This is by far the best instruction I have watch and opening a stuck hood. In my situation, I forgot to put the cable back on the side, therefore not getting any resistance on the pull. I was able to pull my kidney grill without damaging it, all I did is grab all the grills in between my fingers and pull it up gently and pull it out. Now I can focus on my original problem, witches, a stuck hood.
Pls don use your car keys. If you drop the carkey inside the engine bay your are fucked. No keys and most probably not tools remove engine cover and recover the key from bottom...
Please UA-cam delete ALL other videos regarding hood opening when cable is loose. I have googled my ASS off to get to this simple solution. THANK YOU!!!
Same. I've got the problem couple days ago and i googled my ass of till i was at the point where i smashed my front grill to do it by myself than i found this way. Later on i gave our bmwstore a call and talked to them couse they thought the only way to open it is to cut it out and than put a new hood on.😂👍 i guess i can spend the 2000 bugs for some parts :'D
Holy crap, I disassembled my e39's entire front end to get the hood open! It was as simple as this! I hate myself. Thanks for the vid, this might come in handy in the future.
Excellent video on this issue if you make a tool that looks like a z out of a rigidity material like the thickness of a metal construction square wide enough to go between the first long vertical and last long vertical grill hole a (coat hanger is not strong enough) and use it like a hook you can press down the keepers on the moldings in between the vertical bars on the grill to get the grills out by tipping them from the top out first.Do this to remove the grill and not damage them.
Hi. I think that it is worth to mention that it will work on facelift e39 only so after 2001. In pre-facelift aircon fan is wider and gets right to the end on the right hand side so you won't reach it by the key, you will need a special bent screwdriver for instance. It is worth to mention as well that some people might struggle to push it if links are rusty, a lot of force might be required so better tool than key will be required. Greetings from Poland ;)
thanks!! my battery died and I was completely locked out of my car. need power to open the trunk, no go. My key is too worn to open the door lock or something. tried all kinds of lube in the lock, nothing. this worked great, saved me a AAA call!
Anthony R. Ct actually no... bmw uses a dead bolt system. when you press lock twice, the door is locked inside and out, you cannot open it from the inside or out without the key. so break all the windows. you aint opening the doors :)
Man I’ve been trying on my 2000 540i for hours and the hood is still stuck. Interior cable too broken to work, passenger side latch is ready, but my driver side latch does not want to budge
So interested in how you were able to find such a great solution? Now, my problem is; why the truck of my BMW 540i, is not opening from the inside car latch, without using the key remote?
Hahaha, I had no choice! I was desperate as my "check oil" light came on in the mountains of Virginia. So I pulled over and started taking things apart on the side of the road; basically just trying to understand where the cable was run and how it works. After feeling around, I used the only thing i had on hand to press the release on the latch. I honestly thought it would release just the one side. I was really fortunate BMW put things where they did :) Im sorry, I haven't had that issue yet. But if I did, I would take the trunk lid apart to see how the mechanism works. You will most likely find something worn or fallen out of place.
If you car is equipt with a towbar You can open your car with a car battery and speakercable and a meassure instrument to look what is your - and + . Take towbar for connect - and other + in 1 one of the holes except the - connection from the plug box of towbar. Make connections correct and wait 5 minutes and you can open your car with your key like normal!
I'm doing exactly what you said. I feel the recess with the key and I'm pushing it to the drivers side. The hood just isn't popping open. Is there anything I'm doing wrong?
Got locked out twice in 1 month..had my window broken on my E90..massechussets..and now 2nd time in 1 month im locked out today..E90 ..grill cant be opened..
It looks like your cable latch is on the passenger side so if mine is in the driver's side do I remove the passenger side kidney grill to access that release?
The cable runs thru the left (drivers) side of the vehicle. This isn't a right hand drive vehicle. so the main hood release was on the left side of the car. If you have a right hand drive car, I'm sure it would be the opposite to this.
@@AcousticHills ok thanks so if my hood release is on the left(American driver's side), the release I push on with my key is on the right(American passenger side).
@@AcousticHills ok gotcha! It was a bit confusing because your actual release is on the opposite side of the portion you push with your key. I appreciate you responding to me! Great vid!
