BMW X3 E83 how to open the hood without removing the grilles 

Thanks- it helps so much!!!!! - the hoodcable on the driverside was much corroded, so no brace for the cable and so no move to the locking device🔓

Thank you for posting this. After removing significant portion of the plastics this was still the only thing which helped on the driver's side!

Thank you for posting this. After fiddeling with this for a little while, it opened. Brilliant!

This was exactly what I needed. Thank you so much.

How to remove the latch? Im trying to replace the latch. I removed the two bolts that hold it in place and it was disconnected but there's no way to take it out!!!! What I'm missing! Thanks