BMW E39 E38 E53 Hood Cable Removal Easy Step by Step 525i 528i 530i 540i 740i X5 

To all: The wire has almost NO slack when okay. So when you experience that your lever is somewhat soft and "grabs" the locks almost at the end of the movement you may want to check your wire ASAP. You may be pulling only one or two remaining strigs left that just wait to break as well. It is far easier to change it as long as you are able to open your hood instead of changing it once you are locked out.

Thank you Nathan

Nate brotha you ain't gonna believe it but my hood latch has gone bad today too. Man the two cables near the auxiliary fan are rusty and i think its broken between the driver side latch going back to the middle long piece. So once i am able to get that situated im gonna replace the entire cable hood latch wires so it actuates as it is supposed to. I literally just discovered this issue. When two days ago it opened just fine. Bcuz i removed the water pump and thermostat. (I was about to show someone the exhaust side to get at manifold bolts when i learned it was broken) ten steps forward n 50 backwards lol

by the way appreciate any help in advance and i own 03 325xi

best video i watched on this replacement, makes it all very clear

Thanks for the video! My passenger side hood latch stopped working (X5 - E53), so I'm guessing it's a problem with the center cable. Several DIY forums say that you need to remove the front bumper and driver-side headlight in order to remove the hatch and replace the cables. I am hoping that I can fish out the cables and replace them without having to mess with removing the latches or the hood. Fingers crossed! Also, from your video, it looks like I'd destroy a bunch of nice decorative plastics if I try to replace the cable that goes into the cabin... I guess I'll leave that one alone for now, unless it looks horrible.

It's possible for 520i ??

So you can't pull the cable to open

very good 3Q

do you have any idea how water would get in when it rains because i get water somehow rite next to the hood release very puzzling

Another great episode!

My 540i which was sitting for awhile just had this problem arise (thankfully I got it open to do the work I needed before it happened). This is a good step by step on how to do it.

Thank you Nathan! Very helpful.

Nate i gotta grab like few more parts and i will have all the parts. Remaining things r all minor stuff that i can get to at later point in time.

That was absolutely useful . My regards

Thank you for a great video! On our 1999 e46 the drivers side latch does not ever catch closed. I have to depend on the passenger side to keep the hood closed. And yes I tried moving that striker bracket on the hood all over the place an no luck. But maybe I need that other part new, that the striker bracket goes into, new?? That e46 is really a great car!

have any experience with e38 2001 740il my car wont $hift into forward or reverse it act$ like it want$ to $hift into gear but it's like the rear wheel$ are loved up...before it happen I kept $eeing the (Abs) &( !)triangle icon pop up on da$hboard. I been told it could be the linkages or low trans fluids..

BEST video ever! easy to follow and understand. You ROCK!