Hood Latch... where the hell is it?

aus · 01-29-2014, 10:06 PM

Why does BMW need to make everything so difficult.
Got an Estoril Blue/Red 328 M-Sport loaner complete black grills.
Reallyl nice car but the headlights are pointed down 5 feet in front of the car. I figured I'd raise them up, but couldn't figure out how to unlatch the hood!!!

I've worked on MANY cars and could always open the hood. I ran my hand under the entire width of the hood and looked through the grills for a lever that pops out on some cars. It was pretty dark, so maybe I missed it??
What gives??

Thanks for any help.

Axman85 · 01-29-2014, 10:14 PM

Pull the hood release twice and it will open.

M3AWD · 01-29-2014, 11:44 PM

^ +1

Happened to me.. I had to go to the owner's manual haha..

Steve33 · 01-30-2014, 12:09 AM

Doesn't it say 2x on the handle?

aus · 01-30-2014, 12:18 AM

It might, but it was pretty dark when I was messing with it.
Not sure why the latch needed to be reinvented.

Thanks for the help M-Sport.

.

Steve33 · 01-30-2014, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

It might, but it was pretty dark when I was messing with it.
Not sure why the latch needed to be reinvented.

Thanks for the help M-Sport.

.

It's alright, there's a post somewhere about a Russian opening the hood while he was driving... must find.

aus · 01-30-2014, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve33

It's alright, there's a post somewhere about a Russian opening the hood while he was driving... must find.

I was thinking some fool would do something like that eventually.
Sometimes I think BMW does things just to be different- not necessarily to be better.

.

MikeRR · 01-30-2014, 03:18 AM

I think it is more practical as you are keeping your hands clean this way, no more searching for the lever unter the hood.

southbynorth · 01-30-2014, 06:31 AM

Agreed - its much better - no more groping for a 'somewhere' latch getting dirty mits.

And it is impossible to undo the hood by accident as it takes two pulls - the russian must have been trying to open it on purpose?

OP - try checking the manual sometimes, or ask the dealer what is different on the car when you pick it up!

OC40 · 01-30-2014, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeRR

I think it is more practical as you are keeping your hands clean this way, no more searching for the lever unter the hood.

This. BMW made it more practical.

RoundelM3 · 01-30-2014, 08:04 AM

Yeah, I struggled with the hood latch too, until I figured it out. But those headlights on the loaner - are they the self-leveling Xenons or the standard halogens? I'd take it back to the dealer before messing with it myself. Just a suggestion.

Bassthe1st · 01-30-2014, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

Why does BMW need to make everything so difficult.
Got an Estoril Blue/Red 328 M-Sport loaner complete black grills.
Reallyl nice car but the headlights are pointed down 5 feet in front of the car. I figured I'd raise them up, but couldn't figure out how to unlatch the hood!!!

I've worked on MANY cars and could always open the hood. I ran my hand under the entire width of the hood and looked through the grills for a lever that pops out on some cars. It was pretty dark, so maybe I missed it??
What gives??

Thanks for any help.

Like they said.

You will probably need to go to the dealer to fix your problem though. You can't just adjust the headlights hight, you probably have a broken level sensor arm like I had.

BavarianFanatic · 01-30-2014, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

I was thinking some fool would do something like that eventually.
Sometimes I think BMW does things just to be different- not necessarily to be better.

.

If I remember correctly, the redesign of the hood latch is a byproduct of more stringent pedestrian protection regulations in Europe.

aus · 01-30-2014, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southbynorth

Agreed - its much better - no more groping for a 'somewhere' latch getting dirty mits.

And it is impossible to undo the hood by accident as it takes two pulls - the russian must have been trying to open it on purpose?

OP - try checking the manual sometimes, or ask the dealer what is different on the car when you pick it up!

You know what a loaner is? I pick up the car in the morning, ie NO HEADLIGHTS needed. There's NO MANUAL in the car because they don't want anyone to lose it because they're going to sell teh car eventually. By the time I went out to dinner, it was WAY past closing time for the service dept. As for whats different, I'd expect the headlights to turn on since it's autoheadlights, which they did, but they're pointed down too much- I'm not going to check that when I pick up a car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassthe1st

Like they said.

You will probably need to go to the dealer to fix your problem though. You can't just adjust the headlights hight, you probably have a broken level sensor arm like I had.

I'll mention it to them when I drop it off.

mhanism · 01-30-2014, 10:08 AM

Agree - the 2 times is much simpler and no need to get hands dirty. Just need to make sure when closing, simple drop down evenly to let it catch evenly. If not even, only one side will catch leaving a crooked hood.

aus · 01-30-2014, 02:28 PM

What are you guys opening the hood for that doesn't require you to get your hands a little dirty??

