Broken Hood Latch - United Bimmer Community

**wishkah353** · 11-15-2010, 02:38 PM

I just got a new front grill and wanted to put it on, but when I pulled the latch, the wire snapped. I tried with some pliers to just pull the broken wire and it keeps feeling like its going to snap again.

Is there any way to get the hood open without that wire? is it easy to install a new one?

**HyeTide** · 11-15-2010, 08:28 PM

Stick a long regular screw driver in slot in front grill , to the left of the driver side high beams, turn ,that will open the hood. GL

**wishkah353** · 11-16-2010, 07:08 PM

Thanks for the reply. think I see the hole you're talking about in there. tried sticking a flat head in and turning, but not hearing the hood pop. will try again tomorrow with a bigger one maybe its just not pushing that flap down far enough.

**wishkah353** · 11-17-2010, 10:54 PM

ok i know some of u are prob going to laugh at me righ tnow but this is what i did today..

first drove to pep boys asked them if i could bring a few screw drivers outside to see if it'd pop this sob. nothing they had worked. every single one of them were wedge shaped and didnt fit.

next i went to advance auto. same exact cheap pos.

after that i drove all the way to lowe's bought a few .88 flat heads that were actually slim unlike the wedge shaped ones. none of them worked. those ones actually moved the little flap inside, but the damn thing wont pop.

finally after all this i go to the bmw dealership. walk in say my hood latch broke. the guy laughed after i texplained the fron grill hole thing. he says good luck with that some of our guys try for hours with that. he asked if the wire was still sticking out from the latch inside under the steering wheel, which it was, so he says to go get my vice grips and pull that mofo.

drive home, get grips, latch um on rly good deep breath pull hard *snap*. theres still a little left. latch on again pull a little softer this time.. nothing. pull for about 5 mins messing w this thing in th epouring rain say eff it and go inside.

SO wtf man? srsly lol

**wishkah353** · 01-02-2011, 09:08 AM

Has anyone found the perfect tool or device I can stick in the front grill hole there to open this sob? theres got to be something!! im aving no luck with flat heads.. why is my baby so stubborn?

been driving for a few months now with this broken latch and refuse to go to the dealership to have them re-wire a new hood latch and charge me 300.00. or prob 100.00 for labor jus to manually open it..

**HyeTide** · 01-02-2011, 04:12 PM

OK , just measured the screw driver and tried it out , works every time for me. 1/4 inch width at the tip of the flat head insert in slot and turn clockwise should work? GL

Big Evil · 01-06-2011, 04:16 PM

just on a side note, when you get the flap pushed have you tried pushing down on the hood? it may be binding. Just a thought, I'm sure you already have