Hood won't open... help

[Johnmadd]

Well, my hood pops up from the lever inside and I go to pop the latch and it doesn't release. The latch handle moves like normal but does nothing, like it's not catching anything? Any ideas? Can I pop the latch somehow with a screwdriver?

[ELCID86]

I really don't know what to recommend John. I had one that was stuck once but I kept trying it and it finally released. I don't know of any way to get to it.

To everyone else--lube it!

[brettbimmer]

Argh, it sounds like maybe you are having a problem with the hood release cable setup if it won't open (looks like it may be two separate components in looking at the schematic view. Here's a link to the realoem page.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=EV53-USA-09-2003-E46-BMW-330i&diagId=41_1099

Let me know if you need photos of special areas with the hood up bud.

[ELCID86]

Someone on another thread recommended removing a kidney (grille) IOT access it. Not sure if that can be done without breaking it but it might be the only way.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[jakksfor20]

Did you try lifting up on the hood? If it pops up then it sounds like the one of the springs are not pushing it above the first latch. I would recommend having someone inside the car pull the handle while you are lifting up on the hood.

[TWong1200]

Sounds like a stretched cable. My E36 acts that way sometimes. Gotta pull really hard.