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e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 3:35 pm
by guerciotti
Hi,
I would appreciate it it someone could help me with my glovebox.
All was working fine until I recently opened it when I had too much weight in the glovebox. The glovebox opened fine leaving me with the piece in the photo in my hand !
The glovebox mechanism works fine and I can open it by lifting the small metal clip but I can't see to re-attach the handle to the glovebox itself. Any ideas? Looks like I am missing a pin or something but not sure.
Alternatively does anyone have a spare one that they can sell to me? I'm not worried if it doesn't lock.
Thanks in advance.

Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 1:11 am
by Jeroen
That's correct, there should be a pin there. Better put up an ad in the wanted section!
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:57 am
by uwbuurman
Yeah, but how did it go missing? Seems like it is locked in there?
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:07 pm
by Wilmo
Mine is gone as well. Since some years I open it with the little metal lever. I believe something broke, but never really investigated. Will take a picture tonight.
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 11:20 pm
by e21paddy
It must be the week of broken gloveboxes, mine went on Sunday also! Interested to know if there's a fix!
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:21 am
by Manitoba
Mine broke 2 years ago, I replaced the mechanism with an e30 one. Also thanks to the forum here, because I did not know they are the same.
Greetz,
Walter.
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 12:36 pm
by guerciotti
Thanks for the feedback.
Uwbuurman - yes I thought that something had broken off but I searched extensively in the footwell but couldn't find it !
Manitoba - after doing a bit of searching on the web it would appear that the glovebox lock is indeed shared across various BMW models at the time. I've looked on RealOEM but I can't see the part. Do you have a link to where you bought it from?
Thanks all
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 3:40 pm
by Manitoba
I am sorry, guercotti, but I bought it from a forum member (Groentje_me). Can't help you with the official part number.
Greetz,
Walter.
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 7:01 pm
by Wilmo
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E30-2 ... #1848873_9
schmiedmann.de/de/produkt/18294-neu?produkt=51-16-1-848-873
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:03 pm
by Jeroen
As far as I can see the lockable version is NLA so I'd try to buy a decent used example and swap locks, is widely used indeed (E21-E23-E28-E30 etc)
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:34 am
by mr edd
I bought one of these pattern parts off ebay .For a e30 so slightly different shape but fits well..(you have to transfer the lock cylinder from your original handle)...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-BMW-E30-E34-E36- ... Sw-yJcLxGu
same seller has the rear part of the latch for sale as well.....
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 7:54 pm
by uwbuurman
Well, compared to a type 1 box it is different, but type 2 are the same right?
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:54 pm
by Jeroen
As far as I know that's correct
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:51 pm
by e21paddy

This is what I've been left with, cannot seem to figure out what I need to manipulate to release the latch? Any pointers guys?
Re: e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 4:50 pm
by Manitoba
There should be some kind of hook attached to the lock on the glovebox itself. This can be moved sideways, which opens the glovebox.
As said above, try and find an e30 handle; switch both locks and you're good to go.
Good luck.
Greetz,
Walter.