Bonnet pull catch broken - how to open bonnet?

[leonardgreggE21]

The bonnet pull on my '81 316 has snapped. It is still attached to the bonnet pull in the glove box so I can only assume it has snapped from under the bonnet. Any ideas on how I can manually release the bonnet catch from outside the car?

Cheers

Gregg

[Mikelead]

Hi, Greg ,
Bad luck, one of those nightmare scenarios when this happens.
Just had a quick look at my car, so a couple of suggestions:
If you look through the OS plastic front grill, behind the headlamp, you can see two hex headed bolts which attach the lock to the front of the inner panel, looks like 10mm, you should be able to get a 1/4 or 3/8 drive socket through the grill and remove both, with a Wobble ended socket drive extension, this may enable you to lift the bonnet with the lock attached.

Or, if you can prize away the plastic grill, hopefully with minimal damage, you can get to the lock and hopefully release it by finding the release lever where the cable attaches.

One final thought, if you can get an arm up through the gap between the front valance and anti roll bar you may be able to reach the lock, though you may need to remove the bar unless you have slim arms.

Good luck
Mike

[Mikelead]

Sorry, mean NS i.e. Left side of the car grill, not off side
Mike

[uwbuurman]

If you take out that grille, you should be able to unscrew the two m8 bolts, so th whole lock comes out. As the cable is broken, that should work.

[leonardgreggE21]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I will have a look next weekend if/when I get some time and will let you know how I get on. Fingers crossed. What a pain in the rear!

Thanks again

[leonardgreggE21]

Hi again,

Got my bonnet open finally, gingerly removed the front left grill as suggested and undone the 2 retaining bolt holding the latch mechanism on. Popped straight open. Thanks for your helps guys, much appreciated

Gregg

[uwbuurman]

Great!!

[Jeroen]

[Mikelead]

Gregg,
Good to hear your success, useful to know that it did the trick.

Out of interest and for future reference, what failed, was it the cable?, if so at what point?
Should we consider it to need periodic replacement?

Cheers
Mike

[Jeroen]

Or periodically some grease?

[leonardgreggE21]

The cable snapped just at the point in which it's clamped in the catch. I can only assume from years of being pulled on. The rest of the cable was perfect and all I did was cut the outer cable back 10mm and re-clamped it in the catch. Works perfectly well now. I sprayed WD40 down between the outer and inner cable for good measure.

Hope this helps guys.

[uwbuurman]

And if not, you know the cure now

[mattyboy666]

Thank you, worked a treat and easy.