.

BavarianFanatic · 01-30-2014, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

What are you guys opening the hood for that doesn't require you to get your hands a little dirty??

.

I'm thinking these are guys that don't open the hood...

MikeRR · 01-30-2014, 03:14 PM

Filling up the washer fluid for example?

Math · 01-30-2014, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

What are you guys opening the hood for that doesn't require you to get your hands a little dirty??

.

To clean the engine bay??

tdizzle · 01-30-2014, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

What are you guys opening the hood for that doesn't require you to get your hands a little dirty??

.

Uninstalling my JB4 for dealer visits

But my hands probably get a bit dirty doing that...

OC40 · 01-30-2014, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

What are you guys opening the hood for that doesn't require you to get your hands a little dirty??

.

I'm thinking these are guys that don't open the hood...

It is much more efficient to pull the hood lever twice than to pull the lever once and then push the latch.

kent11202 · 01-30-2014, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

I've worked on MANY cars and could always open the hood. I ran my hand under the entire width of the hood and looked through the grills for a lever that pops out on some cars. It was pretty dark, so maybe I missed it??
What gives??

Thanks for any help.

Don't feel bad. I went through that the first time I tried to open the hood - pulled the level and kept searching for the second release under the hood itself - nothing.

Went back and looked at it (the lever) again, pulled it once more and BINGO! Actually, I think it's a great feature.

ETA I was only looking to verify they DIDN'T build the car with a dipstick.

01-29-2014, 10:06 PM	#1
aus Major General 893 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Hood Latch... where the hell is it? Why does BMW need to make everything so difficult. Got an Estoril Blue/Red 328 M-Sport loaner complete black grills. Reallyl nice car but the headlights are pointed down 5 feet in front of the car. I figured I'd raise them up, but couldn't figure out how to unlatch the hood!!! I've worked on MANY cars and could always open the hood. I ran my hand under the entire width of the hood and looked through the grills for a lever that pops out on some cars. It was pretty dark, so maybe I missed it?? What gives?? Thanks for any help. __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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01-29-2014, 10:14 PM	#2
Axman85 First Lieutenant 77 Rep 345 Posts Drives: 335i x-Drive M-Sport Min. Grey Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Pull the hood release twice and it will open.
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01-29-2014, 11:44 PM	#3
M3AWD Lieutenant Colonel 3183 Rep 1,902 Posts Drives: 2022 G80 M3 AWD Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	^ +1 Happened to me.. I had to go to the owner's manual haha.. __________________ 2022 G80 M3 Comp M xDrive
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01-30-2014, 12:09 AM	#4
Steve33 Captain 50 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 2018 SQ5 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Doesn't it say 2x on the handle?
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01-30-2014, 12:18 AM	#5
aus Major General 893 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	It might, but it was pretty dark when I was messing with it. Not sure why the latch needed to be reinvented. Thanks for the help M-Sport. . __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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01-30-2014, 03:18 AM	#8
MikeRR First Lieutenant 69 Rep 380 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW M2 [0.00]	I think it is more practical as you are keeping your hands clean this way, no more searching for the lever unter the hood.
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01-30-2014, 06:31 AM	#9
southbynorth Private 7 Rep 96 Posts Drives: BMW 320i Sport Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Agreed - its much better - no more groping for a 'somewhere' latch getting dirty mits. And it is impossible to undo the hood by accident as it takes two pulls - the russian must have been trying to open it on purpose? OP - try checking the manual sometimes, or ask the dealer what is different on the car when you pick it up!
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01-30-2014, 08:04 AM	#11
RoundelM3 Major General 1838 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Yeah, I struggled with the hood latch too, until I figured it out. But those headlights on the loaner - are they the self-leveling Xenons or the standard halogens? I'd take it back to the dealer before messing with it myself. Just a suggestion. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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01-30-2014, 10:08 AM	#15
mhanism Captain 277 Rep 807 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	Agree - the 2 times is much simpler and no need to get hands dirty. Just need to make sure when closing, simple drop down evenly to let it catch evenly. If not even, only one side will catch leaving a crooked hood.
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01-30-2014, 02:28 PM	#16
aus Major General 893 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	What are you guys opening the hood for that doesn't require you to get your hands a little dirty?? . __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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01-30-2014, 03:14 PM	#18
MikeRR First Lieutenant 69 Rep 380 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW M2 [0.00]	Filling up the washer fluid for example?
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