Yeah, I know to leave it open next time. I was installing a gauge (that's why the battery was disconnected), but I took a lunch break and shut the hood. When I went to open it :POP:

 

I find it interesting that there are two instances of failed bonnet latch pull cables and two related reports of bonnet opening problems that could clearly lead to failed cables in this thread...all on 2nd Gen MINIs less than 18 months old. That seems excessive to me. Anyone have any thoughts as to why these mechanisms are wearing out so quickly? Is this a 1st Gen problem too?

It would be interesting to know if the two MINIs guidmini worked on were of the R56 variety.

(...and the first poster that turns this into an R56 bash-fest goes on my ignore list)

 

Mine also failed but i didn't happen to have the battery unplugged. You must be quite unlucky You might want to try taking pliers to the cable itself from inside the cabin. Must have designed the latches to fail after 100 cycles. Probably good enough to make it through warranty for most people. Mine failed within a few month between the opening it up during break in and autocross to prevent heat soak.

 

Excessive? How many R56's have been sold? I agree it's an issue but using this site as a guideline for how many have problems isn't too accurate.

 

True and I agree, but I'm looking at it proportionally and not at the total numbers. Since the vast majority of MINIs out there (and their owners who post in NAM) are 1st Gen, if the percentage occurrence of this problem between the two groups is comparable then it would be reasonable to expect--based on the frequency reported in this thread--that there should be a sordid history with a whole bushel basket full of 1st Gen MINIs that have experienced this problem. In fact, the reports should be even more prevalent since some MINIs have been around for seven years or more with lots more time for this mechanism to wear itself out.

I have yet to discover this proportional history of occurrence. I'll keep looking.

 

I completely disagree; there needs to be a logical connection between the work you have done and the failure. I don't care what you do to the engine, it has not connection to the hood latch functioning. This should have no warranty voided issues. This is my opinion based upon many, many cars that have been modded and still had valid warranty coverage on other issues which presented.

 

On a positive note, I was able to reach in and connect the battery and the gauge worked, so this isn't all in vain. But, the air filter is still off so I'll be having it towed Monday.

 

Its definitely a design problem. The hood latch is cheap and designed for plastic to take the brunt of the torque multiplied force from your fingers. Coupled with the poor surface roughness from the latches in the hood and no sort of lubricant to begin with, this will become a common failure. Mine was magnified by the hood being pretensioned too much by the bumpers from the factory. Ultimately the plastic latches are cheap and do break too early but its something that every manufacture does. Its common for the latch to break on cars from the 90s that start eating oil and see more use. This case the factor of the latches being rough with no lubricant is going to cause many to fail fairly early.

 

Maybe they are trying to discourage DIYers to decrease the work they do on their cars.

 

Yes that's exactly it!

 

mine broke a few days ago too! I tried using plyers to pull the cable but I couldnt get the bonnet to release. Dealership ordered parts to repair

 

someone needs to get the inside trick on how the dealer service dept opens it when you give the car to them with a broken cable.

 

Update:

The dealer called me this morning and said my car was ready to be picked up (not bad!). The SA informed me that the "cable came out of its housing from the hood", so the cable did not snap. They reconnected the cable and lubed the bejeezus out of all related moving parts.

Unfortunately, while at the dealer the windshield was somehow cracked, so back to the dealer Thursday (but they are paying to have it replaced, so no worries). I am just happy to have my car back, and finally be able to test out my sweet new Alta Boost Gauge (which btw is awesome!)

The valet dude at the dealership was hysterical. He said "This is a great running car. I had to take it around the block and WOW!"

 

As I have quoted before, LUBRICATION is the answer

 

Uh Oh, I would be very worried if the valet had said something like that to my face...

 

There might be something to do proactively, like secure the cable in its housing, or whatever. I'm thinking a well-placed cable tie.

 

This issue was addressed on mini2.com. I think it was on their tech page. But this was before they re-did their entire site so I don't know if it's on their site anymore.

From what I saw on the pic, a plastic zip tie secured the cable to the latch.

 

I checked the peak boost on my gauge , no worries. I do agree though, it caught me off guard.

 

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...latch-fix.html

I just checked my car. That thread must be for 1st gen cars. It's an old thread. My car's latches don't look like that one. It has a U shape that the cable end grabs.

 

My '07 S cable broke a few weeks ago. Took it to the dealer for repair. They had to break the grill to open the hood (bonnet). Dealer needed to keep the car for 3 work days. They gave me a 2007 Mercedes C280 as a loaner for the time they had my car! Mini was repaired with new latch, cable and of course any other related part. They even washed my car upon return. To date, the best I have ever been treated at a car dealership. By the way the dealer is Keeler Motors in upstate NY.

 

Hey, that's where I'm buying my car!
How about that coffee machine with the designer coffees?
Almost make you enjoy paying $100/per hour, or whatever.

 

Same thing happened to me today. Pull into work, Secret Service waiting for me to do a sweep of my car (oh yeah, I work at a convention center and POTUS was visiting today). Agent asks me to open my hood, pull the bonnet release. Nothing. No Dice. Nada.

Sucks, I just got this car out of the shop. Now I have to make an appointment to get the Garmin mount powered up (Tech at MoS didn't install correctly) AND get this thing fixed.

Grrrrr.

 

Did you take your MINI to Herb Chambers or MINI of Peabody?

 

wow I'm glad I read this thread...

my Alta ECU arrives tomorrow. (feel how hard my nipples are)

I'm going to lube all the joints since I've popped the hood many times already!

That would really suck to get the warranty killed because I couldn't get the mods off with a broken closed hood!

 

Like one of the other posters said, it's all about lubrication. My hood latch was very stiff as new. I put some break-free on the points that seemed right and it worked MUCH easier. I just went back today and lightly hit the points with some white grease, and it's easier yet. Do yours now and save some grief later on. I open my hood all the time. (well, several times a week...how do you think I heat my garage ?) Look down at the top of the grille with the hood up and you'll see the little black encased cable running from your left over to your right. It has a little ball end on it at two points. Just look at where those two big U's come down that are attached to the hood and figure out where the lube goes. Do it once in a while as a preventive measure. Just tryin' to help!