Can't open bonnet

95304 Views 48 Replies 27 Participants Last post by veteran011, Nov 16, 2020

R_m_93

Discussion Starter · Oct 10, 2014

I'm wondering if it is just me or if anybody else has experienced difficultly opening their bonnet?
You pull the leaver twice and the bonnet should just be able to lift open, however, after I've pulled the leaver twice one side of the bonnet is ready to be lifted up but the other side is stuck. The only way around this is for somebody else to pull the leaver whilst I lift open the bonnet, not something I could do if I break down by myself.
Is there a knack to this Im missing or is something not quite right?

1 - 20 of 49 Posts

johnan

· #2 · Oct 10, 2014

I have to pull the lever more than twice, I think, I just keep pulling it until it sounds like the catches have been released, if you know what I mean!

I expect you have tried that though.

jeremybingham

· #3 · Oct 10, 2014

Mine seems to take three pulls
!

sirron

· #4 · Oct 10, 2014 (Edited)

R_m_93 said:
I'm wondering if it is just me or if anybody else has experienced difficultly opening their bonnet?
You pull the leaver twice and the bonnet should just be able to lift open, however, after I've pulled the leaver twice one side of the bonnet is ready to be lifted up but the other side is stuck. The only way around this is for somebody else to pull the leaver whilst I lift open the bonnet, not something I could do if I break down by myself.
Is there a knack to this Im missing or is something not quite right?

Mine is very difficult to pull (I have to wear gloves) ( no comments please!) but it does open on the count of two. A frail person could NOT open my Mini hood/bonnet.

Put it down to bad design.

R_m_93

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 12, 2014

Yes I've tried to pull it more than twice but no luck

I'm scared that if I pull it any harder the leaver will snap! I definitely wouldn't consider myself to have a lot of muscle so that might just be the problem. It's just strange how one side pops open and can be lifted up but the other side seems to stick. Will let MINI know when it's time for a service.

johnan

· #6 · Oct 12, 2014

R_m_93 said:
Yes I've tried to pull it more than twice but no luck I'm scared that if I pull it any harder the leaver will snap! I definitely wouldn't consider myself to have a lot of muscle so that might just be the problem. It's just strange how one side pops open and can be lifted up but the other side seems to stick. Will let MINI know when it's time for a service.

Don't hold your breath waiting for your car to tell you a service is due!

I looked on the central display thing under vehicle information, I think it was, and dates like 2016 and 2017 came up for things like oil change and brake fluid change.
The old one year or 10000miles, or sooner, rule obviously no longer applies!

Leslie Hammond

· #7 · Oct 12, 2014

Because of this message the first thing I did as part of the pre-purchase inspection yesterday was open the bonnet. Two firm pulls on the handle, then an easy lift up on the hood. No issues here.

Reactions: 1

jeremybingham

· #8 · Oct 13, 2014

I notice there is very little grease applied to modern cars-I've greased mine-both sides with a bit of spray on white ptfe grease-seems fine! They don't seem to put grease on any hinges or things these days so I go over all my cars as soon as I get them and give them a squirt-certainly with r56 door handles it really helped. No problems as yet with my f56 bonnet but I have sprayed anything that moves!

Reactions: 3

MarkYorks

· #9 · Dec 24, 2014

Just tried to open my mothers F56 bonnet to top up oil and although I pulled the catch twice the bonnet only opened slightly. I assume there are two catches to release. No amount of pulling release lever will open the bonnet. Looks like a careful drive to the dealer.

kenl

· #10 · Dec 24, 2014

That is annoying, hope it is easily sorted.

Also, I am surprised that it needs oil!

SirAlec

· #11 · Dec 24, 2014

For me it's two deliberate pulls and the bonnet lifts open. It's not an easy lever, and it's a relatively long throw for such a short lever. But otherwise it works as advertised.

Reactions: 2

vegbiker

· #12 · Dec 25, 2014

Mine too seems to work as designed: two hard pulls et voila. However, I do ponder why they have designed it to take so much strength to pull.

Stingray82

· #13 · Dec 25, 2014

I opened mine today. It worked fine after two easy pulls. Maybe it has been lubricated from driving around with a big salmon tied to the hood?

Reactions: 2

tinhat

· #14 · Dec 25, 2014

Salmon - yum! In these parts we tie a moa to the ... err ... bonnet, at least we used to!

olliesgrandad

· #15 · Dec 25, 2014

Mine is much easier than my Clubman was. a couple of pulls and an easy lift does it.

Reactions: 1

MarkYorks

· #16 · Dec 25, 2014

kenl said:
That is annoying, hope it is easily sorted.

Also, I am surprised that it needs oil!

My mother has only done a 1000 miles and got a low oil warning light. She is away for a couple of months and so thought I would top the oil up but cannot get the bonnet open. Will have to drive it over to mini dealership to sort. I do think the bonnet release on the f56 has to be the most daft design ever.

jeremybingham

· #17 · Dec 26, 2014

Have you pulled it full travel twice,just occasionally and if you don't pull it all the way you might need a third it needs the full throw but imo it is brilliant since no longer do you have to get under the dirty bonnet for the safety catch you can never find.

Reactions: 1

MarkYorks

· #18 · Dec 26, 2014

jeremybingham said:
Have you pulled it full travel twice,just occasionally and if you don't pull it all the way you might need a third it needs the full throw but imo it is brilliant since no longer do you have to get under the dirty bonnet for the safety catch you can never find.

Have pulled the lever umpteen times but the bonnet has only opened slightly. Assume there are two locks and only one has released.

siriuszero

· #19 · Dec 26, 2014

Remember that it takes TWO pulls to open the hood now. The first pull unlocks it, the second pull unlatches it.

You'll get an audible chime when you pull it hard enough the first time and the second time, you'll hear it unlatch. After that, you should be able to just lift up. Also, remember DO NOT push on the hood to close - let it drop from a couple feet up. The hoods on the F56 are a little softer due to pedestrian safety and you can dent it if you push.

Reactions: 4

civvy

· #20 · Jun 16, 2015

found a way o to open bonnet on mini cooper s if cable snapped

jack the car up
on the drivers side use your arm flick he catch on the bonnet while some one lifts it up, on the passenger side you want to get a tin fishing bank stick bend the end and push that up to the bonnet release catch which will release the passenger side its a bit fiddly but after a few attempts it got it done save me money

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