AcousticHills actually i didnt. it was too hard to remove it on my E87 but fortunately the wire is broken at the handle so i just disassemble the system and pulled the wire directly. still, thank you, it would have been my plan B (probably breaking the grill bars...)
thanks for the video. my hood would not open on my 540i bmw .I used needle nose inserted the handles down end of the needle nose to move the cable to the right in the small hole .hood opened right up .if a woman can do this anyone can .so happy I figured this out .now I need to just buy a new cable have it replaced
I have a 2011 bmw 328i xdrive...the hood won't open I have the left side and middle open but the right side won't open the latch under the steering wheel is broken..I can't get into it to change the oil because it's on red...please help me I've tried everything
Try having someone pull up on the release inside the car and hold it while you lift the hood. might have to jerk it a few times. Hopefully it is just stuck and pops out! I don't own one of those but I would imagine it wont be as easy as mine.
Can someone tell me if there is a difference between I6 and V8 E39's with the hood mechanism. I can't for the life of me get the hood open of my 525I after following this video.
Ok what even bro, I can't fine the damn latch that your talking about. Even with the diagram picture. Maybe im just not sure where to reach but I feel like I've felt around the whole area and everything is plastic
@@AcousticHills my dilemma, hoodline broke at handle near driver seat, oil leaking at about two quarts a month. I haven't been able to open the hood in a few weeks and now I can feel the pistons start to grab the cylinders. I am not able to run my car until I can get into the hood. Saying that, I have been trying for days now reaching in, I can feel the v where you set the key, but I can't get any sense of direction as to where you are pushing the key ( in the video you say towards driver side I think, but in diagram it looks opposite?
@@pinkyishere9056 It was in (towards you) but to the drivers' side. Wish I can help more. I don't have the car anymore so another video showing it better isn't an option sadly. Is it possible to pull the interior up and use a set of needle nose vise grips to pull whats left of the cable up? or has is broken that far back? Hopefully you get it!
@@AcousticHills right? i got the right grill off... finally got a flashlight working... sunday i will check it out... it looks a little different like maybe pull the cable towards me then pop a screwdriver up the right latch and maybe then the left swivel handle up should do it i hope
@@AcousticHills im still working on it.. four days... now, pulled the frayed wires under the inside drivers latch with pliers, used machete under the hood.. pulled on cable, pulled all release latches finally the left side un hooked but the right side still locked up tight LOL
Hey there. Try pressing down on the hood at the latch while someone keeps the hood release pulled. If its seized, it may be enough to pop it out. If not, could you see any peice of the cable? I dont have the e39 anymore, otherwise i would go out and try to see
Nathan your videos are very helpful thank for that, i have a 2000 540i with very low miles, but i recently changed the key cylinder with the key, but now every three or four week my car will crank but wont start, can you help me. Every time i have to call my mechanic to come and use the computer to get my car started, what could be the problem,
Alexis Melendez hello, i think you are replying in the wrong video lol. my name is not Nathan. but if i were to guess, id say have a different key made up and try that.
yes, i can reach it a littlebit with my fingers but i can't say if its the part that you mean. i feel the V shaped think and also tried to pull, push ist but nothing worked, also the cable is right there so i dont know what to do anymore
It should be the same layout as in the picture i have in the video(its a bad pic i know) perhaps try using a rad hose pick or a pair of needle nosed pliers as one person here wrote that she had done. That would be a tight spot sadly. Id be trying everything not to take my front end apart! Hopefully you get it my friend!
This is by far the best instruction I have watch and opening a stuck hood. In my situation, I forgot to put the cable back on the side, therefore not getting any resistance on the pull. I was able to pull my kidney grill without damaging it, all I did is grab all the grills in between my fingers and pull it up gently and pull it out. Now I can focus on my original problem, witches, a stuck hood.
Thank you very much! Glad it helped and you were able to fix the issue!!
Pls don use your car keys. If you drop the carkey inside the engine bay your are fucked. No keys and most probably not tools remove engine cover and recover the key from bottom...
Please UA-cam delete ALL other videos regarding hood opening when cable is loose. I have googled my ASS off to get to this simple solution. THANK YOU!!!
Hey thanks man!!!! I appreciate that!!
Same. I've got the problem couple days ago and i googled my ass of till i was at the point where i smashed my front grill to do it by myself than i found this way. Later on i gave our bmwstore a call and talked to them couse they thought the only way to open it is to cut it out and than put a new hood on.😂👍 i guess i can spend the 2000 bugs for some parts :'D
Great vid man. I did this in a right hand drive where you don't have as much access to get to the latch but it worked a treat 👍 Thanks 🙏
Thank you, glad it helped!
