Broken bonnet release cable?

[korky]

Ran out of screen wash yesterday. Minor problem, I know, BUT, when I pulled the bonnet release lever inside the car to open the bonnet, it just swung out freely with no resistance and didn't open the bonnet. I think the cable has snapped. Anyone know how to get into the bonnet? The dealer is a fair drive from work or home (in filthy weather with no screenwash!) and has no loan cars available anyway. I tried the mini recovery service (a longshot, I know). They very politely suggested I carry a bottle of water and stop periodically to clean the windscreen until I can get to the dealers on a day when I have time to sit about while they try to fix it. The only other suggestion the dealers had was to get a local garage to sort it out, but the car's only 18 months old, so why should I foot the bill?

Pah. Disgruntled. Such a silly little fault.

[JOHN MILNE]

there is a possability the end of the cable may have came off the lever
if poss remove trim panel around bonnet pull if cable is visable pull with a pair of pliers .you may only need a new handle or you may be able to attatch cable back onto handle

[MINI William]

I had a the very same problem with my bonnet took it to the garage and it was fixed in 10mins and under warenty.As you say your car is only 18months old so you should have no problems

[Hamish]

when we stripped our car prior to painting it rings a bell you can get in from the inner front arch lining, bit of a bugger having to remove it though.

My mate who was helping me commented... "excellent, now i know how easy a mini would be to nick!!!"

Good luck.

[AndyP & Lenore]

when we stripped our car prior to painting it rings a bell you can get in from the inner front arch lining, bit of a bugger having to remove it though.

My mate who was helping me commented... "excellent, now i know how easy a mini would be to nick!!!"

Good luck.

Well, he was probably from Hawick as well.

Hamish, Korky's car will be an R56 so it's a different car to yours. It may be the same mech for opening the bonnet, but the path could well be different.

A.

[Hamish]

aye he's a Hawick lad too Andy, But we are both honest and upstanding citizens

Yeah I dont know the differences, just thought I'd throw an answer korkys way in case it helped, surely theres a quicker way than going through the inner wheel arch anyway.

Hope its sorted painlessly!

[ianking]

This happened to Jasons laser blue R56 when I went to open his bonnet. He had it fixed under warranty no problems.

I felt terrible though (for about 2 mins) as I thought it may have been me.

[The Dogfather]

How exactly do you clean your windscreen if you are stuck behind a lorry on the motorway? Personally I would ring MINI Breakdown and ask to speak to a supervisor/manager and ask them to confirm that if you follow their advice and have an accident because you couldn't see would they pay for the damage to the car/injuries?

[AndyP & Lenore]

How exactly do you clean your windscreen if you are stuck behind a lorry on the motorway? Personally I would ring MINI Breakdown and ask to speak to a supervisor/manager and ask them to confirm that if you follow their advice and have an accident because you couldn't see would they pay for the damage to the car/injuries?

Yeah, what he said.

I think MINI recovery are not grasping the issue here. If you don't have water in your washer bottle, and you use the vehicle on a public road, that's a road traffic violation - I speak from experience. I would be calling MINI back and insisting someone comes out. It's not YOUR fault the catch has come off/broken.

A.

[Crombers]

Agreed, get the recovery folk to your MINI asap