During the operation of BMW cars, you can face the following problem: for one reason or another, the cable breaks, which is attached to the hood opening handle in the cabin. In this case, it is very difficult to open the hood of a BMW E46, E36 or E34 on your own due to the structure of the car itself. Nevertheless, it is still possible to do this on your own, without contacting a service center for help.
Instructions
Step 1
If the cable breaks in such a way that it can be seen from the passenger compartment, try to pick up the inside of it (not the braid) with pliers and pull it towards you, trying to open the lock. This method is the simplest, but it does not always turn out that the cable breaks in this way.
Step 2
If the cable breaks directly under the hood, it will be a little more difficult to get to it directly from the passenger compartment. To do this, you need to get directly to the hood lock from the bottom of the car. Therefore, drive the car into an inspection pit or overpass so that you have free access to the space under the hood. Take two keys and remove the protection from the engine crankcase.
Step 3
You can also try another method: remove the left headlight of the car (in the direction of travel) and get access directly to the hood lock. Here you should have no problem opening it manually. Of course, this option is not entirely convenient when you need to open the hood, for example, at the request of a road inspector. However, this is easier to accomplish than previous options.
Step 4
In some hoods, BMW is also equipped with an intermediate cable, which can be felt by removing the headlights. Note that it cannot be seen from the headlight. Therefore, take a screwdriver or a bent rod and use it to find the intermediate cable. Pull on it and the hood lock will open. If there are two locks, then this procedure must be carried out in both headlights.
Step 5
Remove the engine boot from the front mountings and fold it down. Try to get your hand into the hood latch next to the radiator. If your hand does not reach, insert a screwdriver into it and press firmly from the left side in the direction of the machine towards the hood lock latch. If you did everything correctly, the lock will open.
Step 6
To reduce the chance of cable breakage, lubricate the bonnet lock mechanism regularly with silicone grease. Spray it occasionally into the inner cable sheath to maintain good mobility.
