What to do if the hood of the car does not open on a BMW 3 Series E90

In this video, it is explained what to do if the car hood does not open, starting with the list of parts that make up the mechanism: first there is the cable, the stop pad with the ejector, the latch release lever, the latch and the return spring, the safety catch with its handle and the internal release handle.

The internal handle is pulled and is connected to the lock via the cable that acts on the latch release lever, then the ejector spring lifts the hood, but to fully open the hood, we will have to press the safety catch handle located under the hood.

If pulling the internal handle does nothing, it is likely that the lock is defective, or the cable is broken, or the external temperature is unfavorable, or the hood may have become misaligned, also due to an accident. It is necessary to determine what the problem is: if the handle is loose, then it is a problem with the cable, and we will have to remove the internal finish near the handle, and check that it is connected to the cable; if it is not, we pull the metal cable and reconnect it; if it is broken instead, we must use a torch and a mirror to examine the cable in the radiator area and with pliers, pull it and open the hood; we will then have to replace it. If the cable is intact then the problem is the lock, and in this case we should get help from another person who pulls the internal handle, while we lift the hood; then we will have to replace the lock.

If the problem is the low temperature, we must heat the engine. If instead the cable and the lock work, but the hood does not open, then the problem is the ejector: if pressing on the hood we do not see any movement, then the spring is defective, and we will have to put some force to open it. Remember to adjust the lock and lubricate it regularly, and never close the hood with violence.

Never expose the mechanism to moisture.