hood release cable and latch - FYI

[Ceeker]

hey everyone, I have removed my share of these but installing one is a whole other story.. (Grin) if you don't want to end up doing one, make sure you have the latch always lubed cause if you don't you stress the cable it stretches and eventually the cable snaps or the plastic pull handle snaps. the latch is everything.

to get the cable in you need access to the grommet. Try not to pull this out otherwise it's a real pain getting it back in from the inside of the car.
pull the cable through from inside the car. Remove the hood adjuster from the left fender so you can have access. lube the grommet and cable end and get a long flat head screwdriver to push the latch end of the cable through the grommet. From there it is easy street! Not entirely sure if a new one from bmw carries a new grommet or not. Mine had one but to avoid the hassle I just let the grommet remain on the cable and slipped it through the existing one.

[io_RobbieRodgers]

Thank god, mine's kaput. Is the info for fixing it when it breaks at the handle? Or when the cable breaks from the latch? I can't tell exactly where the grommet goes from RealOEM diagrams. (Mine's detached at the latch, I can see the cable moving when I pull the handle.)

[Ceeker]

Thank god, mine's kaput. Is the info for fixing it when it breaks at the handle? Or when the cable breaks from the latch? I can't tell exactly where the grommet goes from RealOEM diagrams. (Mine's detached at the latch, I can see the cable moving when I pull the handle.)

either way; you'll need to pull the cable out. if it is broken from the latch; take out the left front grille to give you access to two 10mm bolts-you'll see them facing you. take out the inner left front panel covering the lights. You'll see the cable going into an opening. Remove the two bolts which will release the latch and you can pull it out through the opening.
Remove it from the latch-self evident lube or replace the latch. In most cases if the cable breaks it is for one main reason. Insufficient lubrication on the latch. Inspect it before re installation. Replace if loose, severely seized, rusty etc. Remove the inner handle held in by two 8mm bolts and then release the cable from it. Then you have a choice of which way you want to pull the cable through. outside or inside of car. I believe the new cable from the dealership comes with a handle and possible grommet. so this would mean installation goes from the inside to the engine bay. I took a used one so I had to hook my handle up afterward once I got the cable through. put everything back in reverse order. You may have to adjust the latch with the 10mm bolts as they give you play. Good thing might be to see where the bolts were sitting before removing so that you don't have to line it up again. GL.

if the handle is broken -the handle broke due to over stress from the seizing latch. IF the cable isn't stretched or snapped and the handle is the only thing broken. Replace the handle, inspect and if need be, replace the latch. handle breakage is very common due to latch failure.

Grommet is behind the left hood slider in the very top corner of the firewall near the fender.