Hood Catch (Request for photo)
 

When I pull the internal hood release, the driver side will pop as normal, but not the passenger side.

Can someone post a pic of the hood latching mechanism on the passenger side of their x5? (So I can get an idea of where it might be getting hung up.)

(I've seen the parts diagram, but I can't see how things connect there.)

Looks to me like both sides are duplicates- separate cables come from the drivers side, one to the driveside latch, the other then crosses the engine to the pax side latch.

Pictures are useless, as there is an 'enclosure' formed by the painted metal of the engine compartment and the latch is bolted to this from above (the metal has an opening for the hasp on the hood, but othersie you cannot see it well.

http://www.xoutpost.com/attachment.p...1&d=1421876537

Thanks, ard.

So there's not really any backup mechanism for opening the hood if the cable snaps/breaks? (And no access from underneath?)

(I can't tell what the issue with mine is. Could be frozen, but could be something else.)

I've read a few threads about removing/cutting open the grill to access. Don't want to have to do that, but I may not have a choice.

Have you confirmed that the interior release handle is pulling both cables? just a wag

Definitely pulling the driver side (obviously).

Can't tell if it's pulling the passenger side. (What would I even look/feel for?)

I just looked up Bowden Cable over on one of the parts sites. I dont think it CAN be the in car release- it looks like one cable there, then it splits into two.

Look up:

51237184452

and


51237184456

Hint: put that in google. youll find pictures

There's a couple of post on the other forums about people having the same exact problem as you do: the driver side latch disengage while the passenger doesn't. I've asked one of the most recent guys if he has any feedback (since nobody ever reported back about it)

I suspect there's something going on with the little distribution box that takes the one cable coming from the handle and splits it to 2 cables going to the individual latches

I don't believe that you can access the latch from the kidney grill since the latches sit behind the radiators.

I believe you may have better chances by removing the center plastic of the underbody and going up to the latch from there.

I'll take a look tonight at my car and see if I can see a route. I'll also take a look at Rehingold and see if it has any information.

Yeah, perhaps this will help:

Hood cable failure point / how to open hood manually upon cable failure - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

Looking at my X5 (it was at the dealer today for a recall, so I couldn't look until now) you can see the two cables 'join' at a small, elongated square box (in diagrams and pictures of the other car). It appears you can take off the fender liner and at the top you can access this junction from the wheel well. It is perhaps 4 inches from the fender line right at the edge of the engine compartment (where the hood joins with the fender when closed).

That picture helps a lot!

I see the cable runs right next to coolant reservoir. I remember spilling coolant just outside the reservoir a couple of weeks ago, so there's a good chance something has probably either frozen or gotten gummed up.

[Edit: link is helpful too. You're always helpful, ard, even if you are a cantankerous one at times.]

^ You can see a rectangular silver tab (a threaded clip) with a black screw coming up. This will unscrew from the wheel well (along with many others).

Yeah, well if I was solely a dick, it'd be a different story.... ;)