Thanks! Now I know how to steal myself a new engine 🤔
Great video btw
Good video mate. But Depo headlights... C'mon bra
Holy crap, I disassembled my e39's entire front end to get the hood open! It was as simple as this! I hate myself. Thanks for the vid, this might come in handy in the future.
Haha! Yikes! Hopefully it doesn't happen to you but if so, you know what to do!
gonna try this on my e39 cable broke..wish me luck!! easiest vid ive seen on youtube 👌👌
Thanks! you will get it!
Thank you bro, I can confirm that this is legit and works on my e39 touring
Thank you! This way more informative than Nathan’s BMW page on his video about it.
Excellent video on this issue if you make a tool that looks like a z out of a rigidity material like the thickness of a metal construction square wide enough to go between the first long vertical and last long vertical grill hole a (coat hanger is not strong enough) and use it like a hook you can press down the keepers on the moldings in between the vertical bars on the grill to get the grills out by tipping them from the top out first.Do this to remove the grill and not damage them.
Thank you so much brother. Was struggling all day yesterday and tried again today and got it open today on my project car E39 😊
The still image made all the differance
Very very nice and helpful, thanks man
I just pulled the cable with my hand (pre-facelift)
Hi. I think that it is worth to mention that it will work on facelift e39 only so after 2001. In pre-facelift aircon fan is wider and gets right to the end on the right hand side so you won't reach it by the key, you will need a special bent screwdriver for instance. It is worth to mention as well that some people might struggle to push it if links are rusty, a lot of force might be required so better tool than key will be required. Greetings from Poland ;)
@@xam2215 It will work from 2001 onwards
Thanks! I tried on my 1999 model and could not open the hood this way.
Thank you so much brother yeah, you are a great help. Please continue being a good instructor. God bless!!!
Thank you so much for the encouragement brother!
This is the sickest hack ever! Thanks Homie!
Thank you and hope it helps!
sweet M5
Thank you!
Thanks man this work great save me a lot of trouble on a customer car
Didnt work on my 1999 528i, right hand drive model.
*REREREREREREREE*
(4:11)
Excellent
Finally bothered to try after finding this video. Easy peezy. Thank you. All other videos overdo it and make it sound like a project 😂
thanks!! my battery died and I was completely locked out of my car. need power to open the trunk, no go. My key is too worn to open the door lock or something. tried all kinds of lube in the lock, nothing. this worked great, saved me a AAA call!
alright just did mine… if you have grab vice grips and snag cable to the far right and you should get it!
VERY IMPORTENT INFORMATION TQ.
And for open the door, breack the window..
Anthony R. Ct actually no... bmw uses a dead bolt system. when you press lock twice, the door is locked inside and out, you cannot open it from the inside or out without the key. so break all the windows. you aint opening the doors :)
Dood,! Can I tell you right now? You fucking Rock! I want to say it again you Rock!!
Seems like the best video I've seen thus far. I'll try and if it works ill quote you
Thanks for the vid worked great !
I looked on the z4 and I think that lever is sadly coated with some kind of plastic box
Much simpler explanation than the other similar videos.
f**k YES BRO! Thank you!!!
haha! You are welcome!
thats ingenious i am going to try it...
U r good man
I must be slow. I scraped my hand up and still couldn't find the place for the key😒
Thank you
thank you for the great video sir
Why’s this working for everyone this didn’t work at all for me I can’t even find the damn thing he’s talking about
Thank u😅
Vielen, vielen Dank, aus Gänserndorf Austria
For some fucking reason I cant do it I've been stuck on this bullshit ass e39 for 4 days
i looked up several tips to get this done and this was by far the best. thanks man
Thank you and glad it helped!
Thank you sir. You saved me lots of time and trouble.
Man idk my 525i has like some black blocking everything I see nothing
Man I’ve been trying on my 2000 540i for hours and the hood is still stuck. Interior cable too broken to work, passenger side latch is ready, but my driver side latch does not want to budge
Eeeeks, possibly seized latch? Try to have someone push down on the hood with light pressure as you try to open the latch
But why use your key l? You can fuck it up. Why not a flathead
So interested in how you were able to find such a great solution? Now, my problem is; why the truck of my BMW 540i, is not opening from the inside car latch, without using the key remote?
Hahaha, I had no choice! I was desperate as my "check oil" light came on in the mountains of Virginia. So I pulled over and started taking things apart on the side of the road; basically just trying to understand where the cable was run and how it works. After feeling around, I used the only thing i had on hand to press the release on the latch. I honestly thought it would release just the one side. I was really fortunate BMW put things where they did :)
Im sorry, I haven't had that issue yet. But if I did, I would take the trunk lid apart to see how the mechanism works. You will most likely find something worn or fallen out of place.
