Bonnet latch cable broken, can't get bonnet open

[Theador]

At the weekend I snapped the bonnet catch on my 1994 850 T5. I'd left the car idling for about an hour and the lambda light had come on. Trying to get the bonnet open resulted in the bonnet pull snapping.

I've managed to cut back the outer casing in the footwell enough now to get hold of the inner cable with pliers, but pulling it is resulting in nothing happening. Any ideas anyone? Sadly there still seems to be an oil leak on the car too so I'm going to need to get in there soon if nothing else just to top it up with oil.

[martybelfastt5]

you need someone pushing down then pulling on the bonnet at the same time as you pulling it
they are a bit of a bugger to replace not im possible tho

[Theador]

Cheers, where would they push/pull from most effectively? (RHD car)

you need someone pushing down then pulling on the bonnet at the same time as you pulling it
they are a bit of a bugger to replace not im possible tho

[martybelfastt5]

at the latches each side somtimes just in the centre remember there is two latches left and right front corners of bonnet

[Theador]

Would I be right in assuming that the cable goes through the bulkhead straight to the drivers side catch first and then to the passenger side, and therefore pushing up and down on the drivers side might be mildly more effective?

at the latches each side somtimes just in the centre remember there is two latches left and right front corners of bonnet

[martybelfastt5]

not sure on releasing it but yes driver side first thinking of it driver sides usually pops first

[Theador]

This is what I see, any idea where to poke?

I think going up from under the car will be the only way.

[merc85]

can you not pull the grill out its held in with around plastic tabs the get to the centre release catch?

[Theador]

It's the two main catches, not the centre one that are giving me grief

can you not pull the grill out its held in with around plastic tabs the get to the centre release catch?

[Theador]

OK so a few deep gouges down my arm later, and I did it!

Basically the outer sheath of the cable that runs back to the footwell had come loose at the offside latch.

How I did it:

I got under the car and went for the nearside catch first by rather painfully getting my hand up through a gap behind the radiator and the subframe. There was one wiring loom that I had to move out of the way, but this allowed me enough access to get to the cable that runs between the two catches along the front of the car and give it a yank to get the nearside latch to release.

I then went to the offside of the car, and through a similar cavity, managed to rather painfully get my arm up and give the little lever on the latch a push, enough to release the offside.

My problem is with the nearside latch, it doesn't release on the cable; I guess the cable has stretched or something. I have now put some tie wraps around the little lever on the offside latch and run them through to the indicator. As long as I don't latch the nearside, I can get the offside catch open until I can get the whole assembly replaced.

Thanks again for all your help; I wouldn't have known where to start without it.