How to open stuck jammed hood from broken cable BMW e39 e38 or X5 BEST WAY in under 30 seconds !!! 

I just open the hood of my X5 after watching your video, it took me less than one minute. Thanks a lot.

Came home this afternoon planning to change the oil in my 2000 e39 (335,000 miles). Parked in front of my house and went to pop the hood and "snap". Cable broke right at the inside release lever. First tried to catch cable with long nose pliers - no luck. Then googled and watch this video. Grill off easy. Passenger side latch released easily as cable is visible just as the video shows. Worked for a while trying to feel my way to the back bottom of the driver's side latch per the video. Finally, with short, stuby screwdriver, was able to release driver's side latch. Now have the hood down on a heavy towel and on the safety catch and tied down to the underneath frame. It goes to my go-to shop in the morning for a new section of cable. Told them I did half the work for them. Really appreciate the video - Thanks. Howard

Just opened my 2001 530i, I also had to pull the usual lever to unlock the passenger side latch, but it worked! Thank you 🙏

Nathan, THANK GOD you make these videos. I think you are one of the only people who has this kind of information. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING IT WITH THE WORLD. I honestly haven't tried it on my X5 yet, but will soon. Hopefully it works! My pull release snapped at the handle inside the car under the steering wheel. I'll get back on how the results are when I finally have the time to do it.

I've just watched a couple of your e46 etc. videos, trying to get inspired to take my 330 out and go for a drive. I just want you to know how impressed I am, that you are helping folks like this... I hope, and I know, it will come back to you when you least expect it. You are an example of what's "right" on the internet, really in our world. Well, it's starting to rain, so maybe tomorrow or Monday... I am old enough to say this... I am proud of you... Regards.

Just opened the hood on my 2000 BMW E39 520iAT following your instructions. My battery had died, and this was the easiest way for me to get into the car. Still useful video in 2022! A big thank you!

Nathan this video saved me big time! Just installed a new cable and soaked my latches for 2 weeks in oil. Put the new hood on and it was stuck even with new parts. The different hood pins were not lined up with my latches. By pulling the cables it gave it that lil bit needed to release. Thank you +100

Great info!! I had my 528i at a shop and they were about to cut a hole in the hood to get to the latch. This video saved me a ton of money and having to buy a new hood!!

Thanks for putting this up. The drivers side interior hood release is broken on my 530 xi. Ill put to use your video tomorrow. Your right on with the situation also, I have to fill my expansion tank with water.

U didn't show us a example of u opening a stuck hood this vid was pointless

Thanks, this saved me hours of work - much appreciated.

dude thank you SOOO much . ive viewed about a half a dozen other videos and none of them went into the latch itself, they were all about the cable & spots to pull etc... your solution makes the most sense . Thank you

Hey, I just want to let everyone know that I successfully opened my brothers 2002 525i today using this method. There are only two videos online showing this method. Thanks for the video. The latch to open the hood was very loose. So no pressure was going to the latches. I tried last night with just a flashlight a dental mirror and a screwdriver. Fail.. Fail.. I then tried in the morning with a mirror that has a light on it and a pick. I don't know what to call it, but it was hooked at the end, same size as a screw driver but hooked. Once you have the right tools, it will open so easily ! He is very correct! Literally 10 seconds with the right mirror with light and a tool that curves at the end, at least 45 degrees. Hope this helps. And thanks for video.

Excellent as always,!

thanks man for making this as easy as it should be. YOUR THE MAN!!!!!

Thanks man. It was getting pissed off and mad about it. Same issue here. Broke at the handle. You got my hood open. Thanks for the info.

Thanks buddy I got my hood open because of your vid. you where on point, I live all the way in Barbados and my car is a right hand drive, thanks again good vid

Dude thanks much for the video you save me so much time and energy I actually was able to flip the latch with my finger didn’t even need a screwdriver

Worked great! Thanks for the vid!

Very good review. Thank you!

Thanks so much for the video! Helped me out a bunch!

Thank you! Your knowledge and teaching saved me money and time!

You always help! Thanks for the content!

