Hey all,

This is my first, and I imagine, not my last, technical SOS posting. Also posted at Tech Discussion. Frankly guys, I'm glad you're here. I hope someone can come to my aid.

Just bought an '82 240D yesterday, cleaning it up and mentally preparing for a valve adjustment (I'm kind of a dolt around cars - got this one to help that).

So. . .here's the issue. I went to open the hood and have a look around. At the owner's place all went well and we popped it on a few occasions. My first time home the release lever inside did its job and released. On the grill however, the little lever pretty much disintegrated as soon as I touched it. I heard a pin or something fall inside. The lever now is free to wander as it pleases and I can't get the hood open!! Any of you guys ever experience this? Any ideas of how I can pop the hood and make this body repair?

Thanks.
Tom

So you can wiggle the lever but it isn't connected to anything any more? Inside the hood is a latch in the shape of a hook that holds the hood closed. The plastic lever pulls it open. Sounds like the pin came out so the lever is no longer connected to the hook. You should be able to look through the grille and see it. Bend a strong wire (coathanger works nicely) into a hook; reach in and grab the latch with the wire and pull it towards you while lifting up on the hood and it should open.

Jeremy

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Jeremy,
When the sun came out for a second I could see the mechanism. Now I'm in the house to grab a coathanger and I read your post. Solved it on my own, but it's good not to be alone in this endeavor. ThX.
T