I have a 95 740i, just bought used, and the glove box handle is snapped--I guess the cable is disconnected from the latch handle.

I've laid on my back with a flashlight and tried to get it open--but it's like staring into a dark abyss.

Does anyone have any experience on how to get the glove box open when the handle doesn't work ?

Thanks in advance.

I have a similar problem with my 98, I have only managed to open the glove box one time and cant determine when the glove box is actually locked or unlocked and whether to pull up, down or out to open it! I do believe the previous owner may have broken.

Beenower,

I had the same problem last week. I had to replace the glove box lock part # 51168177644. It cost $140 from the dealer and it came with the glove box lock bowden cable. You have to remove your original lock cylinder from the handle and put it in the replacement part. I could open the globve box thru the hole by pushing to the right of the lock.
Look at this link http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=GF63&mospid=47526&btnr=51_2151&hg=51&fg=30&hl=85
Check also this link as your cable might be damaged:http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/267798
Good luck

Phil

This isn't much help, but when I bought my car ('01 740i), it had the same problem, and the cup holder was broken. The place I got it from replaced both, they weren't overly pleased with how much the replacement parts cost though. It seems excessive the prices that BMW charges for such cheap looking parts that obviously aren't made to last.

i you open the above link to "realoem" you will see a schematic of the entire assembly.look at part #16..that is the hook which holds the drawer closed.
theres one on each side.now you know what it looks like...............
get a long flat blade (kitchen knife)and a flashlight....
you can ease the drawer down just enough to peek in there and lift each hook up/towards you, to disengage the drawer.......
then decide what you want to do b 4 u close it again.

I've had the same problem. I've fixed mine twice. It will still break again. If someone else tries to open it without you knowing they will break it. The only way to solve the problem is to get the assembly made out of aluminum. The OEM part is plastic and cheap. I hate not having my glove box. My insurance card is stuck in there.

Oh yeah, the only way to open it is from the back. I has two screws. Unscrew them and the back will fall down. I've just been to busy and lazy to deal with it, that's whay my insurance card is stuck.

replace the handle assembly and the cable and youll be fine

Thanks to all for responding, but none of the things suggested worked--BTW, I couldn't find "two screws" that come out and release the glove box. Trying to go at it with the kitchen knife didn't work either.

In my case, it seems the bowden cable either stretched or something else is out of whack.

So, I performed surgery...I found the cable underneath the glove box...I stripped off the outer layer and carfully removed the steel sheath that surrounds the inner cable (it's kind of like romex wiring). Then, I was able to grab the cable with some pliers and give it a pull...and eureka! the box opened.

I still need to troubleshoot to figure out why the damn thing didn't open...I lubed all moving parts...maybe the spring set up is old and worn out.

From what I see, this glove box is unneccesarily complicated...if they're going to design a glove box with (4) struts, then dammit! it should be designed so that the opening mechanism is bullet proof...

With the glovebox open, you can remove the handle with 2 phillips screws. There may be a plastic cover covering them i dont remember. Chances are where the cable goes into the handle its broken, and not properly holding the cabler sheathing, so when you pull it your pulling the whole cable.

In my case, I couldn't get the glove box open to access the latch mechanism.

I could only open it after I cut through two layers of the bowden cable to expose the central cable. The bowden cable is visible underneath the glove box. I gave it astrong pull, the latches FINALLY disengaged and the glovebox opened. The bowden cable was still attached at both ends.

I think what has happened is this: The glovebox has two motions--one it drops down, the other it slides in/out. IMO, the previous owner(s) have tried to shut the glovebox while it was in the out position, i.e. closest to the passenger seat. Over time, the glove box locking mechanism (i.e. item #15 on the glove box exploded view in real oem (sorry, can't post the URL)) has been damaged and is bent due to the abuse...therefore, the travel afforded from the latch mechanism on the front of the glove box to the bowden cable is now insufficient to disengage the locking mechanism...also, the spring return system to return the glove box locking mechansm is not able to compensate for the damaged glove box locking mechanism (again, this is item #15).

This glove box was obviously designed by committee...they were given a blank check and came up with an exotic design that uses (4) struts ...however, they screwed up, burned up their time and budget, and did not design it for everyday use...or for the simple fact that humans unfamiliar with the car and with sausage fingers will not push it towards the engine compartment first before pushing it up to latch it. Also, based on the comments from loads of other people, the latch is underdesigned. Too much time and $$ spent on bling and little forethough on how to make it durable for the heavy handed dope and trouble free based on the anticipated abuse from same.

Whoever was responsible for the design needs to move to sales or find another job.