If you car is equipt with a towbar You can open your car with a car battery and speakercable and a meassure instrument to look what is your - and + . Take towbar for connect - and other + in 1 one of the holes except the - connection from the plug box of towbar. Make connections correct and wait 5 minutes and you can open your car with your key like normal!
2 am lets try it
Thanks!
I'm doing exactly what you said. I feel the recess with the key and I'm pushing it to the drivers side. The hood just isn't popping open. Is there anything I'm doing wrong?
Try having someone pulling up on the hood while you push the tab. See if that works
So people can steal your engine without opening the hood ?
Thanks so much saved my ass
Thanks man just bout a BMW yesterday had this happened & ur video help thanks & don't brake grill
thank you :)
Got locked out twice in 1 month..had my window broken on my E90..massechussets..and now 2nd time in 1 month im locked out today..E90 ..grill cant be opened..
It looks like your cable latch is on the passenger side so if mine is in the driver's side do I remove the passenger side kidney grill to access that release?
The cable runs thru the left (drivers) side of the vehicle. This isn't a right hand drive vehicle. so the main hood release was on the left side of the car. If you have a right hand drive car, I'm sure it would be the opposite to this.
@@AcousticHills ok thanks so if my hood release is on the left(American driver's side), the release I push on with my key is on the right(American passenger side).
@@jaqenhghar6996 np, it would be on the left drivers' side. Same as in the vid 👍
@@AcousticHills ok gotcha! It was a bit confusing because your actual release is on the opposite side of the portion you push with your key. I appreciate you responding to me! Great vid!
@@jaqenhghar6996 thanks! Hope it works for you!
You will be a double-savior if I manage to do that this weekend (you already saved my ears, I appreciated the spoiler alert!)
haha! thank you and i hope you got it my friend!
AcousticHills actually i didnt. it was too hard to remove it on my E87 but fortunately the wire is broken at the handle so i just disassemble the system and pulled the wire directly. still, thank you, it would have been my plan B (probably breaking the grill bars...)
oh good stuff! glad you ended up getting it in the end :)
I'm not proving how the picture comes ????????????????????????????????????
Thanks man!! Very helpful
Nice M5 btw!!
Thank you ! :)
Your video saved me! Thank you very much!!!
you very welcome my friend! glad to help!
thanks for the video. my hood would not open on my 540i bmw .I used needle nose inserted the handles down end of the needle nose to move the cable to the right in the small hole .hood opened right up .if a woman can do this anyone can .so happy I figured this out .now I need to just buy a new cable have it replaced
I have a 2011 bmw 328i xdrive...the hood won't open I have the left side and middle open but the right side won't open the latch under the steering wheel is broken..I can't get into it to change the oil because it's on red...please help me I've tried everything
Try having someone pull up on the release inside the car and hold it while you lift the hood. might have to jerk it a few times. Hopefully it is just stuck and pops out! I don't own one of those but I would imagine it wont be as easy as mine.
Definitely not on an X5
I just bought a 2002 bmw 745li and the hood wont open I will try this tomorrow... thanks for the video...
Ty bro
You are welcome!
Can someone tell me if there is a difference between I6 and V8 E39's with the hood mechanism. I can't for the life of me get the hood open of my 525I after following this video.
I don’t think so I used the same method as this on 523i and it worked I think Diesel engines are different maybe
Same here I have the 525i and I can’t seem to find anything that these people doing with the grill lol
I think this works only on USA models.
yea i was thinking if this would be reversed on rhd models
Beautiful! Thank you man!
Maxwell Elliott youre welcome friend!
thanks from Chile!
Ok what even bro, I can't fine the damn latch that your talking about. Even with the diagram picture. Maybe im just not sure where to reach but I feel like I've felt around the whole area and everything is plastic
It is subtle but you will get it. The pic was taken kind of up-side-down, couldnt get a good angle on the cam.
@@AcousticHills my dilemma, hoodline broke at handle near driver seat, oil leaking at about two quarts a month. I haven't been able to open the hood in a few weeks and now I can feel the pistons start to grab the cylinders. I am not able to run my car until I can get into the hood. Saying that, I have been trying for days now reaching in, I can feel the v where you set the key, but I can't get any sense of direction as to where you are pushing the key ( in the video you say towards driver side I think, but in diagram it looks opposite?
@@pinkyishere9056 It was in (towards you) but to the drivers' side. Wish I can help more. I don't have the car anymore so another video showing it better isn't an option sadly.
Is it possible to pull the interior up and use a set of needle nose vise grips to pull whats left of the cable up? or has is broken that far back? Hopefully you get it!
Bro what
My hood is stuck in drivers side after this ?
Nima Sami same. How did you manage it?
would this work on a 1999 528i ? it looks different
It should, that's an e39.
Try it out! If it does, you saved yourself time and money. If not, it cost you 5 mins.
@@AcousticHills right? i got the right grill off... finally got a flashlight working... sunday i will check it out... it looks a little different like maybe pull the cable towards me then pop a screwdriver up the right latch and maybe then the left swivel handle up should do it i hope
@@AcousticHills im still working on it.. four days... now, pulled the frayed wires under the inside drivers latch with pliers, used machete under the hood.. pulled on cable, pulled all release latches finally the left side un hooked but the right side still locked up tight LOL
oh yeah, your video is awesome, thank you
Anytime! thank you :)
Ugly Depo headlights
that not work for 525d
Yo my cable broke from the passenger side Bonnet or it’s stuck on the side. Any advice
My right side of the hood is able to raise just need the left bonnet. E39 2001
Hey there. Try pressing down on the hood at the latch while someone keeps the hood release pulled. If its seized, it may be enough to pop it out.
If not, could you see any peice of the cable?
I dont have the e39 anymore, otherwise i would go out and try to see
My mind is dirty. I kept thinking about how to feel for the g spot, but thanks
and BMW e39 525 unversal?
Nathan your videos are very helpful thank for that, i have a 2000 540i with very low miles, but i recently changed the key cylinder with the key, but now every three or four week my car will crank but wont start, can you help me. Every time i have to call my mechanic to come and use the computer to get my car started, what could be the problem,
Alexis Melendez hello, i think you are replying in the wrong video lol. my name is not Nathan.
but if i were to guess, id say have a different key made up and try that.
AcousticHills sorry and thanks
Will this work with a 2003 BMW X5
I'm not sure, try it out! At the worst, you'll have to replace the kindy grill.
will this work with 323i?
I'm not sure, try it out!
it workt:)
hahaha, great!!! at 2AM lol
Yeah i was doing it in the night
Great tip. Thanks 👍
Thanks from Canada - saved me from breaking a window
Why would you brake a window?
@@tonycuadros5297 because he forgot his keys under the hood and the car was locked ... just think a little
Thank you ! It works on my 1997 e39
Excellent! You are welcome my friend!
Is it the same for a 2007 x3??? Help please
Oh im not sure man, i never owned one of those. You can try it, remove the kidney grill and feel for it. Hopefully you can get it
What a handy video! I have exactly this problem right now so this info is just what I need…
Thx.
you are welcome!
Is it on the driver side?
I have a right hand drive?
In your case, I would assume on the right side if it's a RHS drive
Thanks,
Your the best !
Anytime friend!
sesk.por no
I beat someone try this and dropped their key and now they are stuck on the road
lol, yea that would suck. They would have to be fairly careless to do that tho.
Cool thanks!
THANKKKK YOUUUU🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
i tried it on my 525d it didn't work because my cooler is much bigger you cant just fit your hand in like in the video.
DerAlbaner if you got a DIESEL engine in your e39, the intercooler is in the way? thats good to know! thanks
yes, i can reach it a littlebit with my fingers but i can't say if its the part that you mean. i feel the V shaped think and also tried to pull, push ist but nothing worked, also the cable is right there so i dont know what to do anymore
It should be the same layout as in the picture i have in the video(its a bad pic i know) perhaps try using a rad hose pick or a pair of needle nosed pliers as one person here wrote that she had done.
That would be a tight spot sadly. Id be trying everything not to take my front end apart! Hopefully you get it my friend!
AcousticHills i would but these tools are to big to fit in it doesn't work
DerAlbaner ah man, i was afraid of that. i wish i can come over and help out! whyd they have to put the cooler there lol.
Does it work on a 2011 328i ???
I'm having the same issue got 2 latches but the right one won't open
I still couldn't get it to open
laosfinest same but trying again today
Will this work on an e46
Zay Springer yes
"GOLDEN STAMP" you are at the right place!
life hack: open drive's side door, pull hood release lever
You didn't watch the video huh?