resort if everything fails and I mean if everything fails then it is possible to break the right head light to get to the right side latch. You could a replacement one from ebay but only do this if all else fails. Hopefully the other methods will work.

 

[Ianmc]

As a last resort if everything fails and I mean if everything fails then it is possible to break the right head light to get to the right side latch. You could a replacement one from ebay but only do this if all else fails. Hopefully the other methods will work.

It would be better/cheaper to take into a garage

 

[mrscalex]

As a last resort if everything fails and I mean if everything fails then it is possible to break the right head light to get to the right side latch. You could a replacement one from ebay but only do this if all else fails. Hopefully the other methods will work.

Well the good news is if you did this I can supply a replacement headlamp. The bad news is would be £125 (as it would be from nearly anyone). So reading between the lines don't do it unless you are desperate. There are other ways already documented here that should work.

In terms of prevention, for the sake of £25 put a pair of fresh latches on as I believe they are at the root of most lock out issues including snapped cables.

 

[raymond]

https://www.gumtree.com/e/z3-bmw-he...1996-02-vgc-os-right-driver/v1|222544365552|0
One here for £45. I think the car does not have an MOT so taking it to a garage would be difficult. Also a garage would charge you around £60 labour for one hour so possibly a two hour job so £120 plus VAT plus parts. I did say if all else fails consider this option only. I believe Buze has a spare pair of headlights

 

[mrscalex]

https://www.gumtree.com/e/z3-bmw-headlight-head-lamp-unit-1996-02-vgc-os-right-driver/v1|222544365552|0
One here for £45. I think the car does not have an MOT so taking it to a garage would be difficult. Also a garage would charge you around £60 labour for one hour so possibly a two hour job so £120 plus VAT plus parts. I did say if all else fails consider this option only. I believe Buze has a spare pair of headlights

Was assuming clear headlights. Yes, the amber headlamps are that sort of money.

No problem taking a car to a garage with no MOT if it's a pre-booked MOT test or for remedial work identified at an MOT.

 

[t-tony]

Was assuming clear headlights. Yes, the amber headlamps are that sort of money.

No problem taking a car to a garage with no MOT if it's a pre-booked MOT test or for remedial work identified at an MOT.

Unfortunately he didn't get as far as the testing station Rob.

Tony.

 

[Cheddars]

It would be better/cheaper to take into a garage

Not this particular car

As Tony stated, its MOT was meant to be last Saturday and didn't make it due to overheating. The cable snapped when I went to open the bonnet when I finally got the car home - it's almost like it doesn't want to be fixed

 

[mrscalex]

Not this particular car

As Tony stated, its MOT was meant to be last Saturday and didn't make it due to overheating. The cable snapped when I went to open the bonnet when I finally got the car home - it's almost like it doesn't want to be fixed

I know it's all money but round here I can get a Z3 moved across town for £50. So with an hour's labour to release the bonnet cable and hopefully a free quote on the overheating you might be going in the right direction again for around £100? Sorry Tony hopefully I'm not grossly misquoting your garage's hourly rates. Of course you have to get it back again if you decide the garage aren't to fix it...

You might also get a mobile mechanic out?

Just trying to think laterally here as I get the impression you may benefit from a bit of professional intervention before you want to kill the car

Nothing wrong with that. Getting the exhaust on properly and gas tight and sorting the initial tracking is looking like it will need my engine replacement project recovered to the test station.

 

[BladeRunner919]

I don't understand why the 'broken bonnet cable' questions always seem to end up as a converstation about smashing headlights. Remove the undertray and reach up to the back of the latches from underneath. It's very easy.