This video saved my bacon, thank you 🙏🏼

Very good and helpful video. thank you very much. this just happened to my 2001 BMW 525i, and I was thinking, how in the heck am I gonna get the hood open. you are a life saver my friend.

Nice work!

Thank you man, you are awesome!!!

Thanks got it open through corner light. Now gotta try to install everything

You saved my life...Hahaha..Great video, if anything, breaking the grill tabs is the only thing that gets damaged. Very informative, all the other videos either break 2 or more parts...I give this 2 thumbs up...Thanks

Great video. thanks!

Wow thanks. My cable just broke & I was freaking out but then thought maybe someone had it on u-tube. Now I can fix it. The kidney grill has to come out but from the outside I don't know a way without breaking the plastic clips. Only bummer.

Thank you very much. Very helpful.

Thanks for the video--you helped me out!

Good video I’m going to try it later on my 04 325

Thank you. Your a life saver

Wow thank you I will try it tomorrow

Thank you!

You, sir, are the man. Thanks for the vid.

Thank you so much for this video was perfect! Funny you mentioned those things about cutting plastic and we even thought about cutting through the damn hood oh, we did cut a little plastic to get a fat hand underneath and ended up finding that little latch and pushing it with a screwdriver. we almost gave up till we found this video so thank you again!

Thank you.

My cable snapped inside the car cockpit right at the release lever. I tried removing the kidney grill at the front but was afraid of snapping the holding clips. So, inside the cockpit, I unscrewed the release lever, a couple of plastic panels and was then able to access the cable at the point where the lug was snapped off. I then attached a vice grip to the cable and gave it a good pull. This released the locking mechanism under the bonnet/hood and I was able to open it. I found this way much easier than removing the kidney grill. Hope this helps...

Easiest method of all to release the hood mechanism on the driver's side, is locate the unlock mechanism that he shows and uses a curved flathead to unlock. Instead feel the unlock mechanism with your middle finger to locate it, then put a leather glove on and push on the flange that he uses the screwdriver on with your gloved middle finger instead. It is fairly hard to do, but will unlock it easier than using the flathead if you don't have a curved flathead. If you're really tough, you might be able to do it without a glove on with your bare finger. Also first check to see if it is broken at the lever in the car. If it is, but you can't find the broken end, remove the panel above the foot controls and then pull the cable out, and use a vise grip to pull on the broken cable.

After doing this I decided that I would update my cables and added a homemade emergency pull cable attached to the lock itself so now all I have to do is pop the grill off and pull the cable I made and BAM! it opens.

exactly what i needed :)

Thank u so much bro!!!!

Thank you👍🔧

thanks for the Video its priceless

Other guys show in their vids how to remove the drivers side yellow turn signal light unit so that you can reach in and grab the cable housing and pull on it. It is located up, but not very far in, so you would have to reach up to get it.

Nathan, I don't knowhow to thank you man... done in 10 seconds. thanks a lot.

Works for the e36, popped blinker light out and the right kidney grill. Pulled on the center cable it popes the left latch, pulled behind the marker and it released the right latch

So am I supposed to take out the driver's side kidney grill before the cable snaps ?

thank you so much perfect

I used this video to open my hood after the bowden cable broke from the handle too. It is accurate and you just have to pay special attention to the bottom of the lock and where the two cables meet. That's where you have to concentrate your efforts to hook your pliers and pull the latches open. If the cable breaks in between the two latches, then you'll have to do the same technique with the other latch if there's enough clearance. Maybe also try to fish for the remaining cable and pull it.

Thanx for the video. My 2000 5 series' hood is stuck. I'm going outside to give your trick a try! Thank you. I'll let you know how it turns out! I've also subscribed to your page.

nice video.

Any explanation to why the passenger side goes down and gets tighter when you pull the latch to open it?? Its happening more and more often now.

Thanks I’ll try it

Thx nathan, worked out fine! Bob belgium

Will this method work on a, 2002 BMW X5.?

Hi Nathan any advice for getting the hood open for is unfortunates who have an E46?

Know anything on getting my 2008 328xi hood open? Thanks!

