Just picked up an E30 on the cheap. The day after I picked it up, the damn hood latch broke (user error, I'm stoopid) Anyway, I still haven't been able to get it open. I tried pulling at the hood cable many many times & then I actually ended up pulling it out....great. So I then tried the manual one near the front & it is way too seized. I can't take off the front grille as the hood needs to be open to get it off & then give me better access to the latch. Any ideas???
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Just break the grille. Then you can get to the latch. -
Sawzall.
Kidding.
--Mike(OO=[][]=OO) For LifeComment
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Get some liquid wrench with the little straw, and squirt a bunch in the front grill hole. Put a good sized screw driver in the front hole in the grill and whack with a hammer.
It'll pop openWe're in deep now boys
1988 325i SETA - Daily driver
1988 340iL - Track car
My M60 V8 swap thread here
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I really didn't want to break the damn grille. PO installed a brand new one when he had it! I ended up drilling a hole big enough for a screwdriver to go straight at the manual latch. Soaked it with PB & tried getting it to unlatch, nothing. How exactly do you hammer a screwdriver on the latch? I thought you're supposed to go CCW to unlatch itComment
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try a Phillips screw driver with a hammer. get it centered in the hole and whack itWe're in deep now boys
1988 325i SETA - Daily driver
1988 340iL - Track car
My M60 V8 swap thread here
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The latch unlocks by twisting the slot in the latch through the grill. I took a long screwdriver and ground it down until it fit the slot in the latch. Using a thin straw spray the latch down well with PBlaster or Kroil and let that work for a few days before trying to open the latch.The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
Jim Levie, Huntsville, ALComment
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Okay so if I get my screwdiver in there, which way should I be hammering?? Like I said, I tried PB'ing it yesterday & still have no luck todayComment
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There is no hammering involved. After lubricating and allowing time for the lube to work the most you might have to do is to use vice grips on the screwdriver for additional torque.The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
Jim Levie, Huntsville, ALComment
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Hi,
welcome to this forum site ,here u can find lots of things I suggest u for your problem you have to contact your friend , i am not able to give you answer right now , sorry for that
Top ten classified websiteComment
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Still, no luck. I've PB'd it the past 2 days. Tried multiple screwdrivers & just cant get it to budge. Tried pushing down on the hood, tried pulling up, nothing. I don't know what else to do....Comment
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GOT IT!! Ended up breaking the grille off which I ended up ziptie-ing back together. Got a screwdriver in there & finally popped open. Turns out, the little metal piece that props the hood open, must have gotten jammed. Once I got the hood to open, that metal piece just fell off. I soaked the latch with a bunch of PB. I guess I'll just keep a screwdriver on me to open the hood. It works now!Comment
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it's possible to take the latch apart as well if you want to disassemble it and clean it out wellWe're in deep now boys
1988 325i SETA - Daily driver
1988 340iL - Track car
My M60 V8 swap thread here
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