6/99 740i, hood doesn't "spring" up when hood release is pulled in cabin

[strad]

This makes opening the hood a two person operation (one to pull the lever, the other to pull up the hood). I had my father in law (retired and very experienced bodyman) look at the problem with me and he says the springs that should pop the hood up when released are built into the latch mechanisms. I have no reason the disbelieve this, because I don't see them anywhere else. But new latches are very expensive lol. Is there another way to address this issue?

[Timm]

There are two 'ejectors' where the bonnet lands at the front of the engine compartment - they just look like rubber buffers but have internal springs - these often collapse with age and need replacing. It is these that lift the bonnet a few millimeters when the bonnet catch is pulled....

I tried to find a picture of one fitted - but the best I came up with is below:



Look directly above the very end of the wing and you will see a strange lump pointing upwards - that's a broken ejector - it should have a spring-loaded piece protruding from it with a pozi-drive head. It is that part that lifts the bonnet (hood).

[strad]

Haha thanks. I see them now. The one on the left side feels ok but the one on the right side is quite sticky. You don't have a pn do you?

edit: nvm. I found it. I guess it is adjustable for height as well, looks like it from the pictures anyways.

[Timm]

Yes, the whole assembly can be rotated for height adjustment....

[Qsilver7]

And the ejector can be lubricated, too. Sometimes if the ejector is stuck...its' due to a build up of crud/mud/dirt/dust/etc. Try cleaning it up and spraying them with some lubricant...then test to see if they get their bounce back.

While you're at it...might as well check the trunk...it has them too. They are a bit smaller...but the same thing can happen to them (getting stuck) and it can cause the trunk to open then quickly close again as the soft-close feature catches the trunk and pulls it back down because the trunk's ejectors aren't holding the trunk high enough above the catch/close height.

{Miss BimmerLV's images of stuck (flaccid) & unstuck (erect) hood ejectors}





{unstuck (erect) ejectors}

[carnut1947]

Mine were stuck down. Got 2 from a wrecked car from the trunk. Works fine now.

[strad]

Thanks. I did order new ones, and new hood struts. Upon removal of the poppers, the left side one had busted out the bottom with the spring. This was not visible until the popper was removed, and interestingly the popper still had spring pressure, even though it was busted! It didn't "need" new hood struts but the new ones definitely are stronger than the old ones. Interestingly the old poppers were not adjusted properly. Front end of the car is clearly original so kinda surprising.

[georgebest]

Here you go, $9 each: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...h/51248187291/