El mejor vídeo ,fue el unico que me ayudó a abrir mi auto,gracias!!

Good video

Appreciate that...

Does e36 and e46 use the same hood latch?

Hey Nathan I got a 2000 540 I with the wheel locked at the 1:00 position and the key won’t crank over how can I unlock the wheel in order to get the car to start

Hi! How I can remove the grill for Open de hook???

Hello, can you show which tool(s) you've used PLEASE?

Helo sir i want to ask u how about to open hood e36 m40 my cable stuck wont open the hood cause it's broken in the midle. Would u please give the solution to opened. Thanks

Darn wish I saw this earlier. Just had this happen on e36. I did the bolt removal method LOL

Hi Nathan, how can you open an e46 2004 325i?

Great video but how do you get the grill out when the hood is closed

Hi Nathan, why does my 328i 2011 xdrive have blue exhaust smoke just when I pull out and gas it to the floor? Please help

While the hood is shut how do you manage to get the front grill out without damaging it in order to open the hood by a broken cable or latch?

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nice and easy open 540i less than 5 min :)

Does this apply to a '99 328i? I can't seem to find any info for my specific model about this, and I'm desperate for some direction lol. So far, the only info I've seen is to remove the post bolts like you mentioned, and there isn't enough room due to the plastic and radiator fan to get to all of them.

How you gonna push it from the backside of its closed?

If you're unlucky enough to have the cable break or the junction box come apart, good luck getting this done in 30 HOURS. Suggesting it can be opened in 30 seconds is patently ridiculous. There's a reason he doesn't show you how to do that in situ, I am still not sure if it's even possible. I spent over an hour looking for the tabs to open without any success. Just to confirm - I could not even SEE the tabs, to pull the latch on the driver side cable, let alone open them.

I used an allen wrench on the end of a nut driver. I could not budge the driver side latching mechanism until a cut the cable going to the passenger side latching mechanism. The passenger side was unlatched by pulling the cable connecting the driver side latching mechanism the the passenger side mechanism. Not sure why or where is was binding... but after two days and considering cutting the post, we cut the cable and it popped right open with little effort.

im going to try it on my 1999 bmw 528i

How do you open driver seat hood without battery attached

Straight subscribe because of this ! :)

Can i do my 745 too

I fixed it there was a screw driver that prevent the hood from closing now open and close right ;)

Thank you you saved my x5 from a ass beating lol

Hi Nathan, I have a European made diesel 530i BMW estate (station wagon) from 2006.The hood release cable works, however the little latch you must manually push down or up at the very tip of the hood in the middle does not work. It won't move at all. Any ideas?

My man Nate. Shits been stuck (driver) for weeks. You just schooled me and I did it 2 secs, of course after feeling around for a min and learning what's there. Short flat head is all you need.... BOOM.

how do you open the hood it its broke.UG

I exposed the mechanism in my e39 and the plastic won't budge! Is it supposed to be super tough w the cables still attached? It moves maybe 10% :/

Would this method work on an e46 '03 330ci convertible?

Thanks change the cable from driver side but I don't know the hood now seem it became auto hahaha I can open bonnet without pulling the lever on driver side but the bonnet is heavy so I don't expect it to open like e36 one day long back I forgot to close flip on me and glass broken and bonnet smashed

I suggest you make more video's on the E39 like this.... a lot of us BMW enthusiast still have their E39's and this issue is very popular - I am almost running into it myself.. but its always nice to see something different than the norm being shown... norm in this case what I have seen and read was to drill your hood... (cringe)

528i BMW 1999 been trying for 2 days... to pull that cable, but nothing,, been trying to tear apart drivers side latch and see the end of the broken cable but cant reach it....

PLEASE COME DO THIS FOR ME 😭😭😩😭😭😭

How about the x5

you are a life saver I tried like 20 different ways on RU-vid fucked my shit all up and did ur way n like 3min

What if the handle broke off

hey man, excellent video like always, will this apply to the 2006 750li e66, I have the same problem? let me know thank you

Yeah how do I open my hood first