Broken Hood release cable
 

Anyone ever replace one?

Sure!!

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...highlight=hood

It is a bit challenging but definitely do-able. Be very careful with the hard plastic hose that goes to the radiator overflow... it breaks quite easily when you move the radiator......

it shows as being a 2 peice cable on the diagram. I need the first part that goes to the junction box.

Frim the lever to the junction box or from the junction box to the first hood release??

If it is the 1st hood release, the 2nd hood release is connected to the 1st hood release so you will probably have to remove both to get them back together.

where is the junction box?? It is broken from the release handle to the junction box

The "junction box" is on the driver's side of the engine compartment up on the side. It is a bit tough to open up. You will think you are going to break it open and then it pops open!!

I do not have any experience fishing the cable from there to the lever. When I did mine it was from the junction to the actual hood releases.

Take a look to see where the cable goes through the firewall and then were it comes out in the interior. Should be pretty straight forward. Probably have to remove the hood release lever in the interior to attach the new cable.

Ya thats what I thought. I might just tape one end of the new cable to the old cable and pull through fire wall and hopefully it will come through with new one attached.

I would tie on some fishing line. I would bet you the tape comes undone and you are trying to find where the hell the teeny tinny hole in the firewall is!!!

attach the new cable at the junction box to the old cable, then go to the interior where the release is and pull it through slowly.. ya fishing line might work..

For anyone reading this in Ireland or the UK... I regularly read the content on this site and it is incredibly useful. This is perhaps my first chance to contribute something.

My X5 is an E53, 2002 Model, 3.0d Sport Auto.
My bonnet cable snapped at the handle, like literally at the rear of the handle.

I'm not sure if our models are different because they're Right hand drive, but this was one of the simplest jobs I've ever had to do to my car. There have been plenty of wearisome others!

To replace that section of the cable, the part number you need is: 51238402614. I got it from Keary's in Cork for €32.

No. 10 in the drawing here:
RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 3.0d ENGINE HOOD/MOUNTING PARTS

To replace it:

1: Remove the old handle by pulling off the removeable trim panel by the handle. Then undo the Handle and mechanism using a 1/4" Drive, deep 8mm socket.
2: Grab the protruding bit of cable using a Vise grips and pull it to open the bonnet. If there's none protruding, skin it back to expose some.
3: On the drivers side of the engine bay you'll see a black plastic "cylinder" mounted on the side, and the two separate cables are joined in here.
4: Open this cylinder, and disconnect the rear section of cable using a pliers.
5: Drop the cowling underneath the steering wheel in the cabin. (3 x Phillips Screws)
6: Use a torch and reach in around the back of the "Large Metal Plate" (This will make sense when you're looking at it!) and pull the cable through.
7: Then just feed your new cable in and mount it and re-assemble everything.
8: Afterwards, Lube the sh*t out of the bowden cables at the front of the car that are much harder to get to, and hope they don't fail!

This job took me less than 25 mins and required a phillips screwdriver, a pliers, a vise grips and a deep 8mm 1/4" Drive Socket.
I'm not sure if it's this easy because our cars are RHD, but anyone could do it.

Good luck guys. I've sold my X5 and the guy is coming to pick it up tomorrow. I may buy a later E53 to replace it but will most likely wait and get an E70.
I've bought a Maserati to keep me occupied in the meantime!

Anyway, to all the regulars on here, thank you so much for all your help over the years of my X5 ownership. This token contribution of mine will hopefully help someone out in the future!

Seany