Broken Glove Box in E34

[E34inFlorida]

I have an 89 E34 and Im having problems with the glove box.. At one point I thought I locked it but not sure... The problem is in the handle...

I think it is locked and the handle has no pressure on it so its obviously broken.. the handle does nothing when I pull up on it with no resistence.

So now everything I need for the car ( TItle, papers, documents ) is in the glove box.. Its a nice car so I dont want to rip up the origional box... any suggestions? Doesnt this have a lock on it??? COuld I call a lock smith?

Thanks for the ideas guys!!!

J. Perrymon

[biondani]

Can't you just release the clips at the back of the glove box and let the back fall down so you can get to your documents?

Ian

[shogun]

You can only open the locked glove box with the main key, but not with the valet key. The valet key is only for the doors but not for glove box and trunk lock.

[peks]

i dont think so, when you release the clips the glove box is still held in by something, cant remember.

my latch mechanism broke and i got it open by prying from the top and sliding a butterknife in the latch to unlock. it took a lot of finesse..be careful or you will crck the plastic the box is made of. then i replaced the inside of the latch with one from an e30 i think. i was able to keep the original outside latch handle and lock cylinder

[peks]

you the man shogun, better make sure its actually unlocked before you start prying

[E34inFlorida]

you the man shogun, better make sure its actually unlocked before you start prying


Thanks guys... I'll see what I can do... I tried before but didnt have any luck.

I think something is wrong with the latch/ lock mechanism....

I don't want to break it :) Sure it won't be cheap to replace the entire glove box.

JP

[E34inFlorida]

i dont think so, when you release the clips the glove box is still held in by something, cant remember.

my latch mechanism broke and i got it open by prying from the top and sliding a butterknife in the latch to unlock. it took a lot of finesse..be careful or you will crck the plastic the box is made of. then i replaced the inside of the latch with one from an e30 i think. i was able to keep the original outside latch handle and lock cylinder


Any tips for using the butter knife to open it? Im guessing the lock mechanism is verticle locking up into the dash?

JP

[Javier]

glove box is locked. I know, because my baby girl has broken it twice because she pull it hard thinking that the operation is after the resistance free travel of the handle. When it is unlocked, the key hole is in the horizontal position and there is no resistance free travel.

If you have the key lock damaged and can not get it to the horizontal position, or if it is broken and even at horizontal position is behaving like if locked, then you may pull hard and break part # 2 in the picture. It breaks at the hinges, (I have glued it twice and still working fine).

Picture (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD21&mospid=47382&btnr=51_1055&hg=51&fg=30)

Once it is broken and removed, you just have to push down the lever, the one coming from the right side, below the center line of the mechanism.

If you would have ever disassemble the lock before, you would know about the lever, so playing around with a thin hook, might let you to pull down the lever without removing the part # 2.

If you are not in a hurry, tonight, I can remove part #2 in mine and take a picture for you.

Javier

[Hallmark]

Think of it as a cylinder on the door that goes into the keeper on the dash. The two catches go out the sides of the cylinder.


Any tips for using the butter knife to open it? Im guessing the lock mechanism is verticle locking up into the dash?

JP

[brodee]

My handle came off on mine. Everything still works fine, just can't figure out how to get it back on. Appears that there is supposed to be some pins or something that go into the handle (part #2) from each side to hold it into the metal bracket. Can anyone tell me what's supposed to be in there?

[Javier]

remove the handle. Pulling the shiny lever in the direction of the red arrow will open the Glove Box. If you can insert a tiny hook under the plastic handle and pull the lever down-right, you will release the mechanism. It is an easier job when you can pull up the lever being locked.

Javier

[Javier]

that act as hinge axis for the handle. They go trough the holes in the metal bracket, and into the plastic tubes molded in the handle. Normally, the plastic tubes break apart releasing the pin and separating the metal bracket from the handle. There is also a spring that reset the handle to its original position once released.

Javier

[brodee]

that act as hinge axis for the handle. They go trough the holes in the metal bracket, and into the plastic tubes molded in the handle. Normally, the plastic tubes break apart releasing the pin and separating the metal bracket from the handle. There is also a spring that reset the handle to its original position once released.

Javier

Thanks. I took apart the touring and saw that it has those roll pins in there. Going to go grab a pair tomorrow and get it fixed.