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Thread: hood release cable broke

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    west new york,nj
    Posts
    287
    My Cars
    328i

    hood release cable broke

    E36 98' 328i release cable handle has no resistance and hook is closed so I guess the cable snapped. After reading posts in the forum, I just realized I need to lubricate the latch regularly. My latches and lock are rusty and lock sometimes stuck a bit.
    Checked a few youtube and posts and below are my options:
    1. remove the kidneys /grill and try to locate crossover cable to pull (with a mirror)
    2. from bottom to locate cable to pull at the driver side
    3. get rid of driver side side signal and locate the passing cable
    4. harder way is to remove bumper, aux electric fan and locate crossover cable
    Any remaining latch can be opened with bend screwdriver.

    Questions:
    1. is #1 suggested way to open the hook in terms of time and feasibility?
    2. I guess I need to replace the whole latch, cables, right?
    from oem chart http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=41_1048
    Besides 7,15,16, 20, what else to replace?
    3. saw the post in E39 forum, not sure how it applies to E36.
    "Replacing the latches &/or cables requires removing the bumper and electric auxiliary fan to make space to wriggle the latches out of their mounting pockets. This isn't as bad a job as it looks - depending on how fast you work 15 to 30 minutes to remove both for space to wriggle the latches out. And it's a one person job although one would think that you'd need two to remove and refit the bumper. There are DIYs around, both written and video."
    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...+release+cable

    Thanks a lot.

    EDIT: pelican parts has an article about how to replace:
    https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...eplacement.htm
    Last edited by yxd0018; 12-14-2018 at 02:07 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    1,734
    My Cars
    1998 BMW 328i
    Id pull the handle off first and check there, and if that doesnt do the trick I'd go thru the driver side headlight.

    Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    201
    My Cars
    *
    I've never had to do it, but if I did I'd go behind the turn signal.

    Last edited by Bostongruen; 12-14-2018 at 01:22 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    west new york,nj
    Posts
    287
    My Cars
    328i
    So I need to replace all of hood catch, upper part of hood lock, and lower part of hood lock, both cables? Anything else?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    west new york,nj
    Posts
    287
    My Cars
    328i
    The trick of one person pull the cable while the other is wiggling the hood works. But I won't do it again until all the replacement parts arrive.
    Meanwhile I failed to use tennis string to make a backup release mechanism. I'm not sure if I should tie the string to the middle cable connecting both latches the next time I open